vees:blog

Things are getting weirder in Port Alberni. In a season of playoff guarantees, ‘book burnings’ and multiple General Managers, Bulldogs fans have now received a public thank-you letter from Head Coach & (newly annointed) GM Bryant Perrier.

It may have something to do with the fact the team is at the bottom of the BCHL standings and has began unloading players, acknowledging the playoffs are not in the cards for 2008/2009.

Let’s be honest, the schedule maker hasn’t helped. With 24 of 60 games against Victoria and Nanaimo, the Bulldogs’ Island weighted schedule has been a ball and chain on Alberni’s attempted run to the post season.

Bulldog fans are some of the most fervent Junior ‘A’ fans in the league and have supported this club at the turnstile despite the team set to miss the playoffs for a third straight season. Bulldogs attendance has dropped about 15% from the 1700+ the team has averaged over the past 3 campaigns.

Perrier is well known in these parts as he served as Penticton Panthers Coach from ‘97 to ‘04. He was an Assistant Coach last season, started as Head Coach this year before adding GM to his job description just days ago.

No word if Bulldog Fans have burned their letters.

The Penticton Vees have moved Nathan Westover (’88,D) to the Cowichan Valley Capitals for Matt Ridley (’90,D). The Capitals have since moved Westover to Drumheller of the AJHL in exchange for Anthony Perdicaro, whom the Vees moved for Erik Slemp a week ago.

Ridley is a big bodied D-man, and son of former NHLer Mike Ridley, who is graded as a C-level prospect by Central Scouting (late round pick) for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Westover wore an ‘A’ with the team this year and now joins his 5th CJAHL team in 5 years.

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There have been rumblings that the Merritt Centennials may be playing their final season in the Nicola Valley. The Cents have struggled this season recording just 11 points in 29 games, and finished at the bottom of the BCHL last season after more than a decade of regular playoff appearances.

With the Centennials in town yesterday I had a chance to speak with the Al Glendenning the Head Coach and GM of the club. Al indicates the club can’t continue to lose money moving forward.

Wikipedia lists Merritt’s population at under 7,000 as of 2006, and the Cents are last in the BCHL in attendance averaging 463 spectators, though hundreds less are usually physically in the building (attendance can include paid tickets not being used).

It appears as though it is only a matter of time before the claim to ‘longest serving BCHL franchise’ is passed to another organization.

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