Bulldogs keep busy by working to build on turnaround season

July 20, 2010

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs succeeded in finding their way to the top of the British Columbia Hockey League's Coastal Conference over the course of the 2009/10 season. Now, just months removed from falling one game short of a berth in the Fred Page Cup Finals, the Bulldogs have shifted their focus to staying ahead of the pack.

The responsibility for continuing the team's winning ways has fallen to Paul Esdale, who had the 'Assistant' tag removed from his Assistant Coach/Assistant GM title following the departure of Coastal Coach of the Year Nolan Graham to the bench staff at NCAA Division I RPI. Esdale was immediately faced with a number of key departures, including those of 61-goal scorer Mitch MacMillan and Ottawa Senators signee David Dziurzynski.
To fill the void, the Bulldogs have added a number of potential future stars from around Western Canada.

The Alberta ‘AAA’ Midget Hockey League has produced a pair of key prospects, as forward Andrew Bergmann and defenceman Kenney Morrison have committed to the club after an impact season with the UFA Bisons and Llyodminster Bobcats respectively. Also making the trip west is blueliner Tanner Hicks, who posted 59 points in 49 games while captaining the Edge School Midget AAAs in Calgary.

“Andrew, Kenney and Tanner were all highly recruited players,” says Esdale. “Fortunately they were really drawn to our community, our program and our educational package. I think all three can come in and help us out immediately, and all three are capable of playing college hockey in the future.”

Alberni Valley has also tapped into the pipeline of talent from the Okanagan Hockey Academy, securing commitments from Penticton Lakers forwards Oliver McCluskey and Lars Hepso. The duo combined for 33 goals and 46 assists as 17-year olds in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.

“Both Oliver and Lars had seen us play when we came through Penticton last season and they were familiar with our program through their time with OHA,” Esdale explains. “They’re both quality kids and they come from playing a very good system with the Lakers.”

A number of experienced Junior A forwards have also been added to the mix, as the Bulldogs swung a trade with the Merritt Centennials for 52-point man Colton Sobchak and signed former Williams Lake Timberwolves playmaker Trent Murdoch on the heels of a 49-point campaign. Esdale is also excited about the addition of Justin Morello, who posted 13 goals and 25 assists in 47 AJHL games split between Drumheller and St. Albert last season.

But the Bulldogs’ success in the 2010/11 season may ultimately be best influenced by a pair of impact sophomores who made the choice to stay in Alberni Valley. On the heels of an 80-point season that culminated in Coastal Conference Rookie of the Year honours and being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, Mark MacMillan has committed to the University of North Dakota for 2011/12 and will return for another season with the team.

He’ll be joined as part of the Bulldogs’ core by 17-year old defenceman Ryan Renz, who quickly emerged as a top blueline prospect after joining from the KIJHL’s Castlegar Rebels. Renz posted 20 points in 33 regular season and playoff games despite being one of the youngest players in the league, and has been rewarded with a scholarship to Northeastern University that will see him spend at least one more season with the ‘Dogs.
“Mark and Ryan are young, but they’re also tremendous leaders who can be premier players in our league,” says their coach.

Alberni Valley’s wealth of youthful talent reflects well on Graham and Esdale, but also on the team’s reputation as have one of the league’s top educational programs. To that end, Esdale credits Tom McEvay, the team’s Education Advisor, for taking a leading role in attracting players to the club and fostering their academic development once in the fold.

“Tom is a huge part of our recruiting,” he says. “He does a great job and he does it for all the right reasons – he wants these kids to succeed in hockey, in their schooling, and in life. He’s really one of the biggest influences in our organization and in the community.”