Happy New Year to all!! Well the Boston Bulldogs returned to Salem NH after a restful two weeks and two days. Just before the break an ice issue at the Icenter forced the cancellation of the Laconia game, then a big winter storm caused power failures and havoc on the roads so the trip to Walpole was cancelled. These games will be made up later this year.

The Bulldogs were very busy during the break. They added a second non-American player to the roster, as Marek Wrobel from Poland joins Ivan Oliinyk from Ukraine on the Bulldogs roster. What a tremendous experience for the players on the team having players from a different country on the team. The cultural experiences and knowledge of other parts of the world are priceless. Marek joins the team coming off his performance with the Polish U-20 National team. The Bulldogs also welcome two new goaltenders; Randy Japchen and Bill Sias to the roster.

It is just after Christmas, so it must be time for the Bulldogs to shuffle off to Buffalo, NY area. For the third consecutive year the Boston Bulldogs head off to play in the Canisius Junior Hockey Showcase at the Pepsi Center in Amherst, NY. Teams from the highly competitive Canadian Provincial League play teams from the USA Atlantic and Eastern Junior Leagues in a showcase format. The Bulldogs will play three games; December 28 vs. Thorold Blackhawk’s, then on December 29 vs. the Buffalo Jr. Sabres and finish up on December 30th vs. Milton Ice Hawks.

After a long lay off, how would the team respond? Could the team find the stride they were hitting just before the break? These question and more would have to be answered against the Thorold Blackhawk’s. The team started out with a scoreless first half and the team looked like it had not played in two plus weeks. The games in the showcase are two 25 minute halves with an ice cut between the 1st and 2nd half. Derek Kump started for the Bulldogs and stopped all 10 shots. The second half began the scoring as Thorold got the first goal at the 8:49 mark. It took 6 minutes for the Bulldogs to answer; Steve Weston blocked a pass and started down the ice on a 2-1 with Trey Milstead. Steve fired a shot off the goalies left pad, which deflected right onto the stick of a streaking Milstead, who slide the loose puck into the empty net. Then Matt Harnish stole the puck at the blue line and fed a pass over to Ryan Dyer, who broke toward the net, went to his backhand and lifted a shot just under the crossbar, 2-1 Bulldogs. However Thorold was not done as they attacked right off the face-off to tie it back up again. Harnish, first game at forward, again forced a turnover in the neutral zone and fed a streaking Brian Greene who had jumped up in the rush. Greenie came over the line and fired a slap shot that broke off the goalies stick and into the net. Greene’s goal gave newcomer goalie Billy Sias (10 saves) and his first win as a Bulldog, 3-2. So even though the team got off to a slow start, the team picked it up in the second half and pulled out the win. Next up the red-hot Buffalo Jr. Sabres.

Game 2 was the most fast paced game of the showcase according to the college scouts in attendance.. However, the Jr. Sabres used their strength to control the game. They scored two power play goals in the first half on Billy Sias, who finished with 8 saves. The Bulldogs missed two empty net rebounds and hit a post. They just could not find the back of the net against Buffalo goalie Pat Delaney. The second half was still very competitive but the net result was not much better as the Jr. Sabres scored two more goals this time against Derek Kump, who had 13 saves in his half of the game. The team played a very competitive game against a very solid team. Time to regroup and get ready for the Milton Ice Hawks.

Game 3, could the team rebound? Could they shake off the cobwebs of the lay off? How would they come out playing their third game in three days? The answers came very quickly as Nick Barbera scored off a feed by Cody Gut at the 16-second mark of the first half. Then a few minutes later, as a power play was winding down Sean Collins took a pass from Chris “Creek” Lewis and slid the puck into the short side for a 2-0 Bulldog lead. A hooking penalty by the Bulldogs and Milton cut the lead in half scoring 15 seconds into the power play. 6 minutes later Seric Kapp took a breakout pass from Brian Greene and attacked the blue line. Using the Milton defenseman as a screen fired a hard snap shot past the goalies stick and the Bulldogs had their two-goal lead back. Derek Kump (10 saves) played the first half then handed the reins over to the other newcomer goalie Randy Japchen. Japchen (10 saves) was forced to make some very good saves as the Milton team relentless attacked the Bulldogs end. Newcomer Marek Wrobel got his first point as a bulldog on the next goal. Marek picked up a loose puck near the net and slide the puck between two defensemen, where Tucker Mullin scooped up the puck and took off with line mate Ryan Smith for a 2-0 on the Milton goalie, three passes later the puck was in the back of the net, care of Tucker Mullin. Milton was not finished as they mounted another comeback attempt but a foolish frustration high sticking penalty by Milton, let the Bulldogs regroup. Cody Gut won the face-off cleanly to Nick Barbera who ripped a wrist shot off the crossbar and in, expanding the lead to 5- 1. Steve Weston finished the scoring, as he blocked a shot and then picked up the loose puck. Skating down the left wing he let go a high hard snap shot into the far top corner. This was the first goal of the year for the defensive stalwart of the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs finished in second place of the USA Division with at record of 2 wins- 1 loss while scoring 9 goals and surrendering only 7 goals. The Buffalo Jr. Sabres won the showcase and did not lose a game in the showcase. Thank you to the Canisius College coaching staff, for hosting this wonderful opportunity for our players to play teams from Canada.

So now as the playoff run begins the team is looking forward to challenges of the second half of the season. The Boston Bulldogs staff wishes everyone a Happy New Year.