Grizzlies set to battle Bulldogs in opening round of BCHL playoffs

The Victoria Grizzlies will be taking on their North Island rivals, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the first round of the 2023 BCHL playoffs, which is set to get underway this weekend with games one and two in Port Alberni.

The Grizz enter the postseason as the number six seed after finishing the regular season with a 26-20-5-3 record and will face off against the number three seeded Bulldogs, who earned a 31-19-3-1 record this year.

Victoria and Alberni Valley have met seven times this season, with the Bulldogs winning five to the Grizzlies two. Their most recent matchup ended in a 4-0 victory for Alberni Valley at the Q Centre this past weekend.

Last season, the Grizzlies would suffer a first round exit at the hands of the Langley Rivermen, while the Bulldogs would advance to the second round before being eliminated in six games by the same Rivermen squad that defeated Victoria.

The Grizzlies will look to capture their first league championship since the 2001 season, when the franchise was known as the Victoria Salsa.

The quest for the Fred Page Cup will begin with game one at 7 pm on Friday, Mar. 31 at Alberni Valley Multiplex in Port Alberni, BC.