The adage that goaltending is crucial is the oldest in playoff hockey because it’s the truest.
Callum Tung is fashioning one of the greatest crease stories in the six-decade-plus history of the B.C. Hockey League as he has backstopped the Alberni Valley Bulldogs into the Coastal Conference final. The six-foot-three goaltender, headed next season to the NCAA with the University of Connecticut Huskies, has a downright stingy .942 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average in the playoffs and has been named game first star in five consecutive games.
“The streak was only broken because Callum was named the second star during an off-night in the other game of that run,” quipped Bulldogs president and governor David Michaud.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen a goaltending performance like this in the playoffs in my time in the BCHL. It’s been special to watch. That’s why you have a 20-year-old goaltender.”
Coastal Conference third-seed Alberni Valley comes into the conference final for the second consecutive year after sweeping the second-seed Chilliwack Chiefs in four games in the semifinals while the conference and overall BCHL regular-season champion Surrey Eagles outlasted the fourth-seed Victoria Grizzlies in a tougher-than-expected semifinal series.
“There’s that old argument of staying sharp by playing, but at this time of year, you take rest every time,” said Michaud.
“You are not going to forget how to play hockey in 10 days.”
The well-rested Bulldogs open the best-of-seven Coastal Conference final tonight and Sunday on the South Surrey Arena’s Olympic-size ice sheet.
“That’s clearly a challenge because the Eagles have built their team to suit their ice surface,” said Michaud.
“We are the lower seed, but we still only have to win one there, and take care of business at home.”
And that is home sweet home in Port Alberni, where fans have over-filled the arena in the playoffs as their beloved Bulldogs rallied from 3-2 down in games to beat the sixth-seed Coquitlam Express in the first round before sweeping Chilliwack in the second round.
The Coastal Conference final swings to the Island for the third and fourth games on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
“The Dawg Pound will be barking,” said Michaud.
“We have been playing to 115 per cent capacity and the atmosphere is incredible. Skating out to a packed crowd at home is special for our guys and gives them a lift. And merchandise has been flying out of the team store.”
Nine players return from Alberni Valley’s 2023 Coastal Conference championship team that went to the BCHL final against the eventual league-champion Penticton Vees.
Adding even more depth to the veteran mix this year have been NCAA Dartmouth-bound Hayden Stavroff — who led the league in goals this regular season with 35 and has eight in the playoffs and who went to the Interior Conference final last year with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks — and Fischer O’Brien, who played three seasons in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars.
“We have a lot of experience in our room,” said Michaud.
Not to mention a pretty good goaltender.
