Bulldogs Dominate in Two Games While Honoring Late Announcer

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs began 2026 with an impressive double victory, scoring a staggering total of 21 goals over two games. The team’s performance was made even more poignant as they played without their long-time play-by-play announcer Evan Hammond, who passed away on January 2, 2026, following a stroke on December 31, 2025.

Dominating Performance in Victoria

On January 1, the Bulldogs faced the Victoria Grizzlies in a rematch after losing to them 4-2 in their previous encounter in December. This time, the Bulldogs showcased their offensive prowess right from the start. Kye Benoche opened the scoring with two goals in the first period, both assisted by Brandon Gill and Wyatt Davis. The Grizzlies responded quickly, narrowing the lead to 2-1, but the Bulldogs surged ahead, with Grady Magner scoring just before the period ended, bringing the score to 3-1.

The second period saw the Bulldogs continue their relentless attack. Within 45 seconds, Teague McAllister netted another goal, followed by a power-play goal from Wyatt Davis, pushing the score to 5-1. Benoche completed his hat trick shortly after, making it 6-2, while Kai Matthew and Grayson Salmon added to the tally, leading to an 8-2 score by the end of the second period.

In a commanding display, the Bulldogs finished the game with a final score of 11-2, despite both teams having a relatively similar number of shots on goal: 35 for the Bulldogs and 23 for the Grizzlies.

Emotional Homecoming Against Surrey

The Bulldogs returned to their home arena on January 3 to face the Surrey Eagles, with the atmosphere marked by remembrance for Hammond. Players honored him by placing a sledgehammer over the Bulldogs’ logo in the dressing room—a symbolic tribute to his 20 years of support for the team and the community. A moment of silence preceded the game, reflecting the deep loss felt by the players and fans alike.

The game started poorly for the Bulldogs, as the Eagles scored three times in the first half of the opening period. However, the Bulldogs began their comeback when Ryan George scored with an assist from Kai Matthew and Gill, reducing the deficit to 3-1. Just 20 seconds later, Matthew scored again, making it 3-2.

The second period marked a remarkable turnaround for the Bulldogs. Just under a minute in, McAllister scored an unassisted shorthanded goal to tie the game at 3-3. Matthew followed with his second goal, assisted by Wyatt Davis, which was quickly complemented by a goal from Gill, putting the Bulldogs ahead 5-3. The scoring frenzy continued, with Magner, Salmon, and Gill each finding the back of the net, resulting in an 8-3 lead by the end of the second period.

In the third, Ryan Small scored to extend the lead to 9-3, and although the Eagles managed to score one more goal, Benoche capped off the night with another goal, sealing a 10-4 victory for the Bulldogs. Goalie Jack Hirshorn made crucial saves, stopping 27 of 31 shots.

Following the match, the Bulldogs players skated around the ice with the sledgehammer in Hammond’s honor, emphasizing the significance of community and remembrance. The game summary concluded with the heartfelt statement, “Hammer would have loved this one.”

The Bulldogs’ remarkable start to the year has not gone unnoticed. Following their dominant performances, three players were named the BCHL’s stars of the week. Gill led with an impressive dozen points across the two games, while Matthew and Benoche both contributed significantly to the team’s success.