Bulldogs end season in third; take on Goderich in playoffs

The Kincardine Bulldogs of the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) Pollock Division, finished the regular season in third place behind Mount Forest and Walkerton, and will begin their opening playoff series against Goderich, this weekend.

The Bulldogs hosted Walkerton and Goderich on the weekend, taking a tie and a win, respectively.

At the Davidson Centre, Friday night, Walkerton opened the scoring in the first period, but early in the second, Hunter Robins-Gibbons worked the powerplay to get the 'Dogs on the scoreboard, making it 1-1. Logan Freiburger had the assist.

Brett Burrows made it 2-1 for the Bulldogs on the powerplay, assisted by Robins-Gibbons and Mike Fiegehen. However, Walkerton tied it up before the end of the period.

Kincardine went ahead in the third, on a goal by Trevor Donaldson, assisted by Tyler Sutter, but minutes later, Walkerton had the tying goal again. Regulation time ended 3-3, and with no scoring in the overtime period, that's how the game ended.

Saturday night, Kincardine hosted the Goderich Flyers, and won, 4-1.

The 'Dogs opened the scoring early in the first on a goal by Freiburger from Jordan Caskenette.

Early in the second, Goderich scored, but minutes later, Derrick Bernath worked the powerplay and put the Bulldogs ahead, 2-1, assisted by Logan Swanton.

The third period was all Kincardine, as Burrows scored from Keegan Angel; and minutes later, Angel scored on the powerplay, from Joshua Traynor and Robert White, to take the 4-1 win.

Kincardine ended the season in third place with 51 points, behind regular season champions, the Mount Forest Patriots, in first with 64 points; and the Walkerton Hawks with 53 points. The Mitchell Hawks finished in fourth with 48 points, Wingham Ironmen in fifth with 48 points, Goderich Flyers in sixth with 18 points, and the Hanover Barons in seven with 15 points.

The Bulldogs face Goderich in their best-of-seven playoff series which begins Friday, Feb. 2, at 8:25 p.m., at the Davidson Centre in Kincardine. Game 2 is in Goderich, Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m., and Game 3 is back in Kincardine, Sunday, Feb. 4, at 3:20 p.m.

The remainder of the schedule is as follows:
 

• Game 4 - Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m., in Goderich
• Game 5, if necessary - Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:20 p.m. in Kincardine
• Game 6, if necessary - Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2:30 p.m. in Goderich
• Game 7, if necessary - Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:55 p.m. in Kincardine