Blazers Scorch Generals

The Bellingham Blazers shutout the visiting and severely undermanned Eugene Generals Friday November, 15^th at the Sportsplex. Having nearly twice as many players as their rivals Bellingham peppered the Generals net early and often in the first period resulting in 32 shots on goal and 6 points. Eugene's goalie Daniel Spencer stood tall in the second however and kept Bellingham out of the net in spite of a 22 shot barrage. Spencer did allow one final goal in the third as an exhausted Generals team could not compete with the fresh skaters on the Blazers. Final score 7-0. Click here to view photos from the game.

Blazers Tame Wolves

The Bellingham Blazers played host to the Wenatchee Wolves in their first season with the Northern Pacific Hockey League Friday, October 24^th at the Sportsplex. Wenatchee is no stranger to hockey, having a team in the North American Hockey League known as the Wenatchee Wild. This was the first regular season match up between the two franchises. Both teams began by sizing up the other. Skating up an down the ice, both teams tested the others defense and goalie with multiple shots on goal. However Bellingham would find the net first and held the lead going into the second period. The Wolves came roaring back, quickly scoring twice in the second period and took the lead. The Blazers tied the score before the end of the period and carried that momentum into the third. Bellingham torched the net with four unanswered goals in the final period. Wenatchee would tack on one more goal but it was too little too late as the Blazers closed out the game with their seventh goal. Five Blazers found net including forward Nick Scherbinin with a blistering hat-trick, his first of the season. Final score 7-3. Click here to view photos from the game.

Blazers Score a Baker's Dozen in Win

The Bellingham Blazers hosted the visiting Cheney Icehawks and dominated the ice Saturday, October 5^th at the Sportsplex. Bellingham set the net ablaze in the first period with 25 shots on goal, seven finding the back of the net. The barrage never let up as the second and third periods echoed the first. With 20 and 27 shots on net in the final two periods resulting in 6 more goals, Bellingham closed out the match. Nine Blazers scored goals, four goals belonging to forward Boris Knyazev. Final score 13-2. Click here to view photos from the game.

Blazers Stumble at Home Opener

The Bellingham Blazers have aspirations to score a hat-trick as three-time Cascade Cup champions this North Pacific Hockey League season. However they had trouble with an all too familiar opponent the West Sound Warriors in Bellingham's first home game for the 2014-15 campaign. The Blazers started hot, scoring three goals in the first half and looked like their championship form. West Sound would not concede, matching the three goals in the second period with three of their own and keeping the Blazers from finding the net. The third period saw both side struggle to put the game away but with 8 minutes left the Warriors broke the stalemate and closed with a win. Final score 3-4. Click here to view photos from the game.

Bulldogs Season Ends in Last Second Thriller

The Bellingham Bulldogs complete their 2014 Pacific Football League season with a first-round playoff upset at the hands on the Portland Monarchs Saturday, July 12^th at Civic Field. The Bulldogs stood atop the PFL North Division with a 6-2 record (7-3 overall) and was the clear favorite to make a repeat appearance in the PFL Championship game. But the 3-5 (5-5 overall) Monarchs would not secede victory based on the standings.

A rare occurrence of sunshine in Bellingham had baked the field all day, combined with a stifling humidity, the players on both sides played a bit sluggish to start. After a turnover on downs by Bellingham on their first possession Portland drove the ball down field only to fumble on the 2-yard line. Eric Taylor took control and marched his Bulldogs the length of the field with a mix of runs and short passes, capping the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Douglas Miller. Portland would answer quickly as a defensive gaff allowed quarterback Phil DuPont to find wide receiver Russell Millage deep behind the Bulldogs pass defense for a 58-yard touchdown.

Portland began to push the Bulldogs defense around in the second quarter, moving the ball at will. But Bellingham would not quit, forcing another fumble in the Monarchs red zone, killing their scoring opportunity. Both offenses stall as the next series of possessions end in punts. The Bulldogs show signs of life when Taylor again finds Miller for a big gain but a poor throw the following play results in an interception. The offenses continue to struggle on both sides until the last play of the half when Taylor finds Toby Seim over the middle, scorching Portland with a 45-yard touchdown bomb.

The third quarter begins with a steady dose of Taylor and running back Donovan Dunmore driving the ball down field. But the drive stalls and the Monarchs take the opportunity to even the score with another deep 57-yard touchdown pass from DuPont to Bijan Tavazoie.

The Monarchs' defense stiffens and pushes the Bulldogs back to their own goal line as the fourth quarter begins with a safety. The Bulldogs rally and on the following Monarchs possession Miguel Pierre plucks another interception out of the air giving Bellingham another opportunity. A series of penalties kill the drive but the Bulldog defense was not giving in. Forcing a punt deep into their territory, Bellingham's Dunmore would make the best of a short field, ripping through Portland's defensive line for a 42-yard touchdown run.

The Monarchs' special teams would gain the upper-hand, pushing deep into Bellingham territory on a big kick return. The Bulldogs' goal line defense had stopped Portland's charge for four straight downs but a costly penalty gave the Monarchs a fresh set of downs. Bellingham again stops two runs short of the goal line and nearly intercepted a pass but DuPont was finally able to punch in a 2-yard touchdown dart to tight end Steven Littleton.

Heartbroken, with 23.7 seconds remaining, the Bulldogs' championship hope rested on a great kick return and quick score. Eric Taylor returns the ball to the 40-yard line. Taylor gains 12 more yards on the following play. But with 6 seconds left Portland sacks Taylor as time expires. Final score 20-22. Click here to view photos from the game.