2017–18 Odense Bulldogs season

2017–18 Odense Bulldogs
2017–18 record22–2–7–19
Home record12–2–4–7
Road record10–0–3–12
Goals for141
Goals against149
Team information
CoachMikael Gath
Assistant coachMads True
CaptainJacob Johnston
Alternate captainsDale Mitchell, Martin Larsen
ArenaRet&Råd Fyn Arena
Average attendance1,240
Team leaders
GoalsDale Mitchell (21)
AssistsDale Mitchell (34)
PointsDale Mitchell (55)
Penalty minutesAnthony Camara (114)
Plus/minusMartin Larsen (12)
Goals against averageRobin Rahm (2.45)

The 2017–18 Odense Bulldogs season is the 27th season in the Danish Hockey League since the team was promoted in 1990.

Following a semifinal exit the year before, head coach Peter Johansson left the club along with other star players, such as 16/17 league leading goalie Tadeas Galansky. Two time topscorer Dale Mitchell, was the only foreign player to extend his contract, making it his fourth year in a row as a Bulldog.[1] Bulldogs signed 55-year old Finnish Kari Rauhanen as head coach.[2] But after only ten regular season games, he decided to stop due to "personal matters". The board immediately hired Mikael Gath as new head coach.[3]

Midway through the season, Bulldogs fired star-player Anthony Camara due to unacceptable behaviour.[4]

Significant events

  • September 23: The board presents a financial deficit on 1.5 million DKK.[5]
  • October 11: Head coach Kari Rauhanen quits his job for personal reasons, and Mikael Gath was hired as new head coach.[3]
  • January 3: Anthony Camara gets fired due to unacceptable behaviour.[4]
  • February 12: Goaltender Robin Rahm leaves the club due to illness in near family. Hannu Toivonen signs as new goalie.[6][7]
  • February 27: The board presents that club desperately need one million DKK in one day to avoid bankruptcy.
  • March 1: The board successfully reached 1.052.000 DKK before deadline.

Preseason

The preseason was scheduled for five games, from August 18 to September 1.[8] It should have been six games, but was shortened to five because of a cancel from Gamyo d'Épinal. Odense were supposed to host a four team-tournament between themselves, Rungsted Seier Capital, Eispiraten Crimmitschau and of course Épinal. But the French team did not want to participate anyway, so the tournament was rescheduled to a three team-tournament.[9]

Bulldogs won four out of their five pre-season games. The only loss was against Rødovre Mighty Bulls, where they lost 3–0 on away ice.[10]

Schedule and results

Regular season

League table

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
5 Esbjerg Energy 50 23 6 5 16 151 130 +21 86 Qualification to Quarter-finals
6 Rungsted Seier Capital 50 21 6 3 20 154 142 +12 78
7 Odense Bulldogs 50 22 2 7 19 141 149 −8 77 Qualification to Play-in
8 Gentofte Stars 50 18 4 8 20 108 134 −26 70
9 SønderjyskE 50 18 4 7 21 135 143 −8 69
Updated to match(es) played on 27 February 2018. Source: Metal Ligaen

Schedule and results

The 2017–18 regular season schedule were published on July 5, 2017.[11]

2017–18 Game Log: 22–2–7–19, 77 Points (home: 12–2–4–7; road: 10–0–3–12)
February: 2–0–1–5, 7 Points (home: 1–0–1–2; road: 1–0–0–3)
# Date Home Score Visitor OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Report
43 1 February Rødovre 6–0 Odense Rahm 2,645 20–2–6–15 70 Report
44 6 February Frederikshavn 3–7 Odense Rahm 1,243 21–2–6–15 73 Report
45 9 February Odense 2–3 Rungsted OT Rahm 1,622 21–2–7–15 74 Report
46 11 February Herlev 6–2 Odense Rahm 420 21–2–7–16 74 Report
47 20 February Odense 2–5 SønderjyskE Toivonen 1,494 21–2–7–17 74 Report
48 23 February Herning 8–2 Odense Toivonen 1,815 21–2–7–18 74 Report
49 25 February Odense 2–1 Hvidovre Toivonen 998 22–2–7–18 77 Report
50 27 February Odense 1–6 Esbjerg Toivonen 777 22–2–7–19 77 Report

Legend:   Win (3 points)   Overtime/Shootout win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/Shootout loss (1 point)

Player statistics

Updated 25 January

Skaters

Goaltenders

Regular Season[12]
Player GP GAA SV%
Robin Rahm 45 2.45 .921
Andreas Lauridsen 3 4.81 .859
Hannu Toivonen 2 5.84 .821

Player of the Month

  • September: Søren Nielsen
  • October: Robin Rahm
  • November: Dale Mitchell
  • December: Yannick Vedel
  • January: Robin Rahm
  • February: Ned Lukacevic

References

  1. ^ "Peter Johansson og Odense Bulldogs stopper samarbejdet". Odense Bulldogs. 11 April 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Finsk træner skriver under med Bulldogs". Odense Bulldogs. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Bulldogs skifter træner". Odense Bulldogs. 11 October 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Bulldogs ophæver med Anthony Camara". Odense Bulldogs. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Meddelelse vedrørende årsrapport pr. 30.04.2017". Odense Bulldogs. 23 September 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Robin Rahm forlader Odense Bulldogs". Odense Bulldogs. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Finsk NHL-erfaring til Bulldogs". Odense Bulldogs. 12 February 2018. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Træningskampene på plads". Odense Bulldogs. 3 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Odense modtager afbud fra Epinal". Hockeymagasinet. 23 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Nederlag i træningskamp mod Rødovre". Odense Bulldogs. 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Odense Bulldogs schedule and results". bulldogs.dk. July 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "2017–2018 – Odense Bulldogs – Players – eliteprospects.com – Stats". Elite Prospects.