// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy was the 2016-17 Odense Bulldogs season paws-itive?

2016–17 Odense Bulldogs
2016–17 record	31–10–4
Home record	15–6–0
Road record	16–4–4
Goals for	143
Goals against	96
Team information
Coach	Peter Johansson
Assistant coach	Mads True
Captain	Michael Eskesen
Alternate captains	Simon Grønvaldt Dale Mitchell
Arena	Bryggeriet Vestfyens Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Tony Romano (28)
Assists	Dale Mitchell (40)
Points	Dale Mitchell (67)
Penalty minutes	Dale Mitchell (124)
Goals against average	Tadeas Galansky (2.07)

The 2016–17 Odense Bulldogs season was the 26th season in the Danish Hockey League since the team was promoted in 1990.

There has been a lot of redeployments during the summer. Bulldogs did not extend the contract with coach Brad Gratton, and signed Frederikshavn coach Peter Johansson on a two-year contract.

Furthermore, a number of players have left the club, including stars such as Ryan McDonough, Sean Wiles and John Armstrong. However, Bulldogs has signed a lot of new players, such as the former Bulldogs-player Michael Eskesen.

Bulldogs finished as second in the regular season, for the first time since the 2011–12 season. They knocked out Rungsted 4–0 in the quarter-finals. They could not handle Gentofte in the semi-finals and lost 1–4. Then they were forced into a bronze medal-game against Frederikshavn, where they lost both games, 2–6 and 0–3.

Preseason

Schedule and results

2016–17 Game Log: 3–6–0 (home: 0–3–0; road: 3–4–0)
#	Date	Home	Score	Visitor	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record
1	16 August	Odense	1–3	Esbjerg				0–1–0
2	19 August	Gentofte	2–4	Odense				1–1–0
3	26 August	Bayreuth	6–3	Odense				1–2–0
4	27 August	Most	2–4	Odense				1–3–0
5	28 August	Crimmitschau	5–3	Odense				2–3–0
6	2 September	Odense	1–3	Rungsted				2–4–0
7	9 September	Aalborg	3–2	Odense				2–5–0
8	13 September	Frederikshavn	1–4	Odense				3–5–0
9	15 September	Odense	1–5	Gentofte				3–6–0

Regular season

Main article: 2016–17 Metal Ligaen season

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Aalborg Pirates	45	27	4	2	12	133	94	+39	91	Qualification to Metal Ligaen Play-offs
2	Odense Bulldogs	45	22	9	4	10	143	96	+47	88
3	Frederikshavn White Hawks	45	23	7	1	14	133	92	+41	84
4	Esbjerg Energy	45	18	6	9	12	140	106	+34	75
5	SønderjyskE	45	20	5	5	15	130	117	+13	75

Updated to match(es) played on 28 February 2017. Source: Metal Ligaen

Schedule and results

2016–17 Game Log: 31–10–4, 88 Points (home: 15–6–0; road: 16–4–4)
September: 1–1–1, 3 Points (home: 0–1–0; road: 1–0–1) # Date Home Score Visitor OT Decision Attendance Record Pts 1 23 September Odense 1–2 Aalborg Galansky 1,282 0–1–0 0 Report 2 27 September Frederikshavn 3–2 Odense OT Galansky 929 0–1–1 1 Report 3 30 September Esbjerg 1–2 Odense SO Galansky 1,151 1–1–1 3 Report
October: 7–2–1, 20 Points (home: 4–1–0; road: 3–1–1) # Date Home Score Visitor OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 4 4 October Odense 0–1 Gentofte Galansky 768 1–2–1 3 Report 5 7 October Odense 2–0 SønderjyskE Galansky 1,409 2–2–1 6 Report 6 11 October Odense 3–2 Herning SO Galansky 493 3–2–1 8 Report 7 14 October Odense 5–4 Rungsted SO Galansky 1,092 4–2–1 10 Report 8 16 October Gentofte 1–3 Odense Galansky 327 5–2–1 13 Report 9 18 October Odense 3–4 Rødovre Galansky 897 5–3–1 13 Report 10 21 October Herlev 4–7 Odense Galansky 617 6–3–1 16 Report 11 22 October Odense 5–1 Herlev Galansky 955 7–3–1 19 Report 12 28 October Rødovre 2–4 Odense Galansky 1,256 8–3–1 22 Report 13 29 October SønderjyskE 4–3 Odense OT Galansky 2,102 8–3–2 23 Report
November: 2–4–0, 6 Points (home: 2–1–0; road: 0–3–0) # Date Home Score Visitor OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 14 9 November Rungsted 3–2 Odense Galansky 1,084 8–4–2 23 Report 15 11 November Herning 5–4 Odense Galansky 1,325 8–5–2 23 Report 16 12 November Odense 3–1 Esbjerg Galansky 1,205 9–5–2 26 Report 17 25 November Aalborg 4–1 Odense Galansky 1,812 9–6–2 26 Report 18 26 November Odense 4–2 Frederikshavn Galansky 872 10–6–2 29 Report 19 29 November Odense 0–2 Aalborg Galansky 891 10–7–2 29 Report
December: 10–0–0, 27 Points (home: 4–0–0; road: 6–0–0) # Date Home Score Visitor OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 20 2 December Frederikshavn 0–2 Odense Galansky 1,214 11–7–2 32 Report 21 6 December Esbjerg 1–2 Odense OT Galansky 1,099 12–7–2 34 Report 22 9 December Odense 4–3 Gentofte OT Galansky 1,014 13–7–2 36 Report 23 10 December Gentofte 0–4 Odense Galansky 157 14–7–2 39 Report 24 13 December SønderjyskE 2–3 Odense Galansky 2,124 15–7–2 42 Report 25 16 December Odense 4–2 Herning Galansky 1,113 16–7–2 45 Report 26 20 December Rungsted 3–4 Odense Galansky 1,041 17–7–2 48 Report 27 22 December Odense 6–1 Rødovre Galansky 1,127 18–7–2 51 Report 28 29 December Odense 2–1 Herlev OT Galansky 1,736 19–7–2 53 Report 29 30 December Herlev 2–5 Odense Galansky 432 20–7–2 56 Report
January: 5–2–2, 16 Points (home: 3–1–1; road: 2–1–1) # Date Home Score Visitor OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 30 3 January Rødovre 2–1 Odense SO Galansky 784 20–7–3 57 Report 31 4 January Aalborg 1–4 Odense Galansky 1,303 21–7–3 60 Report 32 6 January Odense 5–1 Rungsted Galansky 1,254 22–7–3 63 Report 33 10 January Odense 3–2 SønderjyskE OT Galansky 1,211 23–7–3 65 Report 34 20 January Esbjerg 3–2 Odense SO Galansky 1,268 23–7–4 66 Report 35 21 January Odense 0–2 Esbjerg Galansky 1,321 23–8–4 66 Report 36 24 January Odense 1–4 Frederikshavn Galansky 955 23–9–4 66 Report 37 27 January Odense 3–2 Aalborg Galansky 1,642 24–9–4 69 Report 38 31 January Frederikshavn 2–3 Odense Galansky 1,392 25–9–4 72 Report
February: 6–1–0, 16 Points (home: 2–1–0; road: 4–0–0) # Date Home Score Visitor OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 5 February Odense 3–2 Gentofte OT Galansky 1,323 26–9–4 74 Report 40 14 February SønderjyskE 2–4 Odense Galansky 2,535 27–9–4 77 Report 41 17 February Herning 4–5 Odense OT Galansky 1,914 28–9–4 79 Report 42 18 February Odense 1–3 Herning Galansky 1,875 28–10–4 79 Report 43 21 February Rungsted 2–3 Odense Galansky 571 29–10–4 82 Report 44 24 February Odense 11–1 Rødovre Galansky 2,290 30–10–4 85 Report 45 28 February Herlev 2–4 Odense Galansky 655 31–10–4 88 Report Legend:   Win (3 points)   Overtime/Shootout win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/Shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

2016 Metal Ligaen Play-offs
Quarter-final vs. Rungsted Seier Capital (8): Odense won 4–0 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 March 3 Odense 2–1 Rungsted Galansky 1,577 1–0 Report 2 March 5 Rungsted 2–4 Odense Galansky 1,288 2–0 Report 3 March 7 Odense 3–2 Rungsted Galansky 1,484 3–0 Report 4 March 10 Rungsted 1–5 Odense Galansky 1,822 4–0 Report
Semi-final vs. Gentofte Stars (6): Gentofte won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 March 21 Odense 1–2 Gentofte OT Galansky 1,507 0–1 Report 2 March 24 Gentofte 2–0 Odense Galansky 1,069 0–2 Report 3 March 26 Odense 1–2 Gentofte Galansky 1,675 0–3 Report 4 March 28 Gentofte 1–2 Odense Galansky 1,070 1–3 Report 5 March 31 Odense 0–2 Gentofte Galansky 2,237 1–4 Report Legend:   Win   Overtime/Shootout win   Loss   Overtime/Shootout loss

Bronze medal-game

7 April 19:30

Frederikshavn

6–2 (1–1, 1–1, 4–0)

Odense

Scanel Hockey Arena, Frederikshavn Attendance: 1,001

Game reference
	Thomas Lillie	Goalies	Tadeas Galansky

8 April 15:00

Odense

0–3 (0–3, 0–0, 0–0)

Frederikshavn

Odense Isstadion, Odense Attendance: 911

Game reference
	Tadeas Galansky	Goalies	Thomas Lillie

Player statistics

Updated 31 March 2017

Skaters

Regular season

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Dale Mitchell	44	27	40	67	+33	124
Tony Romano	42	28	26	54	+36	47
Sebastian Strandberg	40	13	32	45	+22	16
Rasmus Bjerrum	45	13	13	26	+15	12
Simon Grønvaldt	44	7	16	23	+20	20
Robin Sterner	43	7	13	20	+8	56
Martin Larsen	40	9	10	19	+23	45
Mathias Thinnesen	44	6	12	18	+8	14
Michael Eskesen	46	5	10	15	+33	22
Rasmus Lyø	40	4	10	14	+13	14
Mikkel Ankjær Nielsen	39	5	5	10	−2	52
Henrik Nielsen	43	3	7	10	+6	32
Jonas René Hansen	43	4	5	9	0	8
Frederik Høeg	37	3	4	7	−3	2
Oliver Larsen	31	1	6	7	+11	64
Asger Petersen	41	3	3	6	+5	22
Andreas Pedersen	45	2	4	6	+5	28
Mads Schaarup	39	1	4	6	+1	37
Frederik Sørensen	31	1	1	2	−4	18
Søren Pedersen	11	1	0	1	−2	2
Daniel Lundvald Nielsen	2	0	1	1	0	2
Matej Polata	19	0	0	0	−2	0
Christian Larsen	33	0	0	0	+3	0

Play-offs

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/−	PIM
Dale Mitchell	9	4	4	8	+3	14
Tony Romano	4	4	2	6	+7	12
Robin Sterner	9	3	3	6	+2	16
Henrik Nielsen	9	3	2	5	+3	6
Rasmus Bjerrum	9	2	2	4	+7	4
Mathias Thinnesen	9	0	3	3	+1	6
Rasmus Lyø	9	0	3	3	+3	0
Simon Grønvaldt	9	1	1	2	+2	2
Martin Larsen	9	0	2	2	+6	10
Michael Eskesen	9	0	2	2	+2	8
Oliver Larsen	9	1	1	2	+3	2
Andreas Pedersen	9	0	2	2	+3	6
Sebastian Strandberg	5	0	0	0	–4	14
Mikkel Ankjær Nielsen	9	0	0	0	–1	4
Jonas René Hansen	9	0	0	0	0	0
Frederik Høeg	9	0	0	0	–1	4
Asger Petersen	9	0	0	0	–1	2
Mads Schaarup	9	0	0	0	+1	2
Frederik Sørensen	9	0	0	0	0	2
Søren Pedersen	8	0	0	0	–2	0

Goaltenders

Regular season

Player	GP	GAA	SV%
Tadeas Galansky	45	2.07	.924

Play-offs

Player	GP	GAA	SV%
Tadeas Galansky	9	1.46	.938

Continental Cup

Main article: 2016–17 IIHF Continental Cup

Group stage

The Group D tournament was played in Odense, Denmark from 18 to 20 November 2016.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		NOT	ODE	ANG	DON
1	Nottingham Panthers	3	2	0	0	1	10	10	0	6	Qualification to Super Final		—	5–4	4–3	1–3
2	Odense Bulldogs	3	2	0	0	1	9	8	+1	6			4–5	—	3–2	2–1
3	Ducs d'Angers	3	1	0	0	2	8	9	−1	3			3–4	2–3	—	3–2
4	HC Donbass	3	1	0	0	2	6	6	0	3			3–1	1–2	2–3	—

Updated to match(es) played on 20 November 2016. Source: IIHF.com

Matches

18 November 2016 20:00

Odense Bulldogs

4–5 (1–2, 1–2, 2–1)

Nottingham Panthers

Odense Isstadion, Denmark

Game reference
	Tadeas Galansky	Goalies	Miika Wiikman	Referees: Robin Berg Brett Sheva Linesmen: Claus Hansen Simon Mølgaard
	0–1 12:52 – O. Betteridge (R. Lachowicz, P. Kalus) R. Sterner (S. Grønvaldt, R. Bjerrum) – 13:29 1–1 1–2 16:58 – B. Moran (L. MacMillan, P. Kalus) 1–3 25:15 – M. Carter (A. Nikiforuk, R. Lachowicz) 1–4 29:43 – P. Kalus (A. Nikiforuk) R. Sterner (R. Bjerrum, H. Nielsen) – 33:17 2–4 2–5 46:23 – B. McGrattan (R. Farmer) R. Lyø (F. Høeg) – 49:43 3–5 D. Mitchell (M. Thinnesen, O. Larsen) – 59:09 4–5
	6 min	Penalties	6 min
	33	Shots	34

19 November 2016 19:00

Odense Bulldogs

2–1 (1–1, 0–0, 1–0)

HC Donbass

Odense Isstadion, Denmark

Game reference
	Tadeas Galansky	Goalies	Yevgeni Tsaregorodtsev	Referees: Denis Naumov Brett Sheva Linesmen: Lasse Dahlerup Simon Mølgaard
	0–1 11:44 – R. Blagoy T. Romano (O. Larsen, D. Mitchell – 15:53 1–1 T. Romano (S. Strandberg, M. Larsen) (PP) – 45:57 2–1
	10 min	Penalties	14 min
	23	Shots	31

20 November 2016 16:00

Ducs d'Angers

2–3 (1–0, 0–1, 1–1)

Odense Bulldogs

Odense Isstadion, Denmark

Game reference
	Léo Bertein	Goalies	Tadeas Galansky	Referees: Robin Berg Denis Naumov Linesmen: Oliver Blach Claus Hansen
	0–1 00:55 – R. Bjerrum (T. Romano) M. Gagnon (G. Leveque) (PP) – 28:13 1–1 1–2 29:15 – O. Larsen (T. Romano, D. Mitchell) R. Gaborit (M. Gagnon) – 29:41 2–2 2–3 57:59 – M. Eskesen (D. Mitchell, T. Romano) (PP)
	12 min	Penalties	10 min
	27	Shots	38

Final

Continental Cup Final tournament will be played from 13 to 15 January 2017. The host will be determined later.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	OTW	OTL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Nottingham Panthers	3	2	1	0	0	9	3	+6	8	Qualification to Champions Hockey League
2	Odense Bulldogs	3	1	0	1	1	6	6	0	4
3	Beibarys Atyrau	3	0	1	2	0	7	8	−1	4
4	Ritten Sport	3	0	1	0	2	5	10	−5	2

First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2017. Source:

Matches

13 January 2017 16:00

Nottingham Panthers

2–0 (0–0, 1–0, 1–0)

Odense Bulldogs

Arena Ritten, Italy Attendance: 450

Game reference
	Miika Wiikman	Goalies	Tadeas Galansky	Referees: Oliver Gouin Ladislav Smetana Linesmen: Ulrich Pardatscher Tobias Schwenk
	B. Moran (S. Schultz, J. Williams) – 39:37 1–0 B. Moran (J. Brown) (PP) – 46:48 2–0
	4 min	Penalties	6 min
	32	Shots	29

14 January 2017 19:00

Ritten Sport

1–4 (0–1, 0–1, 1–2)

Odense Bulldogs

Arena Ritten, Italy Attendance: 1,735

Game reference
	Patrick Killeen	Goalies	Tadeas Galansky	Referees: Oliver Gouin Jari-Pekka Pajula Linesmen: Yann Furet Tobias Schwenk
	0–1 15:01 – H. Nielsen 0–2 21:12 – D. Mitchell (T. Romano, M. Larsen) (PP) 0–3 49:16 – S. Strandberg (D. Mitchell) D. Tudin (J. Sprukts, B. Cole) – 51:15 1–3 1–4 58:03 – S. Strandberg (ENG)
	30 min	Penalties	12 min
	37	Shots	27

15 January 2017 15:00

Odense Bulldogs

2–3 (1–0, 1–1, 0–1, 0–1)

Beibarys Atyrau

Arena Ritten, Italy Attendance: 550

Game reference
	Tadeas Galansky	Goalies	Artyom Mikushin	Referees: Vladimir Baluska Mikhail Buturlin Linesmen: Yann Furet Ulrich Pardatscher
	R. Sterner (R. Bjerrum, F. Høeg) – 00:48 1–0 H. Nielsen (T. Romano, S. Strandberg) – 34:36 2–0 2–1 39:05 – A. Ryzhikh (A. Zubkov) 2–2 59:46 – M. Korobov 2–3 64:35 – A. Vishnyakov (E. Sherbatov)
	4 min	Penalties	4 min
	25	Shots	45