Nanaimo, B.C. – The Clippers returned home to the Frank Crane Arena on Friday to face a potential first round opponent, the Chilliwack Chiefs. The Clippers came out on top with a 6-3 victory, including a hat-trick from Kai Daniells.
The first period started with and early Chiefs powerplay, four minutes into the game. But it was the Clippers who capitalized with the extra skating room, forward Tristan Fraser scored a short-handed goal off a broken play that put the Clippers up 1-0 early. Six minutes later the Chiefs retaliated with a goal of their own to tie the score. Chilliwack followed up with another goal a few moments later to take a 2-1 lead. Clippers goaltender Cooper Black made a sprawling save on a breakaway to keep the game close. Jérémie Payant stole the puck off a Chiefs player at the redline and launched a counterattack with Toronto born Ethan Mistry, who held the puck on a string before putting a backhanded shot in the back of the net to tie the game going into the intermission.
The Clippers started the second period hot, peppering Chiefs goalie Grant Riley with shots. Kai Daniells glided along the offensive zone before ripping a shot over Riley’s shoulder to put the Clippers up 3-2 less than three minutes into the second. After a whistle, Clippers forward Brody Waters was the victim of a cross check to the face from a Chiefs player, sparking a pseudo line brawl that saw the Clippers come out with a powerplay. They were unable to score during the advantage, but Waters was able to return to the game in the third. The chiefs scored late to tie the game once again, this time 3-3. Clippers defender, Skylar Cameron made a game saving play late in the second. Sweeping the puck off the goal line to keep the game tied.
The third period started off slow with both teams not wanting to give up any chances. The last ten minutes of the third however, was dominated by Clippers. Ethan Mistry stunned the Chiefs defence with a few hesitation moves before finding Daniells sitting all alone at the side of the net. Daniells easily redirected the puck into the net to put the Clippers up one with eight minutes to go. Three minutes later, Skylar Cameron put the puck on net and after bouncing off multiple players in front, the puck found its way behind the Chiefs goalie for a 5-3 lead. With the net empty, Daniells completed the hat-trick and sealed the Clippers 6-3 victory.
For their efforts, Ethan Mistry was awarded second star, and hat-trick hero Kai Daniells took home first star. Forward Jérémie Payant was awarded FortisBC Energy Player of the game.
The Nanaimo Clippers are were in action on Friday for a matchup against the Langley Rivermen. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Frank Crane Box office on game day. Playoff ticket packages are also available for the 2022 playoffs.
Written by Malcolm Cooke.
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