Clippers defeat Victoria Grizzlies on Teddy Bear Toss Night

#10 Cole Lonsdale scored the first goal starting the rain of Teddy Bears..

By Malcom Cooke

The Nanaimo Clippers defeated the Victoria Grizzlies 4-2 on Saturday night for their 14th win of the season. The game was the final home game of 2023 and puts the Clippers within 1 point of the Grizzlies for 3rd place in the Coastal division. Cole Lonsdale opened the Clippers scoring on the power play. Noah Alvarez had 3 points including a goal. Mike Murtagh notched 2 assists in the win. Goaltender Tyler Hodges stopped 31/33 shots faced en route to his 12th win of the year, and 2nd in 2 nights.

Mike Murtagh was clipped with a high stick early in the 1st period which resulted in no call. On his next shift, Murtagh was given a slashing penalty, putting the Clippers on an early penalty kill. The Grizzlies took advantage, scoring on the power play to take an early 1-0 lead. The Clippers would get a chance to answer on their own power-play shortly after giving up the game’s 1st goal. Nanaimo answered with a goal of their own, tying the score at 1-1. Noah Alvarez pickpocketed Grizzlies goalie Owen Bresson and passed the puck out front to Cole Lonsdale who tapped home his 13th goal of the season on an open net. The Clippers would get another power-play chance before the end of the 1st period. Lonsdale nearly scored his 2nd goal of the game but was robbed by Bresson sliding across the crease. Another Victoria penalty gave the Clippers a limited 5 on 3. Samuel Boisvert was sent to the penalty box late in the 1st on a tripping call. The Grizzlies scored late to take a 2-1 lead into the 1st intermission. The Clippers outshot the Grizzlies 8-7 in the 1st.

Gabriel Westling tied the game at 2-2 just 9 seconds into the 2nd period after he walked in front of the Grizzlies net and roofed a backhanded shot. After scoring, the Clippers took their 3rd penalty of the game as Noah Alvarez got booked for a hook. Alvarez emerged from the box and ripped his 7th goal of the season to give the Clippers a 3-2 lead. After gaining the lead, the Clippers did a tremendous job of keeping the Grizzlies from any high-danger scoring opportunities. Late in the 2nd, the Clippers were awarded their 4th power-play chance of the game. Despite getting a few chances, the Clippers power-play unit could not add to their lead. Time expired in the 2nd period with the Clippers up 3-2 and the Grizzlies having a 15-12 advantage in the shot totals.

The Clippers took an early penalty to start the 3rd period. Fortunately, it would be the Clippers shorthand unit who scored. Luke Buss took a cross-crease pass from Mike Murtagh before burying his 10th goal of the season for a 4-2 Clippers lead. The Clippers would receive their 5th power play of the game early in the 3rd but were unable to score. Nanaimo would take another penalty in the first half of the 3rd period and kill it off with ease. The Clippers would take yet another penalty in the latter half of the 3rd and continue to keep the Grizzlies off the scoreboard. Tyler Hodges made a few heart-stopping saves to secure a 4-2 win.

The three stars of the game were awarded to Noah Alvarez, Mike Murtagh, and Chase Pirtle of the Grizzlies, respectively. Isa Parekh won FortisBC Energy Player of the Game.

The Clippers head on the road for the last games of 2023 before returning home on January 5th to face the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.   Tickets can be purchased at the Frank Crane box office on game day, or at tickets.nanaimoclippers.com.


Catch all of the exciting action at a 2023-2024 Nanaimo Clippers game. 
Tickets can be purchased at tickets.nanaimoclippers.com.

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