Left picture: #20 Thomas Samuelson’s shot is stopped by the AV goalie. Right Picture: #2 Trevor Isaksson, #18 Kyler Kovich and #30 Jordan Naylor see #8 Isiah Hendricks clear the puck from in front of the net.
By Dan Marshall
The WOLF 106.9 FM
Reprinted from NanaimoNewsNOW.com
PORT ALBERNI — The Clippers and Bulldogs were both sound defensively but a third period tally by the home team stood up as the game winner on Friday.
The first period was scoreless with a key moment being a charging call where the Bulldogs Isaac Tonkin-Palmer ran at Mackenzie Merriman. Merriman was knocked out of the game and Matt Mosher, who jumped in to stand up for his teammate, was also given a game misconduct and seven minutes in penalties.
The end result was a five minute power play for Alberni Valley which the Clippers killed off. Jordan Naylor was particularly sharp in net with 12 saves.
The second 20 minutes were scoreless as well with Nanaimo upping their body contact with big hits by Connor Wetsch, Isiah Hendricks, Devon Mussio, and Kyler Kovich. The shots were 21-7 Bulldogs through 40 minutes.
In the third period the game winning goal came on a tic tac toe passing play by Alberni Valley off the stick of Aaron Bohlinger. It was on a four on four situation just after a great Clipper chance where they failed to score on John Hawthorne.
A late empty netter by Ryan Miotto sealed the game for the Bulldogs. The final shots finished 28-16 for Alberni Valley.
Neither team scored on the man advantage with the Clippers going 0/7 and the Bulldogs finishing 0/5.
Friday’s Three Stars were 1) Aaron Bohlinger 1g, 2) John Hawthorne 16 saves, 3) Jordan Naylor 26 saves
On Saturday the Clippers travel to Powell River to play the Kings with the puck drop at 5 p.m.
