Left picture: #16 Brody Waters and #2 Michael Craig guard in front of #35 Aidan Campbell.
Right picture: #22 Skyler Cameron goes past the bench after scoring Nanaimo's second goal.
By Malcome Cooke
The Nanaimo Clippers returned to the Frank Crane Arena for their home opener for the 2022-23 BCHL season on Friday. Prior to puck-drop, the Clippers honoured the Snuneymuxw First Nation for Truth and Reconciliation day with a brief speech from Elder Debbie Good. Despite mustering 45 shots, the Clippers fell 6-4 to the Powell River Kings. Clippers' goals were scored by Charles Tardif, Skyler Cameron, Mike Murtagh, and Ethan Mistry.
The Clippers came out of the gates with plenty of energy. A minute into the game, Jake Hewitt stole the puck from Kings goalie Liam Vanderkooi behind the net. With a wide-open net, he fanned on the shot keeping the game scoreless. A penalty to Clipper defender Grant Babcock gave Powell River a power play opportunity. The Kings managed to score to take an early 1-0 lead. The Clippers outpaced the Kings through the first period but were unable to solve Vanderkooi. Streaking down the middle of the ice, veteran forward Charles Tardif backhanded the puck top corner to tie the game at 1. Each team took minor penalties late in the period leading to 4-on-4 play. The Kings used the open ice to score their second goal of the game and took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
The second period started with a thunderous hit from Greenbrush, New York born Mike Murtagh that knocked a Kings forward into the bench. A penalty to the Kings led to Hometown kid, Skyler Cameron blasting a power-play slapshot between numerous bodies into the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2. With just three seconds left in the period, Murtagh finished the period with the same energy he started with. Following a Jake Hewitt breakaway, Murtagh jammed home the rebound to take a 3-2 lead into the locker room.
Coincidental penalties were handed out at the beginning of the third period for some face-off jousting by Tyler Wishart of the Clippers and Marcus Dashevsky of the Kings. Powell River scored two goals, including a power play goal, in quick succession in the third to hold a 4-3 lead. With just 5 minutes left to play, Jérémie Payant and Kings defender Caleb Bentham dropped the gloves in a spirited tilt. Both players were ejected with game misconduct penalties. Ethan Mistry managed to use the momentum from the scrap to score his first of the season and once again tie the game. The Kings scored two late goals, including an empty netter to win 6-4.
The FortisBC Energy Player of the Game was awarded to Mike Murtagh for his physical play and goal. Skyler Cameron took home the third star with a 2-point night. Marcus Dashevsky’s 3-point night earned him second star. First star was awarded to Kings goalie Liam Vanderkooi for his 41-save effort.
The Clippers are back in action on Saturday to face the Victoria Grizzlies. Tickets can be purchased at nanaimoclippers.com or at the Frank Crane Box office.
