Clippers lose heartbreaker in Vernon 5-4

Left picture:#23 Sammy Steele scores Nanaimo’s second goal.
Right picture: #20 Thomas Samuelsen scoring Nanaimo’s third goal.

By Dan Marshall
The WOLF 106.9 FM 
Reprinted from NanaimoNewsNOW.com 

VERNON — It was a back and forth road game for Nanaimo on Friday night, but they lost on a late goal 5-4 to the Vipers. Former Clipper Matt Kowalski won the game for his team breaking a 4-4 tie with a minute and half to play in the third period.

The Clippers struck first on the night on a pretty passing play on the power play. Carter Stephenson ripped in a one timer after being set up by Josh Bourne and Tyler Williams.

Vernon got the next two goals from Nicholas Chernowski and Connor Marritt to take the advantage. Sammy Steele picked the short side corner on Aidan Porter to send the game to the intermission at 2-2.

In the second period Jordan Naylor was extremely sharp in net with the Vipers buzzing the Nanaimo goal. Jagger Williamson did score on a goal mouth tap in to give the Vipers the lead but the Clippers turned up the pressure late in the second period and tied the score on a passing play finished off by Thomas Samuelsen.

#30 Jordan Naylor stops a Vernon player’s scoring chance.

Robby Drazner connected on a last minute power play to vault the Clippers into a 4-3 lead through 40 minutes. But Vernon had the only goals of third period with an early deflection by Teddy Wooding and the late winner by Kowalski.

Vernon outshot the Clippers 36-24 and both teams went to the man advantage five times.

Nanaimo was perfect on the penalty kill and connected on two of their power plays.

Friday’s Three Stars were Matt Kowalski (1 goal, 1 assist), Sammy Steele (1 goal, 1 assist), and Connor Marritt (1 goal).

With the win the Vipers take the season series 2-1.

On Saturday the Clippers visit the league leading Chilliwack Chiefs, looking to snap Chilliwack’s nine-game winning streak.