Nanaimo, BC – The Nanaimo Clippers completed the second-round sweep of the Chilliwack Chiefs. A 1-0 victory thanks to another Keighan Gerrie goal was enough to come out on top. Michigan product, Cooper Black made 37 saves for a series-clinching shutout. The Clippers will have some time off before they play the winner of the Alberni Valley vs. Langley series.
The first period started with a ten-minute misconduct handed out to Clippers Defender, Andrew Noel. A sign of things to come, as game four was just more physical playoff hockey. The first period saw 20 penalty minutes dished out between the two teams. The Clippers came out hot, getting the first 8 shots of the game. The Clippers also rang two shots off the post. The first period ended scoreless.
The second period was more of the same. The Chiefs picked up their offensive pace, managing 17 shots in the second. Clipper goaltender Cooper Black turned aside every shot he faced. Including a breakaway chance towards the end of the period. The highlight of the second was a thunderous open-ice hit from Andrew Noel. There was not a single penalty or goal in the second. The playoff intensity would carry over into the third, as the Clippers looked to sweep the series against the Chiefs.
The third period started with the Clippers taking an early penalty. Despite the Chiefs buzzing around the offensive zone, the penalty kill was able to keep most of the shots outside of any dangerous areas. It took ten minutes into the third frame before the Clippers could muster a shot. Cooper Black stood on his head for the entire game, but multiple key saves in the third allowed for Nanaimo to counterattack. With less than five minutes to go Monday’s hero, Keighan Gerrie, came down the sidewall and fired a shot over Grant Riley’s glove to put the Clippers up 1-0. That would be all the scoring the Clippers would need to pull off a series sweep.
The Nanaimo Clippers head to the third round of the BCHL playoffs. The Langley Rivermen have a 3-1 series lead over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The winner of that series will face the Clippers for the Coastal Conference crown.
Written by Malcolm Cooke.
Recap presented by
