Nanaimo Clippers Week 2 Preview
Games
Friday – HOME vs Powell River 7pm
Saturday HOME vs Victoria 6pm
Radio: 106.9 the Wolf
Online: HockeyTV.com
Nanaimo’s season is off to a good start with back to back wins to open the BCHL season. In the Clippers home opener they came from behind to beat Alberni Valley 5-3.
In 2016-2017 Nanaimo was unable to erase a third period deficit, but they did just that on opening night.
Friday’s win featured five different goal scorers in front of a large crowd of 1658.
On Saturday the Clippers spoiled Cowichan Valley’s home opener with an 8-3 victory. Nanaimo counted six goals in the first period in that win.
This weekend the Clippers will try to reverse the results of last season against Powell River and Victoria.
They were 2-6 against the Kings last year and 1-6-0-1 versus the Grizzlies.
Both clubs have more than ten returnees from last year, when they played each other in the Island Division Final.
The Clippers expect to be in the conversation for an Island championship this season and there’s legitimate excitement about the way the team has performed in exhibition and the beginning of the regular season.
Friday’s game against Powell River is an early season battle for first place in the Island Division, Pepsi is the game night sponsor but they’ve donated the VIP suite to the Canucks Autism Network for the night.
The Grizzlies come in on Saturday after splitting with the Kings on the road last week and they’ll have a matchup in Alberni Valley on Friday.
Saturday the Clippers billets will be in the VIP suite to watch what should be a spirited game.
Captain Jamie Collins admitted this week that there’s still carry over from last year when Nanaimo plays rivalry teams like the Kings and Grizzlies.
—
Clippers stats as of Sept 12th:
NANAIMO – 2-0
1st in Island Division
HOME – 1-0
ROAD – 1-0
Last Game – 8-3 win @ Cowichan – Babych, Crozier, Belisle – 3 pts
Streak – 1 win
Top Scorer – Tristan Crozier – 5pts
Season Series – 2-6 vs Powell River (last season)
Season series vs – 1-6-0-1 vs Victoria (last season)
OT Record – 5-6-1 (last season)
GF – 13
GA – 6
PP – 7th – 25%
PK – 15th – 25%
NCAA
Jamie Collins – Clarkson
Ben Pirko – Union College
Brad Belisle – Bemidji State
Jack MacNab – Notre Dame
