With the departure of Ethan Scardina to the NCAA Division I for the 2020-2021 season, the Nanaimo Clippers have named Kyler Kovich as the new team captain.
Kovich came to the Nanaimo Clippers for the beginning of the 2018-2019, as one of the few 16-year-olds in the league. He instantly took on third line role as a defensive specialist while accumulating seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 48 games. As expected, during the 2019-2020 season, Kovich became a top three forward accumulating 39 points in 51 games including 18 goals. In the playoffs, he had six points in only four games, dominating the Alberni Valley Bulldog series.
Kovich has also seen significant accolades in Hockey Canada. He made the Team Canada West team for the Junior A challenge in Dawson Creek this season. He went to the CJHL prospect game where he was scouted by all the NHL teams. He is ranked to be a 3-4 round draft pick in the June 2020 NHL entry draft.
As Darren Naylor noted, “Kyler is a natural leader whom will lead by example every time he touches the ice. He is an extremely hard worker on and off the ice and a player who takes the game seriously while always looking to improve his game. It was an easy decision naming Kyler captain for next season. Being an 02 birth year player and already entering his 3rd full season, Kyler has been a huge part of the Clippers successful transition over that time frame.”
