By Malcom Cooke
The Nanaimo Clippers beat the Merritt Centennials 7-3 on Saturday. In addition to the 10 total goals scored, a total of 54 penalty minutes were handed out in what was a very eventful game. Mike Murtagh and Brody Waters each scored two goals in the victory. Kai Daniells, Micheal Craig, and Charles Tardif added the other Clipper goals. Nanaimo managed to fire 48 shots at the Merritt net, while giving up 35 shots.
Former Clipper and current Centennial Walker Erickson opened the scoring two minutes into the first period for an early Merritt 1-0 lead. The Clippers had a chance to retaliate midway through the first when back-to-back Centennial penalties resulted in an extended 5 on 3. Merritt goalie Conor Sullivan stood on his head during the Nanaimo power-play and denied multiple Clipper scoring chances. With 6 minutes to go in the first, Mike Murtagh scored his 8th goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. The Clippers would get one more power-play opportunity in the first period but were once again turned aside by Sullivan. Shots were 25-10 in favour of Nanaimo through the first period.
The Clippers had another extended 5-on-3 power-play chance in the second period and mustered multiple scoring chances but were again denied by Sullivan. The Clippers finally capitalized on their 6th power-play chance of the game. Ontario product Brody Waters scored his 12th goal of the season to put the home team up 2-1. Kai Daniells added to his team lead in scoring, notching his 15th goal of the year on a shorthanded score for a 3-1 lead. Michigan Tech commit Charles Tardif continued the flurry of scoring with his 8th goal of the year making it a 4-1 Clipper lead. Late in the second Ben Brant took a tripping penalty, giving the Centennials a power play. With less than a minute to play Merritt would score to cut the lead to 4-2.
Captain Micheal Craig brought the three-goal lead back, scoring a minute into the third period to make the score 5-2. The Clippers were not content with the lead as Waters scored his second goal of the game midway through the third giving the Clippers a 6-2 lead. Merritt would chip into the lead minutes later, scoring on one of the game's many power plays. Mike Murtagh scored his second goal of the game on a 200-foot empty net Hail Mary shot.
The Clippers swept the three stars of the game with Brody Waters, Jake Hewitt, and Kai Daniells earning each respectively. Mike Murtagh took home FortisBC Energy Player of the Game.
The Clippers play again on Friday, December 9th in Port Alberni before returning home on December 11th to face the Coquitlam Express at 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased at Nanaimoclippers.com or the Frank Crane box office on game day.
