Nanaimo born Luke Lavery Commits to Providence College

When Darren Naylor (Head Coach) and Wes Mussio (Owner) of the Nanaimo Clippers took over the team in late 2017, their focus was on winning a BCHL championship while developing home grown talent. The Clippers’ spring development program started in 2018 as a brainchild of Coach Naylor/Owner Mussio and on the roster was one promising young man named Luke Lavery, a 2004 born forward. Skip forward and Lavery just received an NCAA Div. 1 scholarship from the very prestigious Providence College. He now represents the first of many to move from the Clippers’ development teams to the BCHL Clippers and on to NCAA Div. 1 hockey.

Coach Naylor offered: “I am extremely happy for Luke and his family on this big moment. Luke has come a long way in the past couple of seasons. Playing at the BCHL level last season, Luke has shown as a younger player that he has the ability to be a key player in this league, which is not easy. Luke is pound for pound one of the strongest players in the gym and he puts the extra time in which is evident with this accomplishment. We will be looking for Luke to continue his development and contribute offensively over the next two seasons before he heads south for Div. 1 hockey.

Wes Mussio added: “This is a great moment for the Clippers heading into the 50th season. Prior management teams for the Clippers have promised to add a local flair to their teams, which isn’t easy given the talented league, but we actually are delivering on the promise. Luke is a diamond in the rough for our development program, but I am optimistic he is just one of many to come for Nanaimo in future years. Even as a 2004 born player, I see him dominating this season and even getting on the NHL scouting radar.”