The Nanaimo Clippers kept at it and were able to break down the opponent’s defences.
The Clips came back to beat the Alberni Valley Bulldogs by a 5-3 score in the first game of the B.C. Hockey League season Friday at Frank Crane Arena.
The visitors led 2-1 going into the third, but the home team spent most of the final frame on the attack and the pucks started going in when it mattered most.
“Definitely we had some nerves to start the game off, but as the game went on, we gradually started getting better and better,” said Parker Colley, Clippers forward.
Mike Vandekamp, Clipper coach, said the squad started off looking like a team that was playing its first game of the season, but after the midway point of the game, starting stringing good shifts together.
“A great third period,” he said. “We played a lot in their end that period so it sort of had that feel like eventually a goal would come … If you win your shifts over and over, something good will happen and I think by trusting that, we pulled through.”
The Clippers scored three goals in just over a minute to take over the game. Brady Lynn banged away at a puck beside the net to score a game-tying goal with six minutes left, Tristan Crozier fired home a wrist shot 30 seconds after that and then Ben Pirko’s point shot found the back of the net a minute later.
Colley said the Clippers didn’t doubt they could come back.
“We’re really positive, we’re a really jelled group, so when we’re in those positions, we’re able to come out of it,” he said.
Vandekamp said the comeback win didn’t surprise me because he thinks this year’s Clippers are that kind of team.
“You always hear, ‘oh, we’ve got a good group of guys’ but this year we have a really special group of guys. They’ve pulled together early heare and they want to accomplish some special things this year,” he said.
Nanaimo’s other scorers were Colley, who finished with a goal and an assist, and Jamie Collins, who scored into an empty net. Goalie Noah Featherstonhaugh Gowemade 35 saves for the win as shots ended up 38-38.
GAME ON … The Clippers visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday at the Island Savings Centre. Nanaimo has two home games next weekend (Sept. 15-16) against the Powell River Kings and Victoria Grizzlies, respectively.