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VIDEO: Double-overtime goal gives Clippers a 2-1 win

The Nanaimo Clippers defeated the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday at Frank Crane Arena
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Nanaimo Clippers forward Brad Belisle advances the puck behind the Alberni Valley Bulldogs goal during Friday’s BCHL game at Frank Crane Arena. (GREG SAKAKI/The News Bulletin)

The Clippers kept biding their time and were able to beat the Bulldogs in the end.

Nanaimo defeated Alberni Valley 2-1 in double overtime on Friday night in B.C. Hockey League action at Frank Crane Arena.

The game was tied almost all the way from start to finish, though the Clippers had the better chances and were finally rewarded when David Melaragni was sprung free and scored on a backhand deke two minutes into double OT.

“I thought we outplayed them the whole game,” Melaragni said. “It was just unfortunate we didn’t get another goal in the first three periods to win the game and not go to overtime, but we battled hard, took it to them in the second overtime and got the win.”

Mike Vandekamp, Clippers coach, called the OT goal a sweet way for the game to end.

“I thought we played good,” Vandekamp said. “We wanted to play a good defensive game and we wanted to possess the puck and be smart with it and I thought we did a lot of that.”

He said when games go to double overtime, there are still principles that are important. Faceoffs and puck possession are key, the coach said, as well as hitting the net on shots because otherwise it can lead to a chance the other way.

The Bulldogs had an odd-man rush in double OT and Clippers goalie Austin Roden made the save to get the play going in the other direction. Cal Babych assisted on Melaragni’s goal.

“With our D, we want to make sure that they’re jumping up if it’s a smart time to jump up and not jumping up for the sake of jumping up,” Vandekamp said. “There’s lots of things we talk about [with double overtime] but it is a bit of mayhem, too.”

The coach pointed out it’s the fifth-straight one-goal game his team has played.

“You’ve got to learn how to play in these types of games,” he said. “This league is good, there’s good competition every night.”

Jake Harris scored Nanaimo’s other goal Friday and Roden made 21 saves as shots ended up 40-22 in favour of the home team.

GAME ON … The Clippers host the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday (Oct. 7) at 6 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.



sports@nanaimobulletin.com

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