The Nanaimo Clippers have been preparing for a long time for this, and it's almost here – the first faceoff of a new B.C. Hockey League season.
The junior A hockey club begins its regular season on Friday, Sept. 20, with a game on the road against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Coaches have done their best to get the team prepared, and assistant coach Gaelan Patterson said the players are doing everything they've been asked to do.
"This group, as far as the details, coachability, I think they're going to keep themselves more accountable than ever," he said. "I think it's a great group for that, great leadership for that."
Junior hockey teams have high turnover every year as guys move on to the college ranks, but the Clippers return a foundation of key players, especially up front. Connor DeTurris, Cole Lonsdale and Joel Plante will be some of the leaders on the forward lines and Chase Hull has levelled up his game. The group of newcomers is led by Luke Lavery, who is from Nanaimo and will add a veteran presence, and some new additions to watch include Makaio Van Tassel and Elliot Perrault.
On defence, returning vet Andrew Brown is the leader, and will pair with new recruit Hudson Gill. Newcomers Julian Brown, who plays tough and skates well, and Anthony Biakabutuka, who also brings size and skill, are going to be counted on this season, and returnee Liam Rodman will be a heart-and-soul guy on the blueline.
Goaltending should be a strength, as the Clippers return Chazz Nixon as their No. 1 and have been impressed with Kyan Labbé as the other member of their tandem.
Patterson said right from the first pre-season game, players and coaches watched video afterward to tweak things and try to get closer to Clippers hockey.
"Basically right now it's about details and the way we want to play hockey," he said. "It's not just about a system – like X goes here, X goes there – it's more the little things that we want to start preaching so that it becomes a habit."
For the season opener, the Clippers will go in with the short-term goal of trying to win a hockey game, while at the same time keeping long-term success in mind.
"You just want to build the culture and the consistency of the work ethic and all of that," the assistant coach said. "You face little tests and see how the guys respond and then you kind of know your group a little bit more."
GAME ON … The Clippers and the Bulldogs play Friday, Sept. 20, at the Alberni Valley Multiplex. The Clippers will have home games the following weekend, Sept. 27-28, against the Chilliwack Chiefs and Powell River Kings, respectively. For ticket information, visit www.nanaimoclippers.com.
