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Clippers, Grizzlies colliding

The Nanaimo Clippers have been able to beat most of the league’s best teams, but they do still have one grizzly bear on their back.

The Nanaimo Clippers have been able to beat most of the league’s best teams, but they do still have one grizzly bear on their back.

This weekend the Clips will try to earn their first win this season against the Victoria Grizzlies.

Nanaimo hosts Vic on Friday (Nov. 29) at Frank Crane Arena, then heads down to Bear Mountain Arena the next night for a rematch.

The Grizzlies have defeated the Clippers four times already in 2013-14, though it’s been more than a month since the last meeting between the teams.

“They’re a very hard-working team, probably one of the hardest-working teams we’ve played,” said Brendan Taylor, alternate captain on the Clippers. “We’ve got to work hard against them.”

He said he doesn’t think the Clippers are psyched out, having lost to the Grizzlies so many times.

“I think we just maybe haven’t had our best games against them,” Taylor said. “But we’re going to be ready to play this week.”

Clippers captain Scott Prier said his team needs to “bear down,” no pun intended, and stick to its system.

“I don’t know what it is about that team that we’ve had so much trouble with. I don’t really think they’re better than us…” he said. “We’ve just got to believe in ourselves, stay focused throughout the game and engaged and we’ll be fine.”

GAME ON … The Clippers and Grizzlies face off Friday at 7 p.m. … On Sunday (Dec. 1) the Clips host the Coquitlam Express at 2 p.m. at the Frank.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com