The Nanaimo Clippers have been earning points pretty consistently, but that doesn’t mean that they’re about to shrug off the odd loss here and there.
The city’s B.C. Hockey League team saw its win streak end Wednesday in a 4-2 setback on the road against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
“There’s definitely no such thing as ‘just one of those nights.’ We expect to win every time we play,” said Mike Vandekamp, Clippers coach. “We weren’t happy with the way that we competed from top to bottom.”
The game was evenly played, he said, with Nanaimo carrying the play in the first period, Alberni carrying the play in the second period, and the third period split down the middle. It was the home team, though, that snapped the 2-2 tie with six minutes left on an ugly goal.
“It ramped up over the goalie and fell in the net. It wasn’t really a glorious scoring opportunity,” Vandekamp said.
The Bulldogs then added an empty netter to ice the win. The Clippers’ goals came from Reid Sturos and Chris Rygus and Jayson Argue made 22 saves in defeat.
The Clips don’t have to stew over the loss very long, as they return to action Friday (Nov. 16) with a game against the Langley Rivermen at Frank Crane Arena.
Nanaimo is back on home ice the next night, too, to host the division-leading Victoria Grizzlies. The teams have played twice already this season, with the Clips and Grizz each winning once.
“The games that we’ve played with them so far have had a pretty good level of intensity to them and they've been good games, so I would expect no different,” Vandekamp said.
GAME ON … Nanaimo and Langley play Friday at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena. Before the game the Clippers will continue their 40th anniversary recognition by honouring alumni Jason Disiewich and Sean Stotts. Saturday's game against the Grizz is also a 7 p.m. puck drop at the Frank.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com