The Nanaimo Clippers scored a ton of goals, but not quite enough to earn a win.
The Clips lost their first two games of the B.C. Hockey League season this weekend, falling 6-4 to the Prince George Spruce Kings on Saturday and then losing 7-6 to the West Kelowna Warriors on Sunday.
“To score that many goals and still not be able to win the game is frustrating,” said Mike Vandekamp, Clippers coach.
Sunday’s barnburner was tied 3-3 late in the second period and Vandekamp said he thought his team had good control of the game until it allowed two by the Warriors in the final minute of that frame.
The coach said players tried to do too much with the puck and didn’t keep the game simple.
“Turnovers were a big problem for me,” he said. “We didn’t manage the puck very smartly, we made some bad decisions.”
Giving up that many goals, said Vandekamp, is an indicator that a team’s structure has broken down.
“I was not pleased with our structure, focus, smarts. Those were the things that hurt us,” he said.
A positive is all the offence. The Clippers capitalized and scored some greasy goals, said the coach, and got contributions from different guys.
“The encouraging side is that some of the new faces showed that they can score some goals,” Vandekamp said.
In Sunday’s loss, Corey Renwick, Cole Maier, Brett Roulston, Jake Jackson, Kale Bennett and Devin Brosseau scored. Jakob Severson made 24 saves in defeat.
The day before, Anthony Rinaldi, Renwick, Brosseau and Roulston scored and Guillaume Decelles made 33 saves.
GAME ON … Nanaimo’s next game is its home opener Friday (Sept. 26) at Frank Crane Arena. The Powell River Kings visit for a 7 p.m. faceoff. The Clippers are home again the following night to take on the Victoria Grizzlies in another 7 p.m. start at Frank Crane.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com