The Nanaimo Clippers are aware of the B.C. Hockey League playoff race and where they sit. But they’re not looking at the standings with a magnifying glass and calculator and living and dying with every point.
“We know if we keep winning, we’re going to get a playoff spot,” said Trevor Fitzgerald, captain of the Clippers.
“It’s kind of like during a game, you don’t watch the scoreclock and wait for the game to end. If you keep working hard to that buzzer, you’re going to win. The buzzer’s going to go no matter what.”
So they’ll try to play hard until time expires in the BCHL’s regular season.
They’ll seek to do that no matter the opponent, no matter the schedule. The fifth-place Clips went into this weekend facing the daunting task of playing the first-place Powell River Kings on Friday and then the second-place Surrey Eagles tonight (Feb. 4).
Players said they weren’t intimidated by the opposition.
“We don’t consider them better teams than us because they’re in a higher spot,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve beat both of those teams this year.”
The idea of back-to-back games doesn’t faze the Shipmen, either. Fitzgerald said it’s preferable to play games close together, to maintain momentum.
“We practise back-to-back and we keep our legs going so we’re in good shape,” said David Iacono, Clippers defenceman. “It’s not a big deal for us.”
Nanaimo will have to keep their legs going to keep pace with a quick Eagles team tonight at Frank Crane Arena.
“They are a north and south team, they do have a lot of speed and talent and that’s what we’ve got to defend against,” Iacono said.
He said his team would much prefer to try to win the game 2-1 than 5-4.
“We’ve got to keep it in one end and just grind it out, play a puck possession game, hang onto that puck as long as we can and then score off of hard work,” Fitzgerald said.
GAME ON … The Clippers and Eagles play tonight at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com