The Nanaimo Clippers couldn’t find a way to win this past weekend, as has been the case for most of November.
The city’s B.C. Hockey League club was swept in a home-and-home series against the Victoria Grizzlies, losing 1-0 on Friday night at Frank Crane Arena and then 5-2 in the next night’s rematch down the Malahat.
The Shipmen have just one win and one tie in 10 games so far this month.
The games against the Grizz featured good compete level by both sides.
“Back-to-back against them you know it’s going to get a little tough and a little physical and I think we stood our ground and we pushed on them just as hard as they pushed on us,” said Cody Van Lierop, Grizzlies captain.
Grizzlies coach Craig Didmon said his club was expecting a strong push from the Clippers, and that came to pass.
“[We] didn’t let them get under our skin. They were doing all those things in order to try and get us off our game and I thought we stuck to our guns,” Didmon said.
The first game, the Clippers outshot the visitors 31-29 but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Grizz scored the game’s only goal late in the second period and made it stand up. Goalie Evan DeBrouwer suffered the loss, making 28 saves.
The next night, the Clippers were outshot 42-24 by the Grizzlies and both Austin Roden and DeBrouwer saw time in the crease for Nanaimo. Tate Coughlin and Matt Kowalski scored the Clippers’ goals.
GAME ON … The Clippers have a chance to end a tough month on a positive note as they host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Wednesday (Nov. 30) at 6:30 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
-files from Joel Tansey/Black Press