The Nanaimo Clippers made sure their road trip had the right kind of ending.
The city’s junior A hockey club won two out of three games on a mainland swing this past weekend, doubling up the Coquitlam Express 6-3 on Friday, falling 3-1 to the Surrey Eagles the next day and then beating the Langley Rivermen 3-2 in double overtime on Sunday afternoon.
The Clips surrendered a 2-0 lead against the Rivermen in the third period but didn’t relinquish momentum.
“We never panicked,” said Mike Vandekamp, Clippers coach. “I liked the way that we stayed focused and stayed on task.”
Sheldon Rempal scored the game-winning goal two minutes into double OT when he knocked down a pass from Colton Dahlen, faked out Langley’s goalie and scored five-hole.
“It was the best game we played on the trip,” said Vandekamp. “We were an energetic team; we played with lots of enthusiasm.”
The Clippers got off to a rough start Sunday, taking seven minutes in penalties just 35 seconds into the first period.
“You don’t want to be short-handed for seven minutes to start a game very often, but it ended up being actually a little bit of a boost for us because we were able to kill the whole seven and then from there we gained some energy,” the coach said.
Bo Brauer scored on the power play later in the period, then Jacob Hanlon made it 2-0 with five minutes left in the second period.
Jayson Argue made 38 saves for the win.
Vandekamp said Saturday’s loss in Surrey the night before was a tough one, as the Clippers got scored on with three minutes left in the third to snap a 1-1 tie.
Edwin Hookenson scored for Nanaimo and Argue made 29 saves in defeat.
On the first night of the trip, the Shipmen tallied three times in the first period and were never really threatened.
Korey Morgan led his team’s offence with a pair of goals and Devin Brosseau, Rempal, Brendan Taylor and Nick Guerra also scored. Tanner Kovacs made 31 shots for the win.
GAME ON … The Clippers host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday (Dec. 20) at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena, then close out their December schedule Saturday in Duncan against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com