The Nanaimo Clippers’ most hated rival this season might be overtime.
The city’s B.C. Hockey League team was handed its league-worst ninth overtime loss on Wednesday in a 4-3 setback against the Surrey Eagles at Frank Crane Arena.
It was another frustrating result for the Clippers after they again carried much of the play against the Coastal Conference’s second-place Eagles.
“We possessed the puck the majority of the hockey game…” said Michael Olson, Clippers assistant coach. “We were just unfortunate that we’re not getting a few of the bounces and not really bearing down on a couple of key opportunities and chances we get.”
The Clips thought they scored a go-ahead goal with 2:16 left in the third period, but the goal was waved off because the net was judged to be off its moorings when the puck went in.
That led to overtime, where former Clippers player Brayden Jaw promptly scored the game-winning goal 17 seconds in.
"My shot was just through a screen and it just went in, I didn't expect it. That was a lucky break for me," he said. "It's a great feeling, obviously, coming back to the barn I played in for the last two years. It was really nice to score a goal there."
Jaw credited his team's defensive play and penalty killing for the win.
"They had a lot of chances, they threw a lot of pucks on the net but in the end we got the job done and that's what good teams do," he said.
The Clips got goals from Andrew Gladiuk, Mike Sones and Graeme McCormack and might have hoped for a better result on a night when they outshot the opposition 40-25.
“Sometimes those are going to go in. It just wasn’t our night tonight…” said Sones.
“There’s no need to change anything. We’re playing well as a team. We’ve just got to start burying our chances. [Coach Mike Vandekamp] has a little saying in the dressing room there, ‘We can’t squeeze our sticks too tight or else maple syrup’s going to come out.”
Olson said the Clippers have been playing with full effort and full compete level over the last month.
"You have to continue to push forward and build from the positives," he said. "That's what we're focusing on. We're sticking with the positives and making sure our guys are coming to the rink with the right attitude, not down on themselves."
GAME ON … The Clippers host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday (Feb. 10) at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena. The Clips then visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday (Feb. 11) in a 7:30 p.m. faceoff at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com