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Hockey team skates into new year

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Nanaimo Clippers defenceman Jesse Ursic looks to control the puck during a game against the Surrey Eagles on Thursday on the mainland. Ursic scored his first B.C. Hockey League goal during the game

The Nanaimo Clippers don’t get two points in the standings for beating a junior team from Sweden, but other than that, the New Year’s Day game was perfect.

The Clips defeated the Malmo Redhawks 2-1 on Saturday at a sold-out Frank Crane Arena.

“It was everything that we hoped that it would be,” said Bill Bestwick, Clippers coach. “It turned out to be highly entertaining, very competitive and a well-played game by both teams.”

Kyle Kramer scored the game winning goal in the third period, battling to get to a puck in a goal-mouth scramble. Sam Labrecque opened the scoring in the second period on a rocket slapshot and Malmo’s Kim Runnermark replied moments later.

Charles-Andre Pelletier and Charles-Alexy Premont split time in the crease for Nanaimo and both played well, said the coach.

Nanaimo has been the only BCHL team to shut down the Redhawks so far on the Swedish side’s five-game tour, as Malmo started its trip with a 6-4 win Friday over the Powell River Kings and went on to defeat the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8-2 on Sunday.

“That team can certainly play in our league,” Bestwick said.

Leading up to the exhibition game, the Clips played a pair of road games, falling 6-2 to the Powell River Kings on Wednesday and then dropping a 4-3 overtime decision to the Surrey Eagles on Thursday.

In the blowout loss, Pelletier and his teammates allowed four goals in the first nine minutes of the first period.

“When a goal goes in you have to put it behind you,” Bestwick said.

Graeme McCormack and Victor Newell scored for Nanaimo in that one. "[The Kings] have the ability to score fast and furious and they certainly did."

The coach saw much better things the next day at Surrey. The Clips controlled stretches of play but needed Jesse Ursic’s first BCHL goal to tie the game at 3-3 in the third period and force overtime. Ryan Stanimir and Andrew Gladiuk had scored the earlier goals and Premont was tagged with the loss.

“Our scoring chances were as good as theirs or better and we just weren’t opportunistic,” Bestwick said. "We were really happy to walk out of there with a point but at the same time disappointed that we didn't come out with a win."

GAME ON … Nanaimo plays three times this coming weekend starting with a home game against the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday (Jan. 7) at 7:10 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena. The team then visits the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday before returning to Frank Crane to play the Coquitlam Express at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com