The path to the BCHL final will go through Nanaimo’s Frank Crane Arena.
The Nanaimo Clippers, after winning their second-round playoff series last week, learned this weekend that their next playoff opponent will be the Langley Rivermen.
The Clippers, as the conference’s No. 3 seed, will get home-ice advantage over the No. 4-seeded Rivermen in the Coastal final. Just one point separated the two teams in the B.C. Hockey League standings in 2021-22, as both teams amassed 33 wins in 54 games.
The Clippers, in addition to home-ice advantage in the series, will also go into the next round having had several extra days to rest and recover. Goalie Cooper Black said that’s “very important” and felt it was a factor in the second-round series against the Chilliwack Chiefs as the Clippers had swept their first-round series while the Chiefs had battled in a seven-game series.
“We had a little more jump in our step. I think that’s the advantage of being rested,” Black said. “It helps a lot.”
Clippers forward Keighan Gerrie agreed, saying it’s “pretty big” that his team was able to win another series in four games.
“You always want to win as fast as you can and then while the other series are still going on, you get time off to rest and regroup and prepare for the next opponent,” he said.
GAME ON … The Clippers and Rivermen will play Game 1 on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena, with Game 2 on Saturday, April 30, also a 7 p.m. faceoff at Frank Crane. For more information, visit www.nanaimoclippers.com.
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editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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