The Nanaimo Clippers made it through a wild final weekend of the regular season and are now turning their attention to playoff hockey.
The Clippers defeated the Cowichan Valley Capitals 2-1 on the road and then lost to the Surrey Eagles 4-2 at home on Friday and Saturday, March 28-29, to finish the B.C. Hockey League's regular season. The Coastal Conference standings were so close going into the final game that the Clippers could have ended up as high as third, but ended up sixth, setting up a best-of-seven against the Capitals.
In Friday's road win, Patrick Fortune scored the overtime winner for Nanaimo, Carson Lesiuk had the other goal and Vladimir Nikitin stopped 37 of 38 shots for the win.
The next night, Tanner Bruender and Anthony Biakabutuka scored and Chazz Nixon stopped 21 of 24 shots in defeat.
Clippers assistant coach Evan Richardson said it was hard not to watch the out-of-town scoreboard during the team's last game.
"But the only thing you can do is control your own game and not worry about what anybody else is doing, that's what our mindset was," he said.
Richardson said the Clippers have come together and have been on an upswing since the Christmas break. BCHL teams navigated significant roster changes midway through the season when NCAA eligibility rules changed, and the assistant coach said the veterans showed leadership in bringing their new teammates into the fold.
"Our leadership has done a very good job of making sure everybody knows they're a part of this and everybody's pulling the same rope in the same direction…" he said. "The mental strength our group has been really strong. It's been evident throughout these last couple months."
In the playoffs, the Capitals get home-ice advantage and so the Clippers' first two home games of the post-season will be on weeknights, but the team will be hoping for more crowds like the one that packed Frank Crane Arena for the regular-season finale.
"We've had support that's been just incredible throughout the full year," Richardson said. "To see the building almost full tonight was really cool, especially for our [20-year-old graduating players] to go out like that in their last regular-season game. We can't thank fans enough for that."
GAME ON … The Clippers and Capitals play Game 1 and Game 2 on Friday and Saturday, April 4-5, at 7 p.m. in Duncan. Game 3 and Game 4 will be Tuesday and Wednesday, April 8-9, at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena. For ticket information, visit www.nanaimoclippers.com.
