The Nanaimo Clippers had things under control most of the night and won their home opener.
The Clips doubled up the Victoria Grizzlies 4-2 in B.C. Hockey League action Friday at Frank Crane Arena.
The home team scored goals in the first, second and third periods to build a 3-0 lead and dominated long stretches of play with its forecheck.
“That’s the way that we want to play,” said Mike Vandekamp, Clippers coach. “We want to be a real hard forechecking team and a puck possession club and guys are starting to get a little bit of the idea of that.”
Kale Bennett, Clippers alternate captain, said his team tried to stick to the coaches’ game plan.
“It works, clearly,” he said. “When we can dominate them like that and play in their zone, it makes it a lot easier on the D men.”
A five-on-three power play allowed the Grizzlies to close the gap to 3-1, and then the visitors added another with their goalie pulled before an empty netter by the Clippers iced the win.
“It’s still early season, so there’s some mistakes out there, it’s a little sloppy for us,” Bennett said. “But overall, I think that we’re setting ourselves up well.”
Matthew Hoover had a goal and an assist and Brendan Shane, Sheldon Rempal and Spencer Hewson were the other Nanaimo scorers. Bennett had two assists and Jonathan Reinhart made 24 saves.
GAME ON … The Clippers play the Powell River Kings on Saturday (Sept. 19) at 6 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
Nice job by @ClippersHockey tonight with the player introductions for the home opener… #BCHL #hockey pic.twitter.com/AQ3AM8UWTu
— Greg Sakaki (@BulletinSports) September 19, 2015
