The Nanaimo Clippers got a few chances to celebrate on their road trip this past weekend.
The city’s B.C. Hockey League club won two of its three games, including one in overtime, and their star player scored a milestone goal.
The Clips started with a 7-2 loss Friday to the Wenatchee Wild, but beat the Langley Rivermen 4-3 in overtime on Saturday and then defeated the Coquitlam Express 5-2 on Sunday afternoon. The matinee game saw star forward Sheldon Rempal reach the 50-goal mark.
The milestone goal came on a power play in the final minute of the second period. Clippers centreman Devin Brosseau threaded a cross-crease pass through two defenders to Rempal, who one-timed the puck into the top corner, short side.
The achievement marked the first time that a Clippers player has notched 50 in one season since Martin Vozdecky and Bryce Cockburn both finished with 50 in the 1998-99 campaign. Both those snipers needed 57 games to reach the mark, whereas Rempal’s 50th came in just his 45th game of the season.
Other goal scorers in Sunday’s win were Brosseau, with a pair, Will Reilly and Gavin Gould with his first as a Clipper. Evan Johnson made 37 saves as his team outshot the Express 40-39.
The day before, Yanni Kaldis was the hero with the overtime winner two minutes into the first OT frame. Nolan Aibel, Charley Borek and Matt Hoover also scored and Johnson made 23 saves for the victory.
In the loss in the U.S., Rempal scored both his team’s goals and Johnson suffered the loss as the Clips were outshot 41-21.
GAME ON … The Clippers play three games this coming weekend (Jan. 22-24). They host the Surrey Eagles on Friday at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena, visit the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Saturday and then return home to play the Salmon Arm Silverbacks on Sunday at 2 p.m.
