The Nanaimo Clippers scored a Teddy Bear Toss goal, but couldn’t manage any more in a 4-1 loss to the Powell River Kings.
Jake Harris scored on a deke five minutes into the second period of Friday’s B.C. Hockey League game at Frank Crane Arena.
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Nanaimo carried most of the play over the final two periods and had a disallowed goal late in the second, but didn’t have enough to beat the division-leading Kings.
Ben Berard scored twice for the Kings and Jonny Evans and Andy Stevens also tallied. Matteo Paler-Chow made 32 saves for the Kings and Taz Burman stopped 19 shots for the Clips.
Harris’s goal triggered the toss of hundreds of stuffed animals onto the ice; the plush toys were collected and donated to the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive.
Joanne Rowland, director of volunteers with the toy drive, said the Teddy Bear Toss means a lot to her group’s cause every year.
“It’s a tradition which we really appreciate and it forms the basis of all the stuffies that we are able to give out to the children…” she said. “It’s a wonderful community spirit and that’s what this team is all about. The community spirit is amazing. So it means a lot to us, always.”
The toy drive collects toys, books and games to help out families in need every year. Every registered child gets a stuffed animal for their stocking, so there’s a need for about 800-900 stuffies.
There is also always a particular need for toys for kids in the 9-13 age group. For more about the Great Nanaimo Toy Drive, click here and here.
GAME ON … The Clippers visit the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday, Dec. 9. Next home action at Frank Crane Arena isn’t until Jan. 5.
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