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Bantam Tier 1 Clippers Hockey team are District Champions

Feb 28, 2017 | 8:47 AM

NANAIMO — The Nanaimo Bantam Tier 1 Clippers are VIAHA District Champions.
 
They won their best of three final series Sunday on the road against Victoria Racquet Club.
 
Sunday’s game finished 6-4 but Head Coach Jesse Hammill says the first game of the series ended 3-2 and was even more dramatic.
 
“In overtime our goalie made an unbelievable save on a breakaway when we were killing a penalty, then Aaron Marsh came out of the box and the foot race was on and he went forehand, backhand for the win in overtime,” said Hammill.
 
The Clippers also faced Comox, Saanich, and Juan De Fuca in the earlier round robin portion of their tournament.
 
Next up for the Nanaimo Bantams is the provincials in Kamloops March 19.
 
Hammill says the team will get at least three or four games but their opponents are still to be decided.
 
Getting a shot at provincials is a major accomplishment for his team which is made up of mostly first year players.
 
There’s only one returnee from last year’s Bantam Clippers, a team that also qualified for provincials.
 
Hammill is also the General Manager of the Oceanside Generals in the VIJHL and he says some of his bantam players will be looking at local junior hockey opportunities down the road.
 
“There’s kids on our team that I guarantee you would love to play for the Clippers and there’s guys are talking about coming to camp next year with the Generals. A couple of kids definitely want to go to the WHL, there’s kids that want to go to the BCHL, there’s kids that will just play minor hockey and that will be it,” said Hammill.
 
Already this year, three of his players from the bantam team have suited up for the North Island Silvertips of the BC Major Midget League.
 
Hammill is looking forward to the exposure the provincials will give to the players on his team, no matter what their future hockey goals are.