By Dan Marshall

Clippers make three separate deals heading into first weekend of October

Oct 4, 2018 | 4:35 PM

NANAIMO — Offensive ability – check… experience – check… 

The Nanaimo Clippers made a pair of deals this week to upgrade one of their biggest needs, more scoring.

To that end 2000 born forward Sammy Steele has been added from Penticton for forward Brady Lynn and goalie Kyle Dumba.  

The deal actually sees Lynn and Dumba end up in Surrey with Eric Linell moving on to the Vees.
 
Steele appeared in seven games for Penticton this season and is coming off winning a championship with the USHL’s Fargo Force.
 
The Hummelstown Pennsylvania native had 11 goals and 13 assists in 46 games during the 17-18 campaign.
 
He also added a goal and an assist in 14 playoff games with the Force.
 
The newest Clipper has already committed to Arizona State University and will move on to the NCAA for the 2019-2020 season.
 
Clippers coach Darren Naylor says Steele is a player who can step in and help the Clippers right away.
 
“He’s a big body forward who can score. Sammy’s scoring ability will give our offense a boost and his championship experience with Fargo will have a positive impact on our dressing room,” said Naylor.   

Another deal sees defenseman Andrew Lucas move from the Clippers to Brooks of the AJHL for ’99 forward Thomas Samuelson.  

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Samuelson had one assist in two games with the Bandits this season.  

Last year the 19-year-old scored 43 points in 37 games with his prep school team at Kimball Union Academy.  

The native of Williston Vermont has an NCAA commitment to the University of Vermont already locked up for next fall.

Of the players departing, the loss of Brady Lynn will have the biggest impact on the club.

Lynn was in his third year with the team and the longest serving member of the program.

The new Surrey Eagle emerged with career highs in points last season and was given the responsibility of wearing the ‘C’ briefly this season due to an injury to captain Marcus Mitchell.

Lynn struggled to find his offense in the first month of the season, but he may benefit from playing on the olympic sized rink in Surrey.

The Clippers also made a deal earlier in the week with rearguard Will Spitzer being sent to Whitecourt of the AJHL for future considerations. 

As far as the other players leaving the fold, Andrew Lucas was only in Nanaimo for a few weeks and Kyle Dumba was only ever a Clipper on paper.

Both Steele and Samuelson could make their debuts as soon as Sunday when Nanaimo hosts the Trail Smoke Eaters.

With both players already tabbed to play at the next level (NCAA hockey) there’s potential they could be injected into the Clippers top six forward group.

Gunnar Wegleitner was added up front a week ago and made an immediate impact by scoring in his second game with the team last Saturday.

The Clippers also acquired the rights to 6’4 blueliner Dan Gatenby last week and he may find himself in the roster spot left open because of the Spitzer move.  

The week of wheeling and dealing means the October Clippers will look a lot different than the September Clippers.

October’s nine game schedule begins with a 2 p.m. matinee against the Trail Smoke Eaters on Sunday.

Last season Nanaimo went 1-0-0-1 against the Smoke Eaters and so far this season the Clippers are 1-1 against the Interior Division.

Trail will be coming into town on the back end of a three game road trip that will take them to Powell River and Alberni Valley.

The Clippers will be fresh heading into the contest after an eight day layoff, and they hope the addition of new players provides a spark to finish off their four game home stand with a victory.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77