NANAIMO – A thrilling night of hockey ended with a Clippers 5-4 victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Sammy Steele was the hero recording his first BCHL hat trick.
The first period didn’t start well for the home side with the Bulldogs going up 2-0 on power play goals by Jackson Doucet and Ryan Miotto.
The Clippers felt Miotto’s goal was deflected in with a high stick.
Nanaimo answered with goals 40 seconds apart by Steele who scored up high on the short side, and then Tyler Williams who executed on a wraparound.
Captain Marcus Mitchell scored the only goal of the second period as he, Josh Bourne, and Tyler Williams swarmed the Bulldog net.
Eventually Mitchell banged home a loose puck behind Bulldogs goalie John Hawthorne.
The third period was a wild one with Alberni Valley evening the score on a shorthanded breakaway by Stephen Castagna.
Steele ripped home his second of the night halfway through the third to give the Clippers the advantage again.
That goal looked like it might stand up to be the winner until Mitch Deelstra beat Landon Pavlisin in the last minute with the Bulldogs playing with a sixth attacker.
But the Clippers kept battling and got a late power play to earn a chance at a regulation win.
Aiden Hansen-Bukata had a great keep in and Sammy Steele sniped his third goal of the night to secure the victory with seven seconds remaining.
The final shots were 38-25 Nanaimo with the Clippers going 1/6 on the power play and 2/4 killing penalties.
Friday’s Three Stars were Sammy Steele (3g), Marcus Mitchell (1g), and Aaron Bohlinger (2a).
With the win Nanaimo moves one point ahead of Alberni Valley for third place in the Island Division standings.
The Clippers host the Powell River Kings on Sunday afternoon.
It will be the sixth meeting of the season between the divisional rivals already and the Kings have taken the first five games.
The Kings will be wrapping a three game road trip that takes them to Cowichan Valley and Alberni Valley before they hit the Frank Crane Arena.
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
On twitter: @danmarshall77
