The Clippers had points in all three of their weekend games. Nanaimo beat the Bulldogs and Chiefs on home ice and lost in a shootout in Alberni Valley. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

WINNING WEEKEND

Clippers weekend wrap up: Sept. 13-15

Sep 16, 2019 | 3:39 PM

NANAIMO – The Clippers are developing a reputation for playing low scoring, tight hockey games.

It’s been the blueprint of their season so far with no more than five combined goals in any of the first four contests.

Nanaimo’s first win of the year at home to Alberni Valley was a tight 2-1 affair with goals by Josh Bourne and Travis Walton, along with 21 saves from Zach Bennett.

The Clippers then traveled to Port Alberni hoping to better their performance from the night previous.

They built up a 2-0 lead on goals by Robby Drazner and Josh Bourne but the Bulldogs came back in their home opener, and won the game 3-2 in the third round of the shootout.

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Bennett was fantastic in net making 32 stops, including some highlight reel reel efforts late in the game and in overtime.

In the Sept. 15 game versus Chilliwack the Clippers again built up a 2-0 lead on goals two minutes apart in the second period by Kyler Kovich and Tyler Williams.

Nanaimo took a 2-1 lead into the final minute of the third period when they added an empty net goal from Ethan Scardina.

The Chiefs got a goal back with just two seconds on the clock to secure a one goal outcome.

The weekend took it’s toll as well with a pair of injuries.

Aiden Hansen-Bukata left the game in Alberni Valley in the first period and Cade Cavallini was forced out of the Chilliwack game.

There’s no word on the Cavallini injury yet, but Hansen-Bukata is expected to be out several weeks.

Coach Darren Naylor said he was happy with the five points out of six over the weekend, and was starting to see signs of the style of play he’s looking for.

“We’re not a fun team to play against and nobody’s going to come in here and dictate anything to us. We just need to offensively find a niche and get to that four goal level.”

The Clippers visit Alberni Valley on Sept. 21 before a home date with the currently undefeated Penticton Vees on Sept. 22.

CLIP NOTES:

Goalie Zach Bennett was named a runner up for BCHL Player of the Week. The Manitoba product had one win, a .946 save percentage and a 1.44 goals against average for the Clippers in two games.

16-year-old rookie Jack O’Brien recorded his first BCHL point with an assist on Tyler Williams second period goal against Chilliwack

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77