Nanaimo beat Victoria 2-1 in overtime to start their home and series with the Grizzlies but then suffered a 3-1 setback at the Q Centre. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Coming Home

Clippers .500 through opening rounds of Island Cup tournament

Oct 13, 2020 | 7:05 PM

NANAIMO – The Clippers are now 2-2 in the Island Cup standings after splitting a weekend series with the Victoria Grizzlies.

Tim Washe was the overtime hero in a 2-1 victory at Cliff McNabb Arena on Oct. 9. Sean Donaldson also scored in the game.

The Clippers got down 2-0 in their final game of the weekend at the Q Centre before Brody Waters scored on a long range shot in the third period.

Nanaimo went on to lose the contest 3-1.

Coach Darren Naylor felt his team wasn’t playing at their peak, but acknowledged the players are going through a maturing process.

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“We’ve got a lot of younger guys and playing back to back games at the intensity level that’s needed is a learning curve.”

The Clippers will only play one game in the coming week against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Oct. 17.

A game originally scheduled for Oct. 16 game versus Cowichan Valley has been postponed until Oct. 21.

Moving the game will allow the club to get back into their own rink with the Frank Crane Arena expected to be ready for use soon.

Returning home is something the Clippers have been looking forward to for a long time.

“We haven’t even skated on it yet because they just turned the plant on,” said Naylor. “Hopefully we can get a practice in on Monday and Tuesday before the (Oct. 21) game.”

The 14-game Island Cup will continue until mid-November but there are indications the the BCHL’s regular season is near.

Coach Naylor confirmed he’s seen a draft copy of the schedule which would begin in early December.

It’s expected to include divisional games only and potentially in clusters.

“At least for the first couple of months of the season we’re going to see a couple teams six or seven times in a row. It’s not ideal but we’ll play the cards we’re dealt.”

In the Island Cup standings Victoria leads the way with five points from two wins and an overtime loss. The Clippers, Bulldogs, and Capitals are all 2-2 after the first two weekends of action.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77