Nanaimo beat Cowichan Valley twice and lost a close contest in Alberni Valley to move to 5-3 in the Island Cup standings. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Heroes Emerge

New face leads Clippers to successful Island Cup weekend

Oct 26, 2020 | 7:07 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers had a successful 2-1 week highlighted by the offense of newcomer Nick DeSantis.

The 18-year-old scored in all three games and finished with three goals and two assists.

Coach Darren Naylor has given the future Miami of Ohio commit front line minutes in his early days with the Clippers.

“DeSantis is a really offensive guy we just wanted him to be a little better without the puck and he’s responded.”

Naylor felt there was a progression with the Clippers overall team play in back to back games versus the Capitals and the weekend finale in Port Alberni.

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“I thought we got better as the week went on. The first game we were pretty much all over Cowichan and their goalie played really well. After playing them the first time we thought it might not be as difficult a game and we were actually lucky to hold on at the end. In Alberni even though we lost I think it was one of the best played overall games so far.”

Clipper captain Kyler Kovich was prominent for Nanaimo garnering five assists in the three games..

Results for the week included 4-1 and 4-3 shootout victories over the Capitals and a 3-2 road loss in Alberni Valley

Nanaimo is 5-3 with six games remaining in the Island Cup tournament.

At the conclusion of the round robin portion of the Island Cup the Clippers, Grizzlies and Bulldogs will enter a playoff phase that will include a semifinal and a final to be played Nov. 16-18 at the Q Centre in Victoria.

CLIP NOTES:

Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother has joined the team from Everett of the WHL. The 2019 Montreal Canadiens draft pick had no points in his first two games with the Clippers Oct. 23 and 24.

The Clippers power play is looking for a spark. The man advantage is clicking at under ten percent and did not score a goal in the three games from Oct. 21-24.

Goalie Jordan Naylor has been the busiest goaltender in the BCHL’s extended preseason with 447 minutes played. The 20-year-old is sixth in the league in save percentage and just outside the top ten in goals against average.

Nanaimo will play the team directly below them and the team directly above them in the Island Cup standings on Oct. 30-31. First the Clippers will host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and then travel to face the division leading Grizzlies on Halloween night.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77