Homegrown players like Ethan Jones are playing key roles on the Clippers in the 2021 pod season. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Nanaimo Strong

VIDEO: Hometown pride fuelling Clippers success

Apr 19, 2021 | 6:37 PM

NANAIMO — Local talent has played a big role in the Clippers success in the first two weeks of their pod season.

Ethan Jones, Luke Lavery and Brendan Carlson are Nanaimo players having a big impact with Jones having the most experience.

The 20-year-old is also one of the team’s most productive players with six points in his first eight games.

“I think it’s going well for me. The offence is starting to come.”

He came to the Clippers after stints with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Fort McMurray Oil Barons totalling 86 Junior A games. Jones also played six times as an affiliate with the Powell River Kings in 2017-18.

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In a week where the Clippers finished with one win and two losses, Jones had a pair of assists in the three games.

After two seasons with the Nanaimo-based North Island Silvertips, he made the decision to leave home and fully experience the traveling and billeting lifestyle of junior hockey.

Now he’s back home and excited about the road ahead with the Clippers.

“It’s nice to just be on the ice again and it feels good to be back home playing for the same team my dad (Chris Jones) did.”

Jones also admitted it was emotional playing against his former team recently.

The Clippers lost 6-4 to the Bulldogs in an April 18 matchup and will play Alberni Valley two more times in the coming days on April 20 and 25.

Nanaimo also has meetings with Cowichan on April 21 and Victoria April 24.

Heading into the week the Clippers are 4-4 and sit third in the Island Pod standings.

CLIP NOTES:

With four points in the last three games Tristan Fraser has become the Clippers leading scorer. He has nine points in eight games this season.

Goalie Jordan Naylor has faced 332 shots in eight appearances this season – the most shots seen by any goaltender in the BCHL this year.

With 25 power plays so far in the pod season the Clippers have had the fewest man advantage opportunities in the BCHL.

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dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @danmarshall77