The Clippers ended November in second place in the Coastal Division with a 13-6 record. Nanaimo also enters December on a four game winning streak. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Looking Back

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NANAIMO — With the first third of the BCHL schedule in the books, there’s a lot for the Nanaimo Clippers to be happy about.

The team enters December with the second best record in the Coastal Division and the fifth best record league-wide.

Coach Darren Naylor addressed the team’s record after a weekend sweep of Powell River with 5-1 and 7-4 victories.

“It’s big for us to play the way we are and get everybody contributing. All four lines are humming right now and the power play and penalty kill are both going.”

Nanaimo finished October with a 6-3 record and continued their strong play with a 7-3 showing in November to sit at 13-6 overall.

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The Clippers started the season on a four game winning streak and they ended November on a four game streak as well.

Naylor takes a game by game approach but admits to some superstitions when his team is on a hot run of play.

“The longer we win the dirtier my dress shirt gets because I don’t change shirts on winning streaks. Hopefully we can keep this going.”

Cole Hansen is playing in his first season with the team and has enjoyed his transition from Minnesota of the North American Hockey League.

“Right from the first day I got here my experience has been everything I expected and a little bit more. I see more positive things in our future.”

Nanaimo will play seven games in December all before the Christmas break which starts on Dec. 19.

On the immediate horizon is a home date with the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday, Dec. 3 followed by a Sunday matinee at the Frank Crane Arena with the Surrey Eagles.

CLIP NOTES:

Sean Donaldson and Max Itagaki were given honourable mentions for the BCHL Three Stars of the Week. They each had five points in two games.

Alex Johnston scored his first goal as a Clipper in his first game on Nov. 26. Walker Erickson tallied his first with his new team in the same game.

Goalie Jed Baliotti won his first start with the team Nov. 27 in a 7-4 win in Powell River.

The Clippers have scored at least once on the power play in seven straight hockey games. At the end of November Nanaimo had the second best power play percentage in the BCHL at 31.4%.

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