Clippers forward Sean Donaldson is in the hunt for the BCHL goal scoring title and could be the first Nanaimo player to hit 50 goals since Sheldon Rempal in 2016. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Special Season

Donaldson eyes down BCHL goal scoring lead & special milestone

Jan 25, 2022 | 10:26 AM

NANAIMO — As the Clippers battle for first place in the Coastal Division, one of their top forwards in chasing some individual accolades.

After 32 games, Sean Donaldson is tied for first in league goal scoring with 27 and he’s not far off a 50 goal pace.

Since 2000, only one other Clipper player has hit the 50 goal mark when Sheldon Rempal netted 59 in 2016. Donaldson said goal scoring records are not on his mind right now.

“Once you’re in the game you don’t really think about it. Other people have talked about it. I’m just trying to help the team win and score when I get the opportunity.”

With 22 games left in the regular season the Clippers veteran would need to score 23 goals to reach the magical 50 mark.

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No BCHL player has hit 50 goals since Charlie Combs of the Wenatchee Wild notched 51 in 2017, although at the time the BCHL schedule was 58 games instead of the 54 the Clippers will play this year.

Entering the final week of January there are three players separated by one goal for the BCHL goal scoring crown.

Donaldson and Salmon Arm’s Simon Tassy both have 27 and Matthew Wood of the Victoria Grizzlies has 26.

The Clippers win-loss record is the number one priority but Donaldson is aware of those other top players and their statistics.

“Everyone in hockey is competitive and so am I. At the end of the night you check it out but it doesn’t mean to much as long as we’re winning games and I’m helping us do that.”

Clippers coach Darren Naylor said Donaldson has the hockey attributes to succeed at the pro level.

“He’s capable of leading this league in scoring and scoring the most goals. The thing that most people don’t know is he’s a total student of the game. He’s always in the coaches office, he’s always asking questions and he’s our hardest working guy at practice.”

Naylor noted no Clipper has led the league in an offensive category since he started with the team in 2017 and he feels Donaldson can change that.

CLIP NOTES:

Donaldson has points in 14 of his last 15 games and has amassed 14 goals in that span which dates back to Nov. 26.

The Clippers took five of six points in their games from Jan. 19-23. They won 5-1 against the Bulldogs, lost 6-5 in overtime to Cowichan Valley and beat Victoria 7-2.

Make up dates for postponed Clipper games have been announced. Nanaimo will play in Alberni Valley Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. and host Victoria Mar. 25 at 7.p.m. Those games were previously postponed with Nanaimo in a five day COVID-19 protocol in early January.

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