The Clippers BCHL schedule has been unveiled. The 2023-24 campaign begins with a home game against Cowichan on Sept. 22 and concludes March 30 versus Chilliwack at Frank Crane Arena. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Mark Your Calendar

Clippers excited about upcoming 2023-24 schedule

Jun 28, 2023 | 12:27 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers 2023-24 BCHL schedule has been released with a start date of Friday, Sept. 22.

Nanaimo will open at home against the Cowichan Valley Capitals and conclude their opening weekend with a trip to Duncan to play the Caps again the following night.

There will be 54 games with 26 at home 26 away and two still to be announced at the BCHL Showcase.

Director of Business Operations Robb Hunter says the Clippers are excited about the schedule.

“To have 88 percent of our games land on either a Friday or Saturday night we are delighted with the opportunity to give fans the best chance to enjoy a game on a prime weekend date throughout the season.”

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The Clippers will play a bulk of their hockey in the season’s final two months with nine games in February and 10 in March.

October will also see the Clippers play nine times.

Hunter said the home dates are well spread out during the six plus months of the season.

“The schedule has us playing 13 home games before Christmas and 13 home games after the break which is much better from not only a fan perspective but having so many road games stacked up near the end of last year played a part in player fatigue heading into the playoffs.”

With opponents at the BCHL Showcase still to be determined the Clippers will face traditional rivals Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Alberni Valley and Powell River seven times, division opponents Langley, Coquitlam and Chilliwack four times, while they have five matchups versus the Surrey Eagles.

Nanaimo will face seven of the eight Interior clubs, with a possibility they may eventually matchup with Prince George at the Showcase.

The schedule does not include the Wenatchee Wild, who relinquished their spot in the now-independent BCHL, to join the Western Hockey League as a replacement franchise for the Winnipeg ICE.

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