A busy summer of recruiting for the Nanaimo Clippers will see a largely new roster this upcoming season. The Clippers will have more than a dozen new faces as they look to finish first in the Coastal Division for a second straight year. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Recruiting Season

Clippers recruiting critical with heavy roster turnover in 2023-24

Aug 6, 2023 | 6:23 AM

NANAIMO — The Clippers will have a very different look for the 2023-24 season.

All six of the teams top scorers are moving on as graduating players or to NCAA Division 1 hockey commitments.

The Clippers management team told NanaimoNewsNOW the organization’s sustainable roster building approach will bring nearly a dozen new recruits.

“Our goal is a winning team the community will enjoy following and supporting. At the same time we want players to build and grow within the program over the years. We aren’t a team known for in season player movement so we really want to see our guys develop and excel.”

In July alone the team added Isa Parekh from Georgetown of the OJHL, Jack Edwards of the U16 Pittsburgh Penguins, Connor DeTurris out of the NAHL’s Janesville Jets and Cole Lonsdale who spent time in both the NAHL and USHL.

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The BCHL broke away from Hockey Canada in May which loosened some restrictions on European, American and younger out of province players.

The Clippers and other BCHL teams have seen an uptick in interest from potential players from destinations the league has not typically drawn from.

With a Sept. 22 start date Nanaimo is very close to finishing recruiting for the season and the team is excited to show off their new look roster.

“Our fans are knowledgeable. They will notice a more skilled product for sure. At this point we have in the neighbourhood of 15 Division 1 college committed players and the season hasn’t started.”

The Clippers have had success recently with homegrown Nanaimo players such as Brett Merner and the now graduated Skyler Cameron.

The hope is to continue adding local talent to the roster this year.

“We have identified a couple young locals that are in the mix. It’s up to them to make that final statement at main camp that the spot is theirs. We would like to see local players develop in Nanaimo and play their Junior hockey for the clippers.”

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