The Clippers lost 3-2 to Chilliwack to finish the regular season in fifth place in the Coastal Division. But it was a milestone night for Luke Buss who played in his 100th career game and scored his team leading 29th goal of the year. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

5th place finish

Clippers fall 3-2 to Chiefs, end the BCHL season in fifth place

Mar 30, 2024 | 10:12 PM

NANAIMO — A battle for playoff positioning ended with the Chilliwack Chiefs beating the Clippers 3-2 in the regular season finale.

The Chiefs led 2-1 after the opening period with Nanaimo’s Dylan Kinch and Chilliwack’s Willyam Gendron scoring against their former teams.

Stone Rolston also tallied for the Chiefs.

Of note for Nanaimo goalie Chazz Nixon left the game with an apparent injury part way through the first and backup Tyler Hodges had to finish the game.

Hodges and his counterpart Vladimir Nikitin kept the game at 2-1 until the third period before the teams traded special teams goals.

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Luke Buss, playing in his 100th career game, knotted the score at 2-2 on a Clipper power play but moments later Matt Argentina broke in shorthanded to nab the game winner.

The Chiefs outshot the Clippers 34-31 while Nanaimo went 2/5 on the power play and 1/1 killing penalties.

Chilliwack won all four head to head games in the 2023-24 campaign.

Nanaimo’s loss combined with a Victoria win locked up a fourth place finish in the Coastal Division for the Grizzlies.

The Clippers and Grizzlies will play in the opening round of the playoffs April 5 and 6 at the Q Centre with Nanaimo hosting games April 9 and 10 at Frank Crane Arena.

Nanaimo won the regular season series 5-2.

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