The Clippers bring back several key veterans this season and the club has expectations on being at the top of the standings in 2024-25. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

BCHL is Back

Clippers open training camp for 2024-25 BCHL season

Aug 30, 2024 | 3:56 PM

NANAIMO — Nearly 40 players will be broken into two teams for Clippers training camp.

The team will hold ice sessions at Frank Crane Arena Friday, Aug. 30 to Sunday, Sept. 1 ahead of a four game preseason which begins the following weekend.

There are 12 eligible returnees on the roster and forward Connor DeTurris says the veterans are hungry to compete for a championship.

“We obviously lost way too early last year and we have a lot of guys returning so it’s going to be easy to have that identity in our group. We won’t have to establish our identity throughout the season. Everybody down the list is fired up and ready to go.”

Camp will culminate with the annual Rhodesie Cup intersquad game on Sunday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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On defence the team will be led by Andrew Brown who will try to pass along some of things he learned from outgoing Clippers captain Brett Merner.

“Brett taught me a lot the way he welcomed all of us to the team and he led by example. But I need to be my own person too and find my own path. I’m going to do things my way but take some of the things that Brett taught me as well.”

Last season Nanaimo finished with a 27-23-3-1 record which was good for fifth in the Coastal Conference.

The Clippers then lost in a five game series to Victoria in the first round of the BCHL playoffs.

They will open the new season with a road game in Alberni Valley on Sept. 20 and then have their home opener Sept. 27 versus Chilliwack.

Nanaimo’s training camp schedule is as follows:

Friday, Aug. 30
Team Black – 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Team Orange – 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 31
Team Black – 10:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m.
Team Orange – 11:45 a.m to 12:45 p.m.
Inter-squad game: 4:30 p.m to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 1
Inter-squad game: 10:30 a.m to 12:00 p.m.
Rhodesie Cup: 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m.

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