The Clippers have six games to gain as many points as they can to march up the Coastal Division standings before the post season. They could clinch a playoff spot as soon as Mar. 15. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

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Mar 14, 2025 | 9:58 AM

NANAIMO — With a half dozen games remaining in the BCHL regular season the Clippers don’t know where they’ll finish in the standings and they’re still trying to solidify a playoff spot.

Nanaimo can still mathematically finish anywhere from second to ninth but the focus isn’t on their seeding it’s about getting immediate results and refining their winning habits.

Forward Tanner Bruender said the team is committed to doing the same things that have led to a 10-2-2 record since Jan. 25.

“Every team has some stuff to work on. For us it’s getting that consistency down. If we can stay playing at our best every night heading into playoffs it’s going to be good for those seven game series.”

Defender Garin Ludwig noted the Clippers don’t want to change anything about their game.

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“It’s just being detailed with the game plan our coaches have for us. Every pregame we’ve got a game plan and I can’t remember a time we’ve lost a game when we’ve stuck to that game plan. It’s consistency and staying even keel, not getting too high or too low.”

Bruender is a year older than Ludwig and has a larger junior hockey hockey playoff resume.

The Minnesota product hopes his USHL post season run last season will help him in Nanaimo..

“We lost in the second round in the last game in triple overtime. I’ll bring that experience and on top of that it’s about taking care of your body, getting sleep, stuff like that.”

Ludwig is Nanaimo’s top scoring defender and is coming off a big weekend with five points in wins over Surrey and Victoria.

He said the Clippers are honing their game to where they aren’t concerned which opponent they face come playoff time.

“Despite who we’re playing, stringing together three or four point weekends is huge. It really doesn’t matter who we play we’re going to have momentum going into the first round regardless.”

Most of Nanaimo’s roster is eligible to come back next season but veterans Connor DeTurris, Chazz Nixon, James Johnson, Cole Lonsdale, Luke Lavery and Dylan Kinch are entering their final playoff run.

Bruender said playing for those leaders is important to the entire group.

“Everyone wants to win for those guys and the majority of our ’04’s are our captains. They’ve done so much for our team and we want to go all the way and make this season special. Everyone on the team is family and we just want to make them proud.”

The Clippers enter a home weekend against the Bulldogs and Capitals in seventh place in the Coastal Division standings.

Nanaimo is one point behind sixth place Alberni Valley and five back of fifth place Cowichan.

CLIP NOTES:

Cole Lonsdale was named the BCHL’s third star of the week with a two goal and three assist weekend Mar. 7 and 8.

Garin Ludwig was given an honourable mention with a five assist performance.

Clippers captain Connor DeTurris is expected to miss a second straight weekend with an injury while Tanner Bruender will serve a one game suspension on Friday, March 14 for an illegal check to the head major assessed Saturday, Mar. 8 in Victoria.

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