James Johnson, Dylan Kinch, Connor DeTurris, Cole Lonsdale, Chazz Nixon and Luke Lavery are preparing for their final junior hockey post season. The graduating players are optimistic the Clippers can make a long playoff run. (Dan Marshall/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Dan Marshall

Veteran Leadership

VIDEO: Clippers graduating players excited for Fred Page Cup playoffs

Mar 27, 2025 | 10:08 AM

NANAIMO — The Clippers oldest and most experience players have just a pair of games left in their junior careers and one more run to try to win a playoff championship.

Connor DeTurris, Luke Lavery, Dylan Kinch, Cole Lonsdale, James Johnson and Chazz Nixon are gearing up for their final BCHL post season with a lot of optimism.

The Clippers have suffered just four regulation losses in 2025 and have jumped into fifth place in the Coastal Division.

DeTurris is team captain and has been out of action due to injury in March but he’s thrilled to see the work his team has put in.

“We’re playing our best hockey at the best time of the year. Throughout the year we’ve had a lot of up and downs and now you’re starting to see the hard work we’ve put in. We’ve seen a lot those younger guys start to flourish into being players who are going to be really good in this league.”

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Lavery has played in over 200 BCHL games and acknowledged the challenges that have come this year.

Rules allowing CHL players to be NCAA eligible caused roster turnover across the BCHL and in Nanaimo specifically.

“All the 20-year-olds have stuck together and we’ve seen guys come in and out of the locker room this season. We want to do it for the six of us and we know the guys all around us are ready to push for us as well.”

Kinch and Lonsdale are Nanaimo’s two leading scorers and have a special bond on and off the ice.

Both remarked how tight knit the the team is and just how much that has led to team success.

Nixon in his second year as a goaltender with the Clippers.

He believes there’s a common mindset in the dressing room that has helped the development of individual players and the team as a whole.

“Everyone comes to the rink everyday just wanting to get better an grow as a group. Being a part of that keeps everyone in check.”

Johnson was an addition to the group mid way through the season and he’s been impressed with how the team has continued to rise up through the standings.

“At the start of the year we were at the bottom and have slowly climbed up. We’ve gone through a lot of adversity but we’ve stayed tight and all the guys really want to be here and buy in.”

DeTurris said overcoming the struggles on and off the ice from earlier in the season is paying dividends now.

“We’ve dealt with a lot and we’ve come out stronger from it. I’m really proud of how our group has handled everything this year. We can go to any line any night and we can go to any goalie at any time. That versatility should make us very lethal in playoffs.”

CLIP NOTES:

Vladimir Nikitin had back to back wins for the team Mar. 21 and 22. With two solid outings including a 37 save shutout he as picked as the BCHL’s third star of the week.

The Clippers could still finish anywhere from second to sixth in the Coastal Division standings two games remaining Mar. 28 and 29 at Cowichan Valley and at home to Surrey.

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