After going 5-2 against the Capitals in the regular season, the Clippers will play Cowichan Valley for the first time in the BCHL playoffs since 2009. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Island Playoff Rivalry

VIDEO: Clippers and Capitals to play first playoff series in 16 years

Apr 3, 2025 | 5:21 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers will face their closest geographical rival the Cowichan Valley Capitals in the opening round of the BCHL playoffs.

It will be the first post-season matchup for the two clubs since 2009.

Nanaimo and Cowichan were supposed to play in 2020 but that series was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent history has gone the Clippers way as they put up a 5-2 record in the regular season series.

After a red-hot run in 2025, Nanaimo assistant coach Gaelan Patterson said his team is ready for the challenge.

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“We feel confident going into the series even though they have home ice advantage. But it’s easy travel and we’ve got a week to gear up and our guys are feeling good going into this weekend.”

The Capitals have home ice advantage as the third seed in the Coastal Division but the Clippers won all three regular-season meetings in Duncan.

“Having success there plays a big part in the mental game,” Patterson said. “Both teams are very good and on any given night the team that has the will to win will have success.”

Neither team has a lot of BCHL playoff experience but Patterson said his players can draw on previous playoffs at other levels.

“Guys have played in playoff hockey throughout their careers so they’re going to be ready. They know they’re going to have to up their game. Ice is a lot harder to take out there and we’re going to have to own it.”

Nanaimo was the top team in terms of wins and points in the Coastal Division since Jan. 1 and Cowichan Valley coach Cam Keith knows his team will be in for a battle.

“In playoffs that’s what matters, carrying momentum at this time of year. They’ve been playing playoff hockey for a long time and sometimes that’s what happens when you struggle early. This has the makings of a really great series.”

Cowichan’s scoring is very spread out but Nanaimo’s top line featuring Cole Lonsdale and Dylan Kinch both finished in the top ten in BCHL scoring.

Keith said those two players specifically are hard to shut down.

“We’ve tried to match against those two but it’s really difficult because they can score in multiple ways. They’re going to create and it might come down to goaltending.”

The best-of-seven series begins with games on April 4 and 5 in Cowichan and continues in Nanaimo on April 8 and 9.

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