Nanaimo lost 2-1 in Cowichan and beat Wenatchee 5-2 in their two weekend games. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Wild Win

Clippers weekend wrap Jan. 11-12

Jan 13, 2020 | 5:49 PM

NANAIMO – The Clippers split their games against Cowichan Valley and Wenatchee on the weekend.

It was a very tight game in Duncan on Jan. 11 with the Capitals winning 2-1.

Kyler Kovich scored the only goal in the loss.

That result saw Nanaimo’s record drop to 1-4 against Cowichan Valley.

Between Jan. 3 to Jan. 11 the Clippers played the Capitals three straight times, winning 3-2 in overtime and then falling 3-1 and 2-1.

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Because of injuries and misconducts Nanaimo played much of the third period of the last matchup with just three lines and four defenseman.

They were able to ice a full lineup in their Jan. 12 home game versus Wenatchee though.

The Clippers also welcomed back their head coach Darren Naylor for the game.

He was serving a three game suspension assessed for his second game misconduct penalty of the season in Nanaimo’s 5-4 win in Powell River on New Year’s Eve.

After a scoreless first period against the Wild, Robby Drazner and Mackenzie Merriman gave the Clippers a 2-0 heading into the third.

The final frame saw a flurry of goals including a power play marker from Trevor LeDonne, and an empty netter by Travis Walton.

With the game sitting at 4-2 in Nanaimo’s favour in the final minute Wenatchee had their goaltender Daniel Chenard on the bench.

A puck was shot into traffic in front of the Clipper net and as it came to the corner a Wenatchee back pass went all the way down the ice and into the unguarded net.

At first the goal was credited to goalie Jordan Naylor, which would have been a major milestone for the netminder.

But after a review it was given to Aiden Hansen-Bukata.

The Clippers play back to back road games in Powell River on Jan. 17 and 18 looking to close a three point gap behind the Island Division leading Capitals,

The Clippers do have one game in hand.

CLIP NOTES:

Nanaimo has clinched a BCHL playoff spot, and with a record of 27-13-2-2 the Clippers have equalled their win total from the 2018-19 season with 14 games left on the schedule.

Forward Kyler Kovich has been ranked 164^th among North American Skaters for the upcoming NHL entry draft. Kovich will also play at the CJHL Prospects Game in Hamilton Ontario on Jan. 14.

Alumni John Newberry was added to the Clippers Wall of Honour on Jan 12. With 185 points in the 1979-80 season Newberry holds the team record for most points in a season. He is second in the BCHL to only Brett Hull who scored 188 in 1983-84.

The Clippers have named alumni Colton Cyr as a Victoria area scout. Cyr spent four and a half seasons in Nanaimo from 2007-2011. The one time captain had 85 points in 188 games with the team.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77