The Nanaimo Clippers open the BCHL season with a double header of road games in Powell River starting Friday. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Clippers Return

Clippers looking to go one step further in 2022-23

Sep 23, 2022 | 1:43 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers had a very short off-season with just over 120 days between the Fred Page Cup final and the first game of the 2022-23 season.

Nanaimo came up short in a four game loss in the BCHL championship series but for their ten returnees, it brings extra motivation.

“We know what it takes to almost get there,” second-year defenceman Ethan Mistry admitted. “So we know what it takes and we know it’s going to take a little bit more than what we gave last year. We’re trying to build on the good habits we had at the end of last season so we can pick up from where we were and keep building from there.”

Michael Craig is one of the team leaders and a potential captain.

He said he’s pleased with the way the newcomers have bought into the Clippers systems.

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“We’ve showed them some of the tendencies and we have things we do a certain way. These guys are really good hockey players and they know how to play their game. They just need to be confident in their own skills and abilities and everything will take care of itself.”

Nanaimo will begin the regular season with a pair of games in Powell River Sept. 23 and 24 before playing the Kings again in their home opener on Sept. 30.

Coach Colin Birkas is aware of the King’s motivation against his club after the Clippers took all ten head-to-head games last year.

A season ago Nanaimo swept four straight games against Powell River to open the BCHL campaign.

It served as a springboard for team success.

“As much as I want to get off to a good start for the program and the standings, a really hot start is going to help the players the most. As we head into the Showcase (Oct. 18-19) if we’re a team that has one of the better records it will put more eyes on us and be good for the players.”

CLIP NOTES:

Nanaimo went 2-2-1 in five preseason games. New defenceman Lukas Klemm led the team in scoring with five points.

The Clippers acquired forward Tyler Wishart just before the start of the regular season. The 18-year-old had 53 points in 33 games with Kimball Union Academy last season and is committed to the Division 1 program at Cornell University.

The BCHL season is 54 games in total with Nanaimo playing seven times against Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Alberni Valley and Powell River.

They will draw mainland opponents Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley four times and play the Interior clubs at home, away or at the BCHL Showcase.

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