Two goals including the overtime winner from Jake Hewitt gave the Clippers a 5-4 overtime victory against the West Kelowna Warriors. The win also clinched the Coastal Division title for Nanaimo. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Coastal Division Champions

Clippers clinch division title with 5-4 overtime win in West Kelowna

Mar 18, 2023 | 10:23 PM

NANAIMO — The Nanaimo Clippers top players came through in the clutch for a 5-4 overtime victory in West Kelowna.

Jake Hewitt had two goals including the winner while linemates Kai Daniells and Brody Waters also scored.

Captain Michael Craig and Daniells staked Nanaimo to a 2-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game.

West Kelowna tied it before the intermission break on tallies by Jake Bernadet and Christopher Duclair.

Duclair had another goal in the first minute of the second period before the goalies shut the door.

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Aidan Campbell and the Warriors Cayden Hamming were air tight until the last six minutes of the game.

Hamming didn’t start for West Kelowna but he replaced Angelo Zol who gave up the first two goals of the night.

A late game five on three opened the door for the Clippers with Hewitt scoring two men up and Brody Waters cashing in on a breakaway on a five on four advantage.

The Warriors used their own late power play to go six on four and tie the game at 4-4 with 58 seconds left on the clock.

Yet another man advantage that carried into overtime led to the game winning goal by Jake Hewitt.

He tipped home a Brett Merner shot to give Nanaimo the win and first place in the Coastal Division.

The final shots were 46-37 for West Kelowna with the Clippers going 3/7 on the power play and 3/4 killing penalties.

Other results on March 18 ensured the Clippers will host the Langley Rivermen in round one of the BCHL playoffs.

Nanaimo was 3-1 against Langley in the regular season.

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