The Clippers are continuing to work on the details of their game as they approach the ten game mark of the BCHL season. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Coming Together

VIDEO: Clippers taking process driven approach to BCHL season

Oct 18, 2023 | 3:29 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers are approaching the ten game mark of their season and sit in the top half of the Coastal Division.

Results always matter in a 54 game schedule but the players and coaches are focused on the details of the game in the early year.

First year defenceman Andrew Brown said after splitting their last four games the Clippers are looking for more consistency.

“We’ve been as a group emphasizing playing a whole 60 minutes. I think a lot of games we’ve played a good 40 and not veen able to finish it off the right way in the third period.”

A 6-3 win Friday, Oct. 13 in Powell River is a good game to build off of according to Brown.

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However, a 5-2 loss to the Kings the following night, with nine power plays against, has put the spotlight on special teams.

“We’re going to work on our structure in the D zone,” Brown said. “Making sure everyone’s got their guy and we’re not making simple mistakes that are causing goals. On special teams we need to bare down on those. A solid week of practice will help us.”

Interim coach Curtis Toneff has set up some key areas he wants to work on.

“We want to play the way we’re capable of in the grey areas of the ice. That’s ten feet inside our blueline, in front of our net and ten feet outside their blueline to the top of the circles. If we can play better in those areas the results will naturally come.”

Toneff said the coaching staff expected the early season to be a growing process.

Some internal improvements will be coming shortly as well. High-profile recruits Gabriel Westling and Connor DeTurris haven’t played a single game yet due to injury.

Toneff is hopeful they will both make their Clippers debut soon.

“About a week to two weeks we should see both of those guys in the lineup. That will bring the competition that’s going to start to unravel within the group.”

Nanaimo has a road game in Cowichan on Thursday, Oct. 19 and a home game versus Alberni Valley on Friday, Oct. 20.

Both of those matchups will be the third head to head games this season.

CLIP NOTES:

Forward Michael Murtagh leads the Clippers in scoring with nine points. He also leads the BCHL with five power play goals.

With 29 goals the Clippers are tied for the most goals in the Coastal Division.

Nanaimo takes a 2-0 season series record into their game with the Capitals on Oct. 19 and an 0-2 record against the Bulldogs in their Oct. 20 matchup.

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