The Nanaimo Clippers saw scoring from up and down the lineup en route to a 7-1 victory over the Powell River Kings Friday night. (Island Images Photography)

By Alex Rawnsley

dominating victory

Kinch hattrick paces Clippers to 7-1 rout of Kings

Nov 15, 2024 | 10:51 PM

NANAIMO — A clinical performance from the Nanaimo Clippers saw them romp to one of their most comprehensive wins of the season.

In the first leg of a weekend home-and-home series against the Powell River Kings, the Clippers got off to a fast start on Friday, Nov. 15 at Frank Crane Arena, with Samuel Boisvert opening the scoring just 2:24 into the first period.

Nanaimo doubled the lead just 58 seconds later through Zakary Savoie’s first BCHL goal to make it 2-0 and give the Clippers firm control of the game. The goal chased Kings goaltender Vincent Lamberti after giving up two goals on four shots.

Powell River pushed back through the middle of the first period, controlling passages of play, but were unable to beat Clipper netminder Chazz Nixon.

Lavoie scored his second of the game, captializing on a rush down the left wing by Carson Lesiuk which saw Lesiuk centre the puck right onto Lavoie’s stick for an easy goal and a 3-0 advantage.

dominating victory

Kinch hattrick paces Clippers to 7-1 rout of Kings

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Clippers outshot the Kings 13-9 in the opening frame.

Despite a lack of scoring in the opening half of the second period, the Clippers still carried a bulk of the play, building an advantage in shots on goal.

Dylan Kinch scored his fifth goal of the season at 12:14 of the middle period to extend the Clippers’ advantage to 4-0.

Kinch was sprung on a breakaway and made no mistake pulling off a quick forehand-to-backhand maneuver and shooting the puck just underneath the crossbar.

Connor DeTurris redirected a Julian Brown shot off his leg and past the Kings netminder, Cooper Flemming to make it 5-0 with just under five minutes left in the period.

Kinch scored again inside the final minute, this time on a partial breakaway and converting on a backhand-to-forehand move, for his sixth goal of the season.

The Clippers led 6-0 after 40 minutes, outshooting Powell River 30-17.

Emotions began to run high with several roughing calls following post-whistle scrums.

Cooler heads for the Clippers prevailed with Kinch completing his hattrick on the powerplay at 13:19 of the third period to make it 7-0.

A perfect night out for Nixon wasn’t to be.

After the first two shots were blocked, a third shot from Kings defenceman Calvin Beard found the back of the net with just 0.7 seconds remaining on the clock.

Nixon stopped 26 of 27 Powell River shots to record his fourth win of the season.

The Clippers went 1/3 on the powerplay, and killed off Powell River’s only man advantage.

The team completes the home-and-home series against the Kings on Sunday, Nov. 17 in Powell River, before returning home for an 11 a.m. start on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

It’s a game which will see a packed Frank Crane Arena with local elementary school students attending.

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