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Kovich and Williams get first BCHL goals in Clippers 4-2 loss to Warriors

Sep 21, 2018 | 4:15 PM

CHILLIWACK — The Clippers lost their final game of the BCHL Showcase 4-2 to the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday.

West Kelowna opened the scoring with a power play goal by Wyatt Head late in the first period and they extended that lead to 2-0 early in the second on a deflection marker by Max Bulawka.

Kyler Kovich scored his first BCHL goal on a rebound of a Nick Wilson shot to pull the Clippers within one shortly after that.

Wilson stole the puck to get the initial shot with Kovich following up to finish it off.

Another man advantage tally, this one by Mike Hartman, put the Warriors back up by two in the late stages of the middle period.

Bennett Norlin scored on a third rebound chance after a Clipper turnover in the third period to push the lead to 4-1. 

With about a minute and a half left Tyler Williams scored his first BC Hockey League goal from in close to get the Clippers closer, but West Kelowna hung on for the victory.

Connor Hopkins got the win over Jordan Naylor with the shots finishing 39-22 for the Warriors.

West Kelowna went 3/6 on the power play while Nanaimo ended the game 0/3.

Friday’s Three Stars were Chase Dubois (2a) Willie Reim (2a) and Tyler Pang (1a).

Nanaimo is back on home ice Sunday afternoon for a game against the Victoria Grizzlies.

It will be a busy week for both teams with Victoria coming off Showcase games against Merritt and Salmon Arm.

Last season the Clippers finished 2-4-0-2 in the eight game season series against the Grizzlies.

In the preseason Victoria won both of the exhibition contests but the rosters are significantly different on both sides since then.

The Grizzlies are led by potential first round draft pick Alex Newhook who’s started off the season at a point a game pace.

Expect Nanaimo to make changes to the line up for Sunday’s contest with extra bodies around the club vying for ice time.

After the Sunday game the Clippers will have faced every Island Division team, a sure sign that the BCHL season is well underway.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77