NANAIMO — The Clippers have had several hurdles in their path in the first two months of the BCHL season but have come through it tied for first in the Coastal West Division with a 9-5 record.
October was particularly gruelling with ten games in a 24-day span and seven of those on the road, including a three-game-in-three-day trip to the lower mainland and a four-game-in-five-day stretch through Alberta.
Veteran forward Caden Okovita said the Clippers have taken a step forward by building up a four-game winning streak.
“The team showed a lot of character bouncing back after the Showcase, ending our Alberta trip 2-0. We carried that momentum forward last weekend, earning a weekend sweep. I’m looking forward to Powell River this weekend, and hopefully the team can stay hot.”
As the season progresses, teams improve, and results get harder to come by, Okovita knows the club will need to get better in a couple of key areas.
“Our team has been playing well, but I think we need to execute more on our scoring chances and also win more of those 50/50 battles.”
Centre Morgan Hackman is pleased with the start but acknowledged the group would like to be in fewer one-goal games.
Eight of Nanaimo’s first 14 games have been decided by a single goal.
“I feel it’s been going really good. Guys have been clicking on the ice and in the room as well. A lot of us think we have better hockey on the way too. Winning these tight games and being in these hard matchups is good for the team and team morale. Every team we play no matter what their record is will be a battle.”
Hackman hopes to bring more offence to the table in November.
“Guys like me need to start scoring more. We can’t just rely on a few guys to score every night. We saw in the last game, Caswell and St. James both got their first, and more guys scoring will really help out. We want to play for each other. We want to win, and every game you’re going as hard as you can for the guy next to you.”
Head coach and general manager Colin Birkas is pleased with the way his team as started the season.
“I love seeing our team coming together, especially with lots of road games. Both of our goalies have been great all year so far. That said, our power play does need to get going, and when we’ve had the opportunity to put games away, we haven’t always got the job done.”
The Clippers start November with a single game on Sunday, Nov. 1 in Powell River, followed by a five-game home stand.
The team won’t leave Vancouver Island again until January.
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