Clippers Sail off into the Sunset

1                                         Final Score                                        9
Brubacher	Goal Scorers	Hoover (2), Aibel, Hewson, Rempal, Creamer (3), Brosseau
25	Total Shots	32
13	1st Period Shots	7
6	2nd Period Shots	12
6	3rd Period Shots	13
2 for 5	Power Play	0 for 2
	3rd Star	Matt Creamer
	2nd Star	Matthew Hoover
	1st Star	Lucas Finner
8-25-0-2	Current Record	23-12-0-1

It started with a power play goal, and ended with a power play goal. Both were for Nanaimo, and of the eight other goals scored in between, seven belonged to the Clippers.

Entering the game Nanaimo had the second best overall power play, and best by far on home ice at just over a 30% success rate. The Spruce Kings decided to test it early, and paid dearly. The team had a pair of strong shifts to start the game, but then a two on two led by Sheldon Rempal resulted in a power play for the Clippers as Hovde went to the box 29 seconds in. 12 seconds later and the puck was behind Sam Tanguay on a beautiful passing play from Rempal, to Rielly, and finished off on back door by Matthew Hoover to take the league lead in power play markers.

Turning Point: The next penalty would go towards the Clippers though, and PG had a chance to even the score. Nanaimo had other ideas, as Nolan Aibel went one on one with a Spruce King defender, and managed to get a shot away that evaded the leg of Tanguy doubling the score to 2-0 while shorthanded.

With LeBrun, Epp, Fritz, and Stoley all out, the Spruce Kings were missing a number of bodies, and needed their remaining veteran players to step up. Adam Brubacher, the leading point scorer added leading goal scorer to his list, as he picked up his own rebound off a shot, and while diving to his knees managed to swat the puck under Evan Johnson and in.

Prince George has been bad at giving up late goals this season, and allowed another back breaker as Spencer Hewson scored with just over a minute and a half remaining in the frame.

After allowing three goals on seven shots, Sam Tanguay started the second on the bench with Liam McCloskey taking over the netminding duties. Sheldon Rempal scored the lone goal for Nanaimo in the period, and the Spruce Kings did a relatively good job of limiting the Clippers, despite conceding 12 shots.

The third is where things got out of hand.

Nanaimo scored three goals in the first six and half minutes, which led to second goalie change with Sam Tanguay heading back into the net. The Clippers didn’t hold off already up 7-1, and Matt Creamer scored his third goal of the game after entering the game with two goals in 26 games. With four minutes left, and already up 8-1 Nanaimo just kept stepping down, and were icing their top power play units, with the Captain Devin Brosseau scoring on a one timer to ice the game at 9-1.

GAME NOTES:

·         The Spruce Kings allowed nine goals on 32 shots --- After being called up from the Richmond Sockeyes, Arjun Badh and Noah Wozney played a large chunk of time in the game alongside Jordan Funk after putting a number of strong shifts together. --- Prince George has now allowed hat-tricks in each of the last four games. --- Nanaimo plays Victoria tomorrow who is coming off a 7-0 win over Alberni Valley on Thursday evening. Prince George will play Cowichan Valley on Saturday night, and then Langley on Sunday afternoon. --- Matthew Hoover had seven points in two games against the Spruce Kings this season (five goals/two assists)