Nanaimo Clippers
Encyclopedia
The Nanaimo Clippers are a Junior "A"
Ice Hockey
team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia
, Canada
. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League
(BCHL). They play their home games at Frank Crane Arena
.
(Provincial Championship). The Clippers were once again league champions in 1978 when the Penticton Vees
refused to play the balance of the series (citing rough play - The series stood at 2 games to 1). The Merritt Centennials were earlier chosen to represent the league for the 1978 CAHA Championships. The Nanaimo Clippers folded after the 1982 season, but were started up again before the 1983 season as the Esquimalt Buccaneers. The franchise was moved to Nanaimo early in the 1983 season, playing at the Nanaimo Civic Arena
, and renamed the team the Nanaimo Clippers.
In 1998, the Clippers hosted the Royal Bank Cup
getting 3 wins and a loss in round-robin play. The Clippers entered the semi-finals as the 2nd seed, behind the South Surrey Eagles
also of the BCHL. The Weyburn Red Wings were the Clippers opponent in the semi-final and defeated them by a score of 4-1, South Surrey went on to win the National Championship.
March 13, 2004 marked one of the strangest playoff games in all of hockey history with the Clippers playing in the final game of their first-round league playoff series against the Powell River Kings
. With 80 seconds left in the third period and the scored tied 3-3 in Game 7 at Nanaimo, the Powell River goalie left his crease and froze the puck for a whistle. Under league rules, the goalie was guilty of delay of game
. But instead of calling a two-minute penalty, the referee incorrectly awarded a penalty shot. Nanaimo scored and won the game 4-3. Powell River protested and league officials agreed to cover all costs for fixing the mistake. The Kings went back to Nanaimo on March 16 to replay the final 1:20 of the third period, with the score tied at 3-3. Powell River started a man short for the delay-of-game penalty but neither team scored in regulation. Just 54 seconds into overtime, Nanaimo captain Michael Olson scored the game-winning goal in front of a packed house of hometown fans, some of whom had felt their team had been wronged and some who thought it was a good chance to end things the right way. The Clippers went on to have a fairly easy road in the playoffs, beating Chilliwack 3-1 in a best-of-five series, Surrey 4-0 in a best-of-seven semifinal and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-1 in the best-of-seven championship final. After taking the BCHL Championship, the Clippers went on to oust the Grande Prairie Storm
for the Doyle Cup
, earning themselves a berth in the Royal Bank Cup
.
On April 16 2007, the Clippers won the Fred Page Cup
by defeating the Vernon Vipers
three to two in game six of the BCHL finals. The winning goal was scored by Tyler Mazzei with 36 seconds remaining in the third period at the Vernon Multiplex.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League
British Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...
(BCHL). They play their home games at Frank Crane Arena
Frank Crane Arena
The Frank Crane Arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Nanaimo, British Columbia. It is home to the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Nanaimo Timbermen of the Western Lacrosse Association....
.
Franchise history
The Nanaimo Clippers won the league championship in the 1976 playoffs but lost by default for the Mowat CupMowat Cup
The Mowat Cup is emblematic of the Junior "A" ice hockey Championship of British Columbia .The cup was donated to the British Columbia Amateur Hockey Association by Mr...
(Provincial Championship). The Clippers were once again league champions in 1978 when the Penticton Vees
Penticton Vees
The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League...
refused to play the balance of the series (citing rough play - The series stood at 2 games to 1). The Merritt Centennials were earlier chosen to represent the league for the 1978 CAHA Championships. The Nanaimo Clippers folded after the 1982 season, but were started up again before the 1983 season as the Esquimalt Buccaneers. The franchise was moved to Nanaimo early in the 1983 season, playing at the Nanaimo Civic Arena
Nanaimo Civic Arena
The Nanaimo Civic Arena was an indoor arena located in Nanaimo, British Columbia. It was built in 1939 and hosted the short-lived Nanaimo Islanders of the Western Hockey League and the British Columbia Hockey League's Nanaimo Clippers, The Nanaimo Timbermen, among many other teams...
, and renamed the team the Nanaimo Clippers.
In 1998, the Clippers hosted the Royal Bank Cup
Royal Bank Cup
The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
getting 3 wins and a loss in round-robin play. The Clippers entered the semi-finals as the 2nd seed, behind the South Surrey Eagles
Surrey Eagles
The Surrey Eagles are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at South Surrey Arena.-New Westminster:...
also of the BCHL. The Weyburn Red Wings were the Clippers opponent in the semi-final and defeated them by a score of 4-1, South Surrey went on to win the National Championship.
March 13, 2004 marked one of the strangest playoff games in all of hockey history with the Clippers playing in the final game of their first-round league playoff series against the Powell River Kings
Powell River Kings
The Powell River Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...
. With 80 seconds left in the third period and the scored tied 3-3 in Game 7 at Nanaimo, the Powell River goalie left his crease and froze the puck for a whistle. Under league rules, the goalie was guilty of delay of game
Delay of game (ice hockey)
Delay of game is a penalty in ice hockey. It results in the offending player spending two minutes in the penalty box. Delay of game is usually called under six circumstances:...
. But instead of calling a two-minute penalty, the referee incorrectly awarded a penalty shot. Nanaimo scored and won the game 4-3. Powell River protested and league officials agreed to cover all costs for fixing the mistake. The Kings went back to Nanaimo on March 16 to replay the final 1:20 of the third period, with the score tied at 3-3. Powell River started a man short for the delay-of-game penalty but neither team scored in regulation. Just 54 seconds into overtime, Nanaimo captain Michael Olson scored the game-winning goal in front of a packed house of hometown fans, some of whom had felt their team had been wronged and some who thought it was a good chance to end things the right way. The Clippers went on to have a fairly easy road in the playoffs, beating Chilliwack 3-1 in a best-of-five series, Surrey 4-0 in a best-of-seven semifinal and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-1 in the best-of-seven championship final. After taking the BCHL Championship, the Clippers went on to oust the Grande Prairie Storm
Grande Prairie Storm
The Grande Prairie Storm are an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada at the Canada Games Arena, capacity 3228, also known as the Crystal Centre....
for the Doyle Cup
Doyle Cup
The Doyle Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League...
, earning themselves a berth in the Royal Bank Cup
Royal Bank Cup
The Royal Bank Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held to determine the Canadian Junior A champion. The winner of the tournament wins the Royal Bank Cup...
.
On April 16 2007, the Clippers won the Fred Page Cup
Fred Page Cup
The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournament, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Junior Hockey League, the Kent Cup champions of the Maritime...
by defeating the Vernon Vipers
Vernon Vipers
The Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:...
three to two in game six of the BCHL finals. The winning goal was scored by Tyler Mazzei with 36 seconds remaining in the third period at the Vernon Multiplex.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1972-73 | 62 | 31 | 30 | 1 | - | 352 | 335 | 63 | 1st, Coastal | Lost in Semifinals, 3-4 (Bruins Chilliwack Bruins (BCJHL) The Chilliwack Bruins were a Junior "A" ice hockey team. The Bruins played in the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:The Chilliwack Chiefs were first formed in 1970 as a member of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. The club was founded as a farm team for the WHL's Estevan Bruins... ) |
|
| 1973-74 | 64 | 21 | 41 | 2 | - | 243 | 321 | 44 | 4th, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Lords Westside Warriors The Westside Warriors are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from West Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League and play in the Interior Conference.... ) |
|
| 1974-75 | 66 | 21 | 45 | 0 | - | 303 | 385 | 42 | 4th, Coastal | Lost in Semifinals, 2-4 (Blazers Bellingham Blazers The Bellingham Blazers were an American junior ice hockey team from Bellingham, Washington during the regular season and Langley, British Columbia during their 1970s playoff runs. They were members of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League.-History:... ) |
|
| 1975-76 | 66 | 41 | 21 | 4 | - | 384 | 279 | 89 | 2nd, BCJHL | Fred Page Cup Champions (Vees Penticton Vees The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League... ) |
|
| 1976-77 | 68 | 46 | 19 | 3 | - | 403 | 323 | 95 | 1st, Coastal | Fred Page Cup Champions, 4-2 (Vees Penticton Vees The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League... ) |
|
| 1977-78 | 66 | 41 | 23 | 2 | - | 392 | 324 | 84 | 2251 | 1st, Coastal | Fred Page Cup Champions (Vees Penticton Vees The Penticton Vees are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League... ) |
| 1978-79 | 62 | 33 | 26 | 3 | - | 367 | 346 | 69 | 1625 | 2nd, Coastal | Lost in Semifinals, 0-4 (Blazers Bellingham Blazers The Bellingham Blazers were an American junior ice hockey team from Bellingham, Washington during the regular season and Langley, British Columbia during their 1970s playoff runs. They were members of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League.-History:... ) |
| 1979-80 | 66 | 41 | 24 | 1 | - | 433 | 346 | 83 | 2nd, Coastal | Lost in Finals, 3-4 (Knights) | |
| 1980-81 | 44 | 33 | 10 | 1 | - | 307 | 200 | 67 | 1417 | 1st, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals |
| 1981-82 | 48 | 12 | 36 | 0 | - | 232 | 347 | 24 | 6th, Coastal | Did not qualify | |
| 1982-83 | 56 | 30 | 25 | 1 | - | 309 | 314 | 61 | 2420 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Royals New Westminster Royals The New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911.... ) |
| 1983-84 | 50 | 30 | 19 | 1 | - | 303 | 256 | 61 | 2nd, Coastal | Lost in Semifinals, 2-4 (Eagles) | |
| 1984-85 | 52 | 21 | 31 | 0 | - | 328 | 367 | 42 | 5th, Coastal | Did not qualify | |
| 1985-86 | 52 | 25 | 26 | 1 | - | 305 | 337 | 51 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Flyers Surrey Eagles The Surrey Eagles are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at South Surrey Arena.-New Westminster:... ) |
|
| 1986-87 | 52 | 24 | 27 | 1 | - | 276 | 292 | 49 | 4th, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 0-4 (Sockeyes Richmond Sockeyes The Richmond Sockeyes are a Junior "B" Ice Hockey team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League... ) |
|
| 1987-88 | 52 | 28 | 20 | 4 | - | 277 | 252 | 60 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 2-4 (Flyers Surrey Eagles The Surrey Eagles are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at South Surrey Arena.-New Westminster:... ) |
|
| 1988-89 | 60 | 32 | 25 | 3 | - | 309 | 312 | 67 | 2931 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 0-4 (Paper Kings) |
| 1989-90 | 60 | 38 | 21 | 1 | - | 381 | 314 | 77 | 2326 | 2nd, Coastal | Lost in Semifinals, 3-4 (Royals New Westminster Royals The New Westminster Royals was the name of several professional and junior ice hockey teams based in New Westminster, British Columbia.The first team played from 1912-1914 in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association which was established in 1911.... ) |
| 1990-91 | 60 | 25 | 32 | 3 | - | 307 | 342 | 53 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 1-4 (Paper Kings) | |
| 1991-92 | 60 | 27 | 30 | 3 | - | 319 | 309 | 57 | 3059 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Semifinals, 2-4 (Ice Hawks) |
| 1992-93 | 60 | 29 | 29 | 2 | - | 320 | 326 | 60 | 1738 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Semifinals, 3-4 (Paper Kings) |
| 1993-94 | 60 | 21 | 36 | 3 | - | 270 | 351 | 45 | 4th, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 1-4 (Paper Kings) | |
| 1994-95 | 60 | 25 | 33 | 2 | - | 280 | 330 | 52 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Preliminary, 0-2 (Eagles Surrey Eagles The Surrey Eagles are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at South Surrey Arena.-New Westminster:... ) |
|
| 1995-96 | 60 | 30 | 25 | 5 | - | 251 | 236 | 65 | 1284 | 3rd, Island | Lost in Quarterfinals, 1-4 (Vipers Vernon Vipers The Vernon Vipers are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Wesbild Centre.-History:... ) |
| 1996-97 | 60 | 34 | 22 | 4 | - | 263 | 243 | 72 | 2nd, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 1-4 (Paper Kings) | |
| 1997-98 | 60 | 30 | 29 | 1 | - | 215 | 223 | 61 | 5th, Coastal | Lost in Quarterfinals, 0-4 (Eagles) | |
| 1998-99 | 60 | 37 | 21 | - | 2 | 298 | 229 | 76 | 1st, Coastal | Lost in Division Quarterfinals, 0-3 (Salsa) | |
| 1999-00 | 60 | 28 | 21 | - | 11 | 202 | 218 | 67 | 3rd, Coastal | Lost in Conference Semifinals, 2-4 (Chiefs) | |
| 2000-01 | 60 | 31 | 25 | - | 4 | 221 | 216 | 66 | 1673 | 1st, Island | Lost in Preliminary, 3-4 (Salsa) |
| 2001-02 | 60 | 41 | 17 | - | 2 | 262 | 215 | 84 | 1st, Island | Lost in Semifinals, 1-4 (Chiefs) | |
| 2002-03 | 60 | 41 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 267 | 196 | 85 | 1st, Island | Lost in Quarterfinals, 0-3 (Eagles) | |
| 2003-04 | 60 | 37 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 256 | 161 | 82 | 2131 | 2nd, Island | Fred Page Cup Fred Page Cup The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by tournament, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Junior Hockey League, the Kent Cup champions of the Maritime... Champions, 4-1 (Silverbacks Salmon Arm Silverbacks The Salmon Arm Silverbacks are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada. They are a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-2010/2011 Player Roster:1 Kris Moore4 Dustin Cave5 Jayson Reardon... ) Doyle Cup Doyle Cup The Doyle Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won through a best-of-7 series, conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The series is played between the Fred Page Cup champions of the British Columbia Hockey League and the Enerflex Cup champions of the Alberta Junior Hockey League... Champions |
| 2004-05 | 60 | 48 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 240 | 142 | 99 | 1st in League | Lost in Semi-Finals | |
| 2005-06 | 60 | 44 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 255 | 160 | 92 | 1st in League | Lost in Quarter-Finals | |
| 2006-07 | 60 | 41 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 287 | 187 | 89 | 1st in League | Won League | |
| 2007-08 | 60 | 42 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 249 | 155 | 88 | 1st in League | Lost in Finals | |
| 2008-09 | 60 | 28 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 186 | 193 | 64 | 9th BCHL | Lost in First Round | |
| 2009-10 | 60 | 24 | 25 | 1 | 10 | 197 | 204 | 59 | 10th BCHL | Lost in Quarter-Finals | |
| 2010-11 | 60 | 29 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 203 | 205 | 66 | 5th, Coastal | Lost Division Quarter-final |