World Financial Group

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers, currently in the first round of the BCHL playoffs, won their first two games over the Victoria Grizzlies on the road.  The best-of-seven series moved to the Clippers home ice of Frank Crane arena for games three and four.  How would the Clippers on their home ice?

In game three played on Monday, March 1 the Grizzlies took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Nanaimo answered back with three goals in the second from Andrew Gladiuk, Colton Cyr (on the power play) and Carson Schell. Victoria came back to tie the game with 1:03 remaining in the third period and score the game winning goal in overtime to win this one 4-3.  Clippers goalie Loic Boivin, who blocked 39 out of 43 shots, was named the Second Star of the Game.

Game four of the series hit the ice on Tuesday, March 2.  Like the previous night’s game, the Grizzlies jumped to an early lead, but thanks to goals by Kyle Kramer and Joe Perry (on the power play), Nanaimo took a 2-1 lead into the third period.  As in game three, Victoria came back to score in the third to force overtime, which, once again, resulted in a Grizzlies game winning goal to take the fourth game 3-2.  Kramer was named the Second Star of the Game.

The best of seven series is now tied at two games each.  Game 5 will be played on Thursday, March 4 in Victoria with game 6 played the next night at Frank Crane Arena.  If necessary, the WFG-sponsored Clippers will play game 7 in Victoria on Sunday, March 7.  GO CLIPPERS!

Over the weekend, the World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL entered the quarterfinals for the Fred Page Cup against the Victoria Grizzlies.  Both teams entered the postseason with strong momentum, but who would be the stronger of the two teams?

Game one was held in Victoria Friday, Feb. 25.  The Clippers’ forward Teal Burns scored the first goal of the game during the second period, and although Victoria scored the next two goals, Nanaimo scored two more – one by Brayden Jaw on the power play and the other by Colton Cyr - to win the first game of the best of seven series with a score of 3-2.  Burns was named the First Star of the Game while Mike Domsodi was named the Second Star.

Saturday evening (Feb. 26) was game two, also played in Victoria.  The home ice advantage was a help for the Grizzlies as they scored the first two goals of the game.  But the second period was a scoring display by the Clippers with Tristan Lowenberger, Teal Burns and Kyle Kramer all scoring in the “middle 20” to take a 3-2 lead.  A Victoria goal in the third forced overtime, and at 5:59 into the extra frame, Luc Olivier Blain scored the game winner with an assist from Burns for the Clippers to take game two 4-3.  Stars of the Game honors went to Blain (First) and Kramer (Second).

Our WFG-sponsored hockey team returns to Frank Crane Arena with a two game lead. Games three and four will be played this Monday and Tuesday on Nanaimo’s home ice.  The puck will drop at 7 p.m. (Pacific Time).  GO CLIPPERS!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League ended its regular season on Saturday against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  The Clippers have been on a hot streak, winning six of their last seven games.  Would they enter the playoffs on a win?

The Clippers got off to a strong start in the first period thanks to a goal by Andrew Gladiuk off an assist from Kyle Weber and Second Star of the Game Mike Domsodi.  The Bulldogs, however, would bite back for two more goals going into the third period.  Then, on a power play, Teal Burns tied the game with a goal thanks to assists from Luc Olivier Blain and Andrew Gladiuk.  Unfortunately for Clippers’ fans, the Bulldogs would score the game winner in overtime to take the final regular season game 3-2.

After sixty games, the WFG-sponsored Clippers finished the season 24-25-1-10, earning 59 points in the standings.  This has earned the WFG-sponsored “Junior A” hockey team the sixth seed in the BCHL Coastal Conference playoffs.  Postseason play begins on Friday in Victoria against the Grizzlies.  Keep reading WFGSports.com for the latest postseason action from Nanaimo.  GO CLIPPERS!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers have been on the road a lot lately.  Their last four games were away, and they won three of them.  This past week saw the “Junior A” hockey team play two on their home ice of Frank Crane Arena and one more road trip.

The first home game was Wed., Feb. 10, against the Williams Lake Timberwolves.  Although the game wasn’t “all Nanaimo”, it was close.  The scoring started early in the first period thanks to a power play goal by Second Star of the Game Luc Olivier Blain.  Then First Star of the Game Mike Domsodi scored two goals, one on a power play, before the first intermission.  In the second period, Tristan Lowenberger and Teal Burns scored to take a 5-0 lead.  Although the Timberwolves scored in the third, Nanaimo took this game 5-1.  Goalie Loic Boivin blocked 15 out of 16 shots.  For his hard playing, Kyle Weber was named the Third Star of the Game.

Friday night saw the Quesnel Millionaires visit Frank Crane Arena.  The Millionaires lost in their last game against our hockey club, and they were looking for payback.  And, although the Millionaires did force the game into double overtime, it was the Clippers’ night thanks to goals by Colton Cyr, Second Star of the Game Brayden Jaw and First Star of the Game Luc Olivier Blain on the power play.  Nanaimo won 3-2.

Saturday saw the WFG-sponsored Clippers board their bus again for their last regular season road game against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  The Clippers were playing to win, shooting 38 shots on goal.  Four points were scored in the first period by Brayden Jaw, Colton Cyr, Joe Perry (on the power play) and Luc Olivier Blain, but the scoring wasn’t done.  Andrew Gladiuk scored in the second.  Brayden Jaw scored again in the third and Cody Bremner scored to take this game 7-4.  Stars of the Game honors were all Clippers: Carson Schell, Luc Olivier Blain and Brayden Jaw.  With this win, the Clippers will be in the BCHL playoff that begins Fri.,Feb. 26.

The Clippers next take the ice this Friday, Feb. 19, against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in their last regular season game on home ice.  The puck drops at 7:30 local time at Frank Crane Arena.  GO CLIPPERS!

January finally ended for the World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL.  And February looked to be tough with a four game road trip to start the shortest month of the year.  But after ending January with a win, it looked as if our team was starting to turn around and make it into the BCHL playoffs.

The first game of the trip saw the Clippers take on the Merritt Centennials last Tuesday.  Clippers forward Cody Bremner scored the first goal of the game after a no scoring first period.  Merritt answered back, but Carson Schell, Nicholas McIntyre and Colton Cyr (unassisted into an empty net) all scored in the third period to win 4-2.  Bremner was named the First Star of the Game and goalie Loic Boivin, who blocked 32 out of 34 shots, was named the Third Star.

The next night saw our WFG-sponsored “Junior A” hockey team visit Quesnel to take on the Millionaires.  Andrew Gladiuk got the offense fired up with the first goal of the game.  He also scored a goal in the second and a goal in the third (on the power play), earning Gladiuk a hat trick!  And, for good measure, Colton Cyr added a goal of his own in the third period as Nanaimo took this one 4-3.  Gladiuk was named the First Star of the Game, and Brayden Jaw earned the title of Second Star, thanks to his hard playing and two assists.

After an off night, the Prince George Spruce Kings wanted to avenge their loss to the Clippers last week.  And revenge they did get by taking this game 5-2. Scoring the goals for Nanaimo were Kyle Kramer and Brayden Jaw.  Both were on the power play.

But Saturday would see no rest for the Clippers.  Our team visited the Williams Lake Timberwolves and took an early lead.  Carson Schell scored the lone goal of the first period (unassisted) and Cody Bremner scored the lone goal of the second.  The Timberwolves then scored three unanswered goals to take the lead.  But the Clippers came back, thanks to goals from Teal Burns, Brayden Jaw (on the power play) and Victor Newell (unassisted).  Nanaimo won this one 5-3.  For his goal and second period assist, Burns was named the Second Star of the Game.

After a long road trip, the WFG Nanaimo Clippers return to the confines of Frank Crane Arena opposite the Williams Lake Timberwolves this coming Wednesday and the Quesnel Millionaires on Friday.  Then another road game beckons for our team in Cowichan Valley on Saturday.  Go Clippers!

The month of January has not been kind to the Nanaimo Clippers thus far as the “Junior A” hockey club, sponsored by World Financial Group, has lost more games than they have won.  So would the last week of January be better for the team?

Last Tuesday, the Clippers hit the road playing opposite the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  The Clippers went on the power play seven times in the contest and scored on three of them, with two goals from Teal Burns and one from Luc Olivier Blain.  Unfortunately, the Caps took this contest 4-3, even though Clippers’ goalie Loic Boivin was able to save 30 shots on goal.

The next night, the WFG-sponsored hockey team came home to Frank Crane Arena to host the Prince George Spruce Kings.  This game had to go to two overtimes to decide a victor, but this time, the Clippers won 4-3!  Scoring goals in the victory were Teal Burns, Kyle Kramer, Luc Olivier Blain and Cody Bremner in double OT. Kramer and Bremner were named the Second and Third Stars of the Game, respectively.

With their first win of January, the Clippers returned to the road to take on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  And, like the previous game, this one was close all the way to the third period.  One goal per period was scored by Clippers teammates Brayden Jaw (first), Kyle Kramer (second, unassisted) and Cody Bremner (third).  However, the Bulldogs matched all those goals, and earned two more, to win the game 5-3.

But the Clippers had one more road game this past week with another visit to Victoria to take on the Grizzlies.  Lately, the Grizzlies have had the Clippers number.  But in this game, the Clippers gained the lead early and never trailed in a 4-3 win.  First Star of the Game Colton Cyr scored the first two goals and Third Star Teal Burns added the other two, including a power play goal in the second.

The WFG-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers return to the road for four more games.  On Tuesday, the team visits the Merritt Centennials and Wednesday sees the Clippers take on the Quesnel Millionaires.  Friday is a rematch against the Prince George Spruce Kings, and on Saturday the road trip ends opposite the Williams Lake Timberwolves.  Go Clippers!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL took to the ice recently for two contests. 

The first game, on Wed., Jan. 20, had the WFG-sponsored hockey team visiting the Victoria Clippers.  Despite 30 Nanaimo shots on goal, Victoria blanked the Clippers 2-0.  Goalie Loic Boivin was named the Second Star of the Game for blocking all of Victoria’s 17 shots on goal in the first period and 36 total shots in the game.

Nanaimo returned to the friendly confines of Frank Crane Arena on Fri., Jan. 22 to take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  Although Clippers’ goalie Loic Boivin shut the Caps out of the third period, the Capitals had already scored a goal in both the first and second periods.  While Nanaimo’s forward Teal Burns scored in the second period on a power play, the Caps won this one 2-1 in front of 1,621 Clippers fans.  Burns was named the Second Star of the Game. 

The WFG-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers have a busy week ahead of them.  Tuesday sees the Clippers visiting the Capitals.  The next night, the Prince George Spruce Kings visit Frank Crane Arena.  Then the team hit the road on Friday against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and another trip to Victoria on Saturday.  Go Clippers!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers returned to competition after the BCHL All-Star break with two games.  How did our team do?

Friday, January 15 saw the Clippers take on the Vernon Vipers in the friendly confines of Frank Crane Arena.  Although the Vipers took an early lead, the Clippers kept things close with power play goals in the second period from Teal Burns and Nicholas McIntyre.  The third period also saw goals from Clippers Kiefer McNaughton and Brayden Jaw.  However, the Vipers scored the tie breaker at the end of the third period to take this match 5-4.  For their hard play and timely assists, Andrew Gladiuk and Mike Domsodi were named the First and Third Star of the Game, respectively.

The next night saw the WFG-sponsored “Junior A” hockey team travel to Powell River to take on the Kings.  Despite goals from Teal Burns, Luc Olivier Blain and Cody Bremner, this game was all Powell River thanks to a seven goal second period, which contributed to their 11-3 victory.

The Clippers hope to start their rebound this coming Wednesday in Victoria against the Grizzlies.  Friday will see the Cowichan Valley Capitals come calling to Frank Crane Arena.

Clippers defenseman Victor Newell announced this week that he has committed to Yale University.  He will start playing for the Ivy League institution in 2011.  Congratulations, Victor!

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL played three games this week.  How did our team fare before the All-Star break?

Last Tuesday, our team traveled to Victoria to take on the Grizzlies in a make-up game from last Halloween.  In sixty minutes of hockey, nary a goal was scored by either team.  That all changed in the second overtime period, when Victoria got a puck past Third Star of the Game, the Clippers’ Loic Boivin, to win 1-0.  Boivin blocked 26 previous shots on goal.

Friday evening the Clippers returned to Frank Crane Arena to host the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  In the first period, Luc Olivier Blain scored on a power play to take an early lead.  And Blain, who earned Second Star of the Game honors, scored again in the third.  But the Caps were too strong for our guys, who beat the WFG-sponsored team 3-2. 

The Sunday home matinee featured the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  Despite goals by Colton Cyr (unassisted) and Luc Olivier Blain (on the power play) in the first, the Bulldogs won this one 5-2.  Cyr earned Second Star of the Game honors.

The BCHL All-Star Game, featuring goalie Loic Boivin and forward Cody Bremner, will be played on Wednesday at Frank Crane Arena.  After that, the Clippers take on the Vernon Vipers at home on Friday and the Powell River Kings on the road this Saturday.  Let’s wish our “Junior A” hockey team a great 2010!

After a week-long break, the World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers returned to the road for three games to close out 2009 and start 2010 with a home game.

First, on the December 29, the Clippers took on the Surrey Eagles.  The Eagles took an early lead in the first period, but the Clippers tied the game in the second and scored an additional four goals to take the contest 5-1.  Scoring for the Clippers were Nicholas McIntyre, Andrew Gladiuk, Myles Fitzgerald, Luc Olivier Blain and Brayden Jaw.  Goalie Loic Boivin blocked 30 out of 31 shots on goal. Gladiuk and Blain were named the First and Second Stars of the Game, respectively.

The next night saw this WFG-sponsored hockey team travel to Langley to face the Chiefs.  The Chiefs took the lead early and never let go, which meant an unfortunate 5-2 loss for the Clippers. Luc Olivier Blain scored both goals for the Clippers, one on the power play, and earned the Third Star of the Game.

On New Year’s Eve, the team hoped to end 2009 with a victory against the Powell River Kings. Despite goals from Kiefer McNaughton and Colton Cyr, this game was all River Kings, who won it with a score of 4-2.

In the first game of the New Year on January 2, the Clippers returned to Frank Crane Arena to take on the Victoria Grizzlies, which the Grizzlies took this game by a score of 4-2.  In the loss, Luc Olivier Blain scored on the power play and Brayden Jaw scored in the third.  For his hard playing, Carson Schell was named the Second Star of the Game.

The Nanaimo Clippers play the Grizzlies on Tuesday in Victoria.  This weekend, they return home to face Cowichan Valley on Friday and Alberni Valley on Sunday.  Let’s wish our “Junior A” hockey club the best in 2010!