World Financial Group

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!

The BCHL Nanaimo Clippers, proudly sponsored by World Financial Group, took a road trip to face four teams in the Interior Conference.

Tuesday saw the Clippers take on the Westside Warriors.  The game only featured a combined seven power plays.  In fact, both teams scored their lone regulation goal on the PP (Luc Olivier Blain doing the honors for Nanaimo).  Alas, the game was taken by Westside in OT 2-1.  Goalie Loic Boivin was named the Second Star of the Game for blocking 18 out of 20 shots.

The next night saw our WFG “Junior A” hockey team take on the Penticton Vees.  And this game was all “Vees”, winning this one 4-2.  BCHL All-Star Cody Bremner scored both Nanaimo goals unassisted (one shorthanded) and was named the Second Star of the Game.

Friday night’s opponent, the Trail Smoke Eaters, probably should have changed their name to the “Clipper Eaters”.  They scored six goals in the first period to our one goal by Colton Cyr on the power play.  The defense held Trail scoreless in the second while adding more goals by Teal Burns and Cody Bremner.  However, despite another goal from Bremner and one by Kiefer McNaughton, the Smoke Eaters picked up three more and won this contest 9-5.  Bremner was named the Third Star of the Game.

And Saturday saw our guys taking on the Vernon Vipers.  The Clippers kept this one very close through two periods, thanks to a goal by Luc Olivier Blain and two by Cody Bremner.  Alas, despite killing four penalties, the Vipers struck to win 5-3.  Again, Bremner was named the Third Star of the Game.

Although our WFG Nanaimo Clippers seem to be in an oh-for-December slump, the month isn’t over yet.  All BCHL teams will be taking a week’s hiatus for Christmas.  After the break, the Clippers hit the road to take on Surrey on Dec. 29, Langley on the 30^th and the Clippers end 2009 against the Powell River Kings.  Happy Holidays from wfgsports.com!

This past weekend was kind of unusual for the World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers.  Normally, you’d expect the Clippers to play two or three games on a weekend but our “Junior A” team only played one game, a home contest against the Langley Chiefs.

The scoring started early in the contest, with Langley scoring the first goal.  But the Clippers’ Brayden Jaw answered that goal with one of his own in the first.  The second period saw no scoring, saving the action for the third when the Clippers’ Carson Schell made the score 2-1.  But Langley forced overtime and took the contest 3-2.  However, Nanaimo’s goalie Loic Boivin was named the First Star of the Game for blocking 29 out of 32 shots.

The Clippers will be on the road for four games before the Christmas break.  Tuesday sees our guys opposite the Westside Warriors.  Wednesday will be against the Penticton Vees.  Friday will be the Trail Smoke Eaters and Saturday night will see the aforementioned Vipers. 

In additional hockey news, Loic Boivin was named to the BCHL All-Star team along with forward Cody Bremner.  Both will be on the ice this January 13 at Frank Crane Arena in an unusual all-star format.  The Vernon Vipers, the current defending Royal Bank Cup champions, will be taking on the all-stars from the rest of the BCHL.  Congratulations and best of luck from your friends at World Financial Group!

November was a hot month for the World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL.  Would their winning ways continue into December?

Their first game was a home contest Wednesday night against the Victoria Grizzlies.  Despite having the home ice advantage, this game was all Grizzlies, who won 7-4.  Clippers’ Forward Andrew Gladiuk scored two power play goals in the second to make the game 3-2 by the second intermission.  Also scoring for the WFG-sponsored team were Myles Fitzgerald and Colton Cyr (shorthanded).  Gladiuk was named the Third Star of the Game.

Friday night saw the Surrey Eagles visiting Frank Crane Arena on the night of the annual “Teddy Bear Toss”.  Thanks to Carson Schell’s power play goal early in the first period, the crowd didn’t have to wait long to toss their stuffed animals.  (FYI - The Greater Nanaimo Toy Drive received enough teddy bears to require an SUV and a pickup truck to haul them away.)  The rest of the game was evenly matched with Clippers goals also scored by Mike Domsodi, Victor Newell and Colton Cyr.  Cyr’s goal, for which he was later named second star of the game, was unassisted and forced two overtime periods.  But, unfortunately for Clippers’ fans, Surrey emerged victorious by a 5-4 score. 

Sunday featured a change of pace, as the WFG-sponsored Junior A hockey team hosted a matinee against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  And Nanaimo ended the first period with goals by Teal Burns and Victor Newell, the latter being scored on the power play.  But the rest of the game was all Alberni Valley, who won 3-2 in OT.  But Clippers forward Victor Newell was named the First Star of the Game for his hard playing.

The Clippers next play Saturday Evening against the Langley Chiefs at home before embarking on a four game road trip. Your fans at World Financial Group wish you continued success in December and beyond.

November proved to be very productive for the World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers.  With the month coming to a close, the Clippers are 7-1-1.  But how would the team fair in the final two road games of November?

Friday, Nov. 27, the Clippers visited the Langley Events Centre to take on the Chiefs.  Kyle Kramer of the Clippers scored twice in the 5-4 victory, a game in which the Clippers never trailed.  Fellow Clippers Luc Olivier Blain, Andrew Gladiuk and Teal Burns also scored goals, with the latter two on the power play.  Blain was named the First Star of the Game while his teammate Cody Bremner was named the Second Star for two timely assists.

But the WFG-sponsored Junior A hockey team didn’t have time to rest on this win as they traveled the next day to the Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby to play the Express.  Forty seven seconds into the first period, Clippers forward Colton Cyr scored.  Joining him in that period were Cody Bremner, Teal Burns (unassisted), Luc Olivier Blain and Andrew Gladiuk.  And, once again, the latter two Clippers scored on the power play.  The second period saw a power play goal from Burns and a goal from Carson Schell.  And Bremner scored again in the third to help the Clippers take this game 8-3.  Gladiuk, Burns and goalie Loic Boivin, who blocked 16 of 19 shots, all were honored with Stars of the Game.

The WFG Nanaimo Clippers really made November a winning month with a 9-1-1 record.  To start December, the Clippers have three home games:  the Victoria Grizzlies visit on Wednesday, Friday sees the Surrey Eagles on the ice for the “teddy bear toss” (visit the Clippers’ website, www.nanaimoclippers.com, for more information), and Sunday sees a matinee against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. GO CLIPPERS!

The Nanaimo Clippers, the BCHL “Junior A” hockey team sponsored by World Financial Group, have a seven game unbeaten streak.  With three games played this past week, would the streak continue?

The winning ways were on display for the Clippers on Wednesday, Nov. 18 when the Merritt Centennials came to the Clippers home ice at Frank Crane Arena.  The Cents scored the first goal of the game, but the Clippers scored the next eight.  Thanks to Colton Cyr and Kyle Kramer in the first period; Matt Ius on the power play, Teal Burns, Sam Waterfield and Nicholas McIntyre also on the power play in the second period; and Cody Bremner and Brayden Jaw in the third, the Clippers won this game 8-1.  Jaw, Ius and Kramer were named the Three Stars of the Game.  Goalies Loic Boivin and Mark Segal combined to save 21 shots on goal.  This game marked the last Clippers game for Segal, as he is now with the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League.

Friday, Nov. 20 saw the WFG hockey at the rink of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.  The Bulldogs were determined to end the Clippers’ unbeaten streak, and came very close.  Bulldogs player Sam Mitchell scored twice on the power play and Matt Hatch added a third period goal.  But the Clippers kept it close thanks to a power play goal by Luc Olivier Blain in the first and goals Cody Bremner in the first and an unassisted power play goal by Nicholas McIntyre in the third to send the game to double overtime.  Finally, at 1:20 into double OT, Joe Perry scored from a Cody Bremner assist to put this game away 4-3.  For blocking 41 shots on goal for 66:20, goalie Loic Boivin was named the Second Star of the Game.

On Saturday night the winning team returned to Frank Crane Arena to face the Westside Warriors.  And, sad to say, the Warriors had more spirit than our team did.  Despite a power play goal by Tyler Mah in the first and a Brayden Jaw goal in the second, the Warriors proved to be too much for our guys and won 5-2.  In the loss, the Clippers only had to kill five penalties and were successful on four of them. 

So, what does a team who sees the end of an unbeaten streak do?  They hopefully start a new win streak, which our guys will get a chance to do this Friday and Saturday opposite Langley and Burnaby on the road.  Also, December 4 will see the annual “teddy bear toss” game opposite Surrey at Frank Crane Arena.  Look for more info regarding that event soon right here on wfgsports.com.

The World Financial Group-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers played four games this past week, their busiest schedule so far this season.  Would these games add to the team’s current three game win streak? 

Tuesday, Nov. 10, saw the BCHL team travel to Salmon Arm to take on the Silverbacks.  In a very evenly matched game, both teams went on the power play five times and scored on one of them and each scored two goals in regulation, forcing overtime.  The Clippers did outshoot the Silverbacks, 42-26, but the game still ended in a 2-2 tie.  The two Clippers who scored goals were Luc Olivier Blain and Joe Perry (on the power play).  For blocking 24 shots, goalie Loic Boivin was named the Second Star of the Game.   

The next day, the WFG-sponsored Clippers ventured to Surrey to take on the Eagles.  And, like the previous day’s contest, this game also featured a 2-2 score at the end of regulation thanks to goals scored by Luc Olivier Blain and Victor Newell.  However, Tyler Mah proved to be the difference maker for our “Junior A” hockey team, who scored an OT goal to give the Clippers a 3-2 win.  For assisting on two of the three goals, Cody Bremner was named the First Star of the Game. 

After an off day on Thursday, the Clippers headed to Frank Crane Arena to take on the Burnaby Express on Friday the 13th.  And the game was unlucky for the Express, despite scoring four goals, including once on the power play.  The Clippers scored six, thanks to Carson Schell, Cody Bremner on the power play, Luc Olivier Blain, Andrew Galdiuk (twice) and Nicholas McIntyre on both the power play and an empty Burnaby net.  The final score was 6-4 in favor of the Clippers.  Gladiuk and Blain were named the Third and First Stars of the game, respectively.  

Sunday, Nov. 15, saw a home matinee opposite the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  The Capitals did not score until the start of the third period and even had two power plays that didn’t see a score.  The Clippers were 2 for 4 on the power play with goals scored by Luc Olivier Blain and newcomer Matt Ius, who also scored twice more to earn a hat trick.  Also scoring goals for Nanaimo were Andrew Gladiuk, Cody Bremner and Victor Newell.  This game was a runaway win for the Clippers, with the final score of 7-1, and Nanaimo boasting all Three Stars of the Game: Joe Perry for two timely assists, Blain and our newest Clipper Ius. 

Although in fifth place, our WFG Nanaimo Clippers are on a tear with a three game win streak and a seven game unbeaten streak!  Up next for our team is a Wednesday home contest against the Merritt Centennials.  Friday sees a road game opposite the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, and Saturday has our “Junior A” team playing the Westside Warriors at Frank Crane Arena.  Way to go Clippers from all of us at World Financial Group!

The WFG-sponsored Nanaimo Clippers began November with two games.  Anxious to return to the ice after their last contest against the Victoria Grizzlies was cancelled due to illness on the opposing team, the Clippers hit the ice at their home arena Friday against the Powell River Kings. 

The Clippers won their last game against the Kings, so both teams were doing their best to beat the other. The Clippers killed all ten penalties in the game with eight power plays, with one in the first period providing a scoring goal from Kyle Weber.  Also scoring in the contest were Teal Burns (unassisted) and Colton Cyr (shorthanded).   These three goals were enough for the Clippers to win 3-1.  Burns and goalie Mark Segal, who blocked 25 out of 26 shots, were named the Second and First Stars of the Game, respectively. 

On Saturday, the WFG-sponsored Junior A hockey team hit the road to take on their Coastal Conference rivals, the Cowichan Valley Capitals.  The Island Savings Centre was not kind to the Clippers on the power play (no goals in nine attempts).  But the team played smart hockey, only going shorthanded five times and killing four of those penalties.  Goals scored by Cody Bremner in the first, Carson Schell (unassisted) and Teal Burns in the third ensured a 3-2 victory.  For their hard playing, Burns was named the Third Star of the Game and Schell the First Star. 

The upcoming week sees the Nanaimo Clippers in action four times.  For the Remembrance Day holiday, the Clippers take on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and travel to Surrey to play the Eagles on Wednesday.  Friday evening sees the WFG hockey team skate opposite the Burnaby Express at home and a Sunday home matinee (3 PM) against Cowichan Valley.  Check back here for updates on these games.