Hockey Night In Nanaimo (100_2123.mov)

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada

Friday night saw the season opener for the BC Hockey League in Nanaimo.  The contest was between the Victoria Grizzlies and the Nanaimo Clippers.  Neither team displayed much pizazz.  The Clippers showed brief flashes of glory, but didn't display the needed chemistry to pull off a victory against their rivals.  Grizzlies won six to three.  One of the goals was an empty netter.

The Clippers were down three to nothing when they seemed to find that old chemistry and tied the game with three quick goals.  It was not enough as the Victoria team answered with another goal and then in the dying minutes of the game scored on an empty net.  And for good measure, scored again in the final seconds.

With the revised BCHL schedule this year, the Island teams will be meeting more times during the season.  Some players took time out from playing hockey to compare boxing skills which earned them time in the "sin bin".

The Clippers next home game is September 12 against the Cowichan Capitals.  The following Friday they meet up with the Victoria Grizzlies again.  Let's hope that this time they'll be loaded for bear.