Clippers defeated the Vernon Vipers 5-2

#8 Makaio Van Tassel scores a beautiful unassisted goal in the second period.

By Malcom Cooke

The Nanaimo Clippers earned their 9th win of the season on Friday night, defeating the Vernon Vipers 5-2. The Clippers were led by Dylan Kinch`s two-point night. Joel Plante, Conner Haynes, Makio Van Tassel, and Chase Hull added the other Clipper goals. Finnish netminder Otto Nuto secured his second BCHL win with a 35-save performance.

The Nanaimo Clippers took full advantage of early opportunities to grab momentum in the first period of their clash with the Vernon Vipers. The game started on the wrong foot for the Vipers, who were called for a too many men penalty early in the frame. Nanaimo wasted no time on the powerplay as Joel Plante redirected a Cole Lonsdale point shot for his 11th goal of the season, putting the Clippers up 1-0. Midway through the period, Dylan Kinch broke through the Vipers' defence on a breakaway and ripped a shot into the top corner, netting his 9th goal of the year and doubling Nanaimo's lead. The game saw its fair share of physicality, with coincidental minor penalties creating a stretch of four-on-four action, but neither side could capitalize during the open ice. With just 30 seconds left in the period, Conner Haynes delivered a highlight-reel moment, weaving through multiple Viper defenders before scoring his second goal of the season to extend the Clippers' lead to 3-0 heading into the intermission. Nanaimo held a 15-10 edge in shots, showcasing their dominance throughout the period.

The Vernon Vipers fought back in the second period, narrowing the gap but couldn’t fully shift the momentum from the Nanaimo Clippers. The Vipers broke through early in the period, jamming away at a loose puck in the crease after Clippers goaltender Otto Nuto struggled to secure it. After a video review, the goal was upheld, cutting Nanaimo’s lead to 3-1. The Clippers had a chance to respond with their second power play of the game but failed to convert. Another round of coincidental minor penalties kept tempers flaring and opened up the ice briefly, though neither team capitalized. Midway through the period, Vernon’s goaltender made a critical recovery after misplaying the puck behind the net. He managed to deflect a shot wide just as Nanaimo eyed an open net. At the other end, Otto Nuto responded with a highlight-reel save of his own, sliding across the crease to rob the Vipers of another goal. As the period wound down, the Vipers found the back of the net again to pull within one, cutting the Clippers’ lead to 3-2. However, Nanaimo’s Makio Van Tassel provided some breathing room, streaking in on a breakaway and burying a crucial insurance goal late in the frame. With 20 minutes left to play, the Clippers held a 4-2 lead in a game that remained highly competitive.

The Nanaimo Clippers sealed their victory over the Vernon Vipers with a disciplined and defensive effort in the third period, highlighted by key penalty kills and a late dagger. Nanaimo found themselves shorthanded for the first time in the game early in the period, including a misconduct penalty that left them scrambling. The Clippers' penalty-kill unit, backed by strong saves from Otto Nuto, successfully neutralized the Vipers' power play. A second Clippers penalty followed shortly after, but the advantage was negated when Vernon took a penalty just seconds later, leading to a brief stretch of four-on-four play. Both teams struggled to generate chances as shots came at a premium in the final frame. Defensively, Nanaimo stood tall, with Andrew Brown making a spectacular goal-saving play by swiping the puck off the goal line to preserve the lead. Late in the game, Nathan Larioza took another penalty for the Clippers, but the penalty-kill unit continued to shine, keeping the Vipers at bay. With time winding down, Luke Lavery stripped the puck from the Vipers' goalie behind the net and fed Chase Hull in front for an easy finish into the open net, putting Nanaimo up 5-2 and securing the win.

The three stars of the game were awarded to Dylan Kinch, Joel Plante, and Otto Nuto, respectively. Makio Van Tassel earned FortisBC Energy Player of the Game.

The Clippers are back in action on Saturday night when they face off against the Penticton Vees. Tickets can be purchased at the Frank Crane box office on game day or at tickets.nanaimoclippers.com.