Nanaimo Clippers
CityNanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
LeagueBritish Columbia Hockey League
DivisionIsland
Founded1972 (1972)–73
Home arenaFrank Crane Arena
ColoursOrange, silver, black, white
       
Head coachBob Beatty (interim)
Websitewww.nanaimoclippers.com
Franchise history
1972–1982Nanaimo Clippers
1982–1983Esquimalt Buccaneers
1983–presentNanaimo Clippers

The Nanaimo Clippers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Island Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at Frank Crane Arena.

Franchise history

The original owner, Cliff McNabb, drew inspiration for the name from the local teams of the Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association who prior to 1972 as well as after, were known as the Clippers. The Nanaimo Clippers won the league championship in the 1976 playoffs but lost by default for the Mowat Cup (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 three wins and a loss in round-robin play. The Clippers entered the semi-finals as the second 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.

On March 13, 2004, with 80 seconds left in the third period and the score tied 3–3 in game seven during the first round of the playoffs against Powell River Kings, 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. The Clippers went on to beat 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.

In March 2017, the Nanaimo city council approved a referendum for the construction of a $88 million arena to help solidify a potential Western Hockey League team, either by relocation or expansion, possibly forcing the Clippers to either relocate to another market or fold. The referendum was on March 11 and was rejected by 80% of those voting. The team was purchased by Vancouver-based lawyer Wesley Mussio in 2017.

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

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsPIMFinishPlayoffs
1972–736231301—352335631st, CoastalLost semifinals, 3–4 (Bruins)
1973–746421412—243321444th, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Lords)
1974–756621450—303385424th, CoastalLost semifinals, 2–4 (Blazers)
1975–766641214—384279892nd, BCJHLFred Page Cup Champions (Vees)
1976–776846193—403323951st, CoastalFred Page Cup Champions, 4–2 (Vees)
1977–786641232—3923248422511st, CoastalFred Page Cup Champions (Vees)
1978–796233263—3673466916252nd, CoastalLost semifinals, 0–4 (Blazers)
1979–806641241—433346832nd, CoastalLost finals, 3–4 (Knights)
1980–814433101—3072006714171st, CoastalLost quarterfinals
1981–824812360—232347246th, Coastaldid not qualify
1982–835630251—3093146124203rd, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Royals)
1983–845030191—303256612nd, CoastalLost semifinals, 2–4 (Eagles)
1984–855221310—328367425th, Coastaldid not qualify
1985–865225261—305337513rd, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Flyers)
1986–875224271—276292494th, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 0–4 (Sockeyes)
1987–885228204—277252603rd, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 2–4 (Flyers)
1988–896032253—3093126729313rd, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 0–4 (Paper Kings)
1989–906038211—3813147723262nd, CoastalLost semifinals, 3–4 (Royals)
1990–916025323—307342533rd, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 1–4 (Paper Kings)
1991–926027303—3193095730593rd, CoastalLost semifinals, 2–4 (Ice Hawks)
1992–936029292—3203266017383rd, CoastalLost semifinals, 3–4 (Paper Kings)
1993–946021363—270351454th, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 1–4 (Paper Kings)
1994–956025332—280330523rd, CoastalLost preliminary, 0–2 (Eagles)
1995–966030255—2512366512843rd, IslandLost quarterfinals, 1–4 (Vipers)
1996–976034224—263243722nd, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 1–4 (Paper Kings)
1997–986030291—215223615th, CoastalLost quarterfinals, 0–4 (Eagles)
1998–99603721—2298229761st, CoastalLost Division Quarterfinals, 0–3 (Salsa)
1999–00602821—11202218673rd, CoastalLost Conference Semifinals, 2–4 (Chiefs)
2000–01603125—42212166616731st, IslandLost preliminary, 3–4 (Salsa)
2001–02604117—2262215841st, IslandLost semifinals, 1–4 (Chiefs)
2002–0360411630267196851st, IslandLost quarterfinals, 0–3 (Eagles)
2003–04603715262561618221312nd, IslandFred Page Cup Champions, 4–1 (Silverbacks)
Doyle Cup Champions
2004–056048903240142991st in LeagueLost semifinals
2005–0660441204255160921st in LeagueLost quarterfinals
2006–0760411225287187891st in LeagueWon Fred Page Cup
2007–0860421404249155881st in LeagueLost in Finals
2008–0960282426186193649th BCHLLost in First Round
2009–106024251101972045910th BCHLLost in Quarterfinals
2010–1160292317203205665th, CoastalLost Division Quarterfinals
2011–12602625091861936110th BCHLdid not qualify
2012–1356322004182167682nd, IslandLost Division Semifinals
2013–1458272812176172573rd, IslandLost Division Semifinals
2014–1558371605235167791st of 5, Island
2nd of 16, BCHL		Won, Div. Semifinals, 4–3 (Bulldogs)
Won, Div. Finals, 4–3 (Kings)
2nd of 3 Mini Series, advanced
Lost League Finals, 2–4 (Vees)
2015–1658381811235186781st of 5, Island
4th of 17, BCHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 4–1 (Bulldogs)
Won Div. Finals, 4–0 (Kings)
3rd of 3 Mini Series, eliminated
2016–1758232861146199534th of 5, Island
14th of 17, BCHL		Lost div. semi-finals, 1–4 (Grizzlies)
2017–1858322033198177702nd of 5, Island
6th of 17, BCHL		Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 (Kings)
2018–19582730—1180213557503rd of 5, Island
14th of 17, BCHL		Lost First Round, 1–4 (Kings)
2019–2058371704183134787721st of 5, Island
3rd of 17, BCHL		Won First Round, 4–0 (Bulldogs)
Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–2120811015982172553rd of 4, Alberni Val. Pod
11th of 16, BCHL		Covid-19 "pod season" - no playoffs
2021–2254331731210172705833rd of 9, Coastal
6th of 18, BCHL		Won Div Quarterfinal, 4–0 (Eagles)
Won Div. Semifinal, 4-0 (Chiefs)
Won Div. Finals 4-0, (Rivermen)
Lost League Finals 0-4 (Vees)

NHL alumni

See also

References

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