The Nanaimo Clippers, despite having only 10 forwards, battled hard and defeated the Prince George Spruce Kings 6-5 in overtime.
In the first period, the Spruce Kings went up 2-0 before #15 Dylan Kinch replied for the Clippers at 12:31 on a power play. He was assisted by #9 Cole Lonsdale and #28 Garin Ludwig. The Spruce Kings would reply about six and a half minutes later to restore the two-goal lead. The first period would end 3-1 for the Spruce Kings. The shots on goal would favour the Spruce Kings 23-4.
The second period would see the Clippers tie the score at 3-3 before the Spruce Kings would score to make it 4-3. The Clippers' goals were scored by #9 Cole Lonsdale at 5:00 and #15 Dylan Kinch at 10:00. Cole was assisted by #22 Hudson Gill and #35 Chazz Nixon. Kinch would be helped by #9 Cole Lonsdale and #18 Julian Brown. The second would end with the Spruce Kings ahead 4-3. Shots on goal for the second saw the Clippers outshooting the Spruce Kings 14-11.
The third saw the Spruce Kings again regain a two-goal lead 6:45 into the third. At 9:51, #9 Cole Lonsdale would get the Clippers one-goal closer on a power play. Cole was assisted by #17 Luke Lavery and #15 Dylan Kinch. Then, with the #35 Chazz Nixon pulled for the extra attacker, #17 Luke Lavery would score at 19:05 to tie the game at 5-5. Luke was assisted by #28 Garin Ludwig and #15 Dylan Kinch. Time would run out in the third, sending the game to three-on-three overtime. Shots on goal in the third would have the Spruce Kings ahead 11-9.
At 3:20 into the overtime, #9 Cole Lonsdale was able to steal the puck from a Spruce Kings player, skate down the ice and slip the puck past the Spruce Kings goalie for the overtime win. Shots on goal in overtime favoured the Clippers 2-1.
Shot totals for the game saw the Clippers being outshot by the Spruce Kings 44 to 29.
The three stars of the game were 1st star Carter Hesselgrave (Spruce Kings), 2nd star Cole Lonsdale (Nanaimo) and 3rd star Brock Cummings (Spruce Kings).
The Clippers' next game is Sunday, December 29th, at 3 p.m. against the same Prince George Spruce Kings.
