Tonight's Game Report is brought to you courtesy of the Best Western Plus Barclay Hotel
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Barclay Hotel, the largest full facility hotel in Port Alberni, BC. When staying with us there is no need to give up conveniences you are used to. You can discover treasures to take home at the Alberni Harbour Quay, and then browse our onsite Cold Beer, Wine Store and liquor store or retreat to our Stamps Cafe or Pastimes Sports Bar and Grill to enjoy a snack or to watch the game on our big screen TV. Then, relax in our sauna or pool before settling in our luxurious accommodations to enjoy the vintage wine picked up earlier. That's when you will truly understand why the tranquil setting of our hotel has been called the perfect place to call home. If traveling on business, our Port Alberni Hotel boasts over 4500 square feet of meeting space in four rooms that are perfect for small conventions, banquets, parties, meetings and weddings. AV equipment and catering are also available.
The game started about 13 minutes late as it was the Clipper's parents weekend and much like the Bulldogs presentation all the parents were introduced on the ice prior to the game. The action was back and forth in the early minutes with each team appearing ready to play but not much in the way of scoring chances either way. Near the midway point of the period the game got very ugly, as a long series of events up the ice by both teams - hacking, wacking, high-hitting, cross-checking ALL went uncalled by both of the Referees, who chose to just let everything go. There's a fine line between "letting them play" and "losing control" and unfortunately it looked like it was the latter in this case. Especially unfortunately from the Bulldogs side of the puck was that the Clippers went up 1-0 at the tail end of it all with Sheldon Rempal finding some open ice down the right wing before making a Bulldog defender miss before cutting across the crease and dodging a Brody Claeys poke check before showing great patience and lifting it home. Edwin Hooknson drew the only assist on the play at 11:30 of the period. Immediately following the goal, a hard hit knocked Scott Clark down in the Dogs zone. He would take a follow up hit in the back of the head when he was still down on the ice. As play went up ice, Clark threw a hit in the Clippers zone that resulted in him receiving a major penalty for a blow to the head while Will Reilly picked up a minor. After two minutes of four-aside hockey, the Clippers went to a three minute power play. They would score in the early moments of it, as Sheldon Rempal walked into the slot and faked pass before snapping a shot home short-side past the blocker of Claeys. Assisting were Devin Brosseau and Yanni Kaldis at 15:12 of the second. The Dogs did a good job to kill the rest of the penalty, and were close to escaping the period down just two, but the Clippers padded the lead late on a play that looked a good foot offside - not to the Linesman however, as a cross ice pass from the left half boards to the slot was one-timed home by Chris Dodero with just 32 seconds left in the period to make it 3-0. Assists on the play went to Nolan Aibel and Zach Court. Shots were 16-10 Clippers after one.
The second period was vastly different, as good, clean hockey was played for the most part. While the Bulldogs had a much better period and generated a good handful of chances around the Nanaimo net, but the Clippers did a good job of tying up sticks as the Dogs were unable to bang a rebound home to get on the board as the period was scoreless. Shots favoured the Bulldogs 12-10, for a two-period total favouring Nanaimo of 26-22.
The Bulldogs would earn a power play chance early in the third period, but were unable to capitalize on it to make a game of it. Another power play before the midway point offered another opportunity, but they couldn't find the net before taking a penalty themselves. The Clippers would push hard looking for further insurance, but Brody Claeys made a series of solid saves to keep it 3-0. The Bulldogs would earn another power play later in the third, and would call time out and pull their goalie with 7:38 to play to make it a 6 on 4 situation. While the move certainly increased the Bulldogs' level of desperation it didn't yield any results as they couldn't find the net. The Dogs would again pull Claeys with over two minutes to play in the third, and again showed a good level of desperation but the Clippers defended well and the Dogs couldn't get a bounce or finish a chance as the game ended in a 3-0 final.
Shots in the third were even at 11 aside, for a game total of 37-33 favouring the Clippers. Brody Claeys took the loss in net while Jonathan Reinhart picked up 2nd star honours with the win and shut out in net.
These teams meet again tomorrow night at the Dog Pound.
Hammer
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