Clippers 4 Dogs 3, 2OT

An odd night from the get go as referee Grant Tyson couldn't make the game, resulting in a start time approximately 20 minutes late, with just two linesman running the show for the bulk of the first period. They would make up for a lack of a referee by calling three minor penalties and one double minor as they made the most of what was a tough situation.

I was surprised neither linesman wore a single red arm band to at least have one arm to raise to differentiate between delayed offsides and icings versus penalties but maybe there wasn't anything suitable in the building. Its was a safe bet that any penalties would be called quick and neither goalie would be wise to race for the bench on what they thought were impending penalties.

The Clippers took a 1-0 lead on a sharp angle goal from Andrew Gladiuk just over four minutes in. The Clippers controlled the play as the Dogs were flat for most of the first, as 16 year old Nanaimo native Kiefer Giroux settled down after the first goal and kept his team in the game as the Clippers out shot the Dogs 11-5 in the first.

In an almost surreal scene, an "only in the BCHL moment" occurred late in the frame as referee Steven Bratt (summoned on an emergency notice on a night off from Port Alberni) joined the game out of no where at the end of play and instantly called a penalty. The Clippers would go up 2-0 on that advantage when Ryan Stanimir blew a one-timer high past Giroux through a screen from the top of the point.

It was 3-0 Clippers early in the second as a bad giveaway up the middle ended up on the stick of Colton Cyr who found two teammates all alone in front who worked the 2 on 0 to perfection as Kyle Kramer sent a cross-crease feed to Brayden Jaw. The goal was initially credited to Cyr, with no assists, but it was later corrected.

After having an earlier chance by Connor Varley clang off the post it looked like the Dogs were going to be denied again by the iron as Casey Bailey rang one off the bar from the slot but Josh Mitchell roofed the rebound for the power play goal with less than three to play in the second for a 3-1 Clipper lead after 2.

The Dogs were a different team from the word go in the third, making it 3-2 less than 30 seconds in as Trent Dorais set up Konrad Litke in the slot where he one-timed his first career goal home. Seven minutes later it was a tie game as Colton Sobchak made a nifty move to get the puck to the net where Casey Bailey battled the puck back out front where Josh Mitchell arrived just in time to somehow get it to go for his second of the game and a 3-3 tie.

Both teams would have their chances in OT but shots were hard to come by with the Dogs getting credited with just 2 and the Clippers with just 1 but it was the one that counted as Colton Cyr scored a beauty on the rush down the left wing ripping one from the circle top corner on Giroux for the winner 2:01 into double OT.

In the end the Dogs are most likely unhappy with the end result, yet happy with a single point earned with the overtime loss as they clawed back from a 3-0 hole to tie the game.

At the same time they can't be happy with their effort as it was certainly less than a "60 minutes effort" in a 67 minute game as they only really looked like they were pushing the pace in the third period.

The two time defending National Champion Vernon Vipers, winners of those RBC's thanks in large part due to their ability to bring a full and consistent effort - will be a huge test tomorrow.

I need a bed.

Hammer
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