Darren Naylor nailed it when discussing the most unusual year in sports history.
鈥淣obody ever thought they would see playoff hockey in November,鈥� said the GM and head coach of the Nanaimo Clippers.
鈥淭his is definitely not typical.鈥�
The Clippers defeated the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8-2 in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League Island Cup semifinal game Monday night at The Q Centre as the Clippers advanced to meet the Victoria Grizzlies tonight at 7 in the Cup final at the Colwood facility. No fans are allowed in the rink.
The Island Cup is the extended preseason tournament ahead of the tentative start to the 32-game BCHL regular season next month. The Grizzlies finished the round-robin portion as the first seed at 8-3-3, the Clippers the second seed at 9-5 and the Bulldogs the third seed at 6-6-2. 鈥淭hese are three quality clubs that have been pretty evenly balanced with each game close throughout the round-robin,鈥� said Naylor, before guiding his charges into the semifinal fixture.
Not that it has been an exact science. The Cowichan Valley Capitals (2-5-1) didn鈥檛 have an even ice sheet in the tournament, having played only eight games to the 14 each played by Victoria, Nanaimo and Alberni Valley. The Powell River Kings, the fifth team in the Island Division, didn鈥檛 play any games at all. The Capitals and Kings were set to play six consecutive games against each other before they were called off due to Powell River being located in the Vancouver Coastal region and subject to the current two-week shutdown of indoor activities in that jurisdiction.
That鈥檚 hockey in the COVID era. It鈥檚 not quite equitable for all. Those fortunate enough to be playing are appreciative of it. Especially when one considers the entire BCHL Lower Mainland Division is in the midst of the two-week shutdown for indoor activities ordered by the provincial health officer for the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health regions. The Wenatchee Wild, on the wrong side of the closed sa国际传媒-U.S. border, have yet to play.
There have been school outbreaks in Nanaimo and on Monday, Nanaimo minor hockey said it was cancelling all play in its U-8 division after a player tested positive within that cohort.
The Clippers were able to keep playing because their players are being schooled online.
鈥淭hat keeps us in line and in the bubble,鈥� said Naylor.
The players on the Grizzlies, Clippers and Bulldogs realize they are lucky to be playing and are not taking it for granted.
鈥淭hey know they are fortunate to even have an Island Cup exhibition season, with these playoffs, and that the owners have stepped up to have game play without revenues coming in,鈥� said Grizzlies head coach and GM Craig Didmon.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why there is tremendous respect among all the teams in the Island Division for the tournament, the rules and the rivals. It鈥檚 been a great brand for the fans to follow and watch on Hockey TV.鈥�
It has been abetted by several Western Hockey League players, freed by the major-junior league to join Junior A leagues until the tentative start of the WHL season Jan. 8. Forward Payton Mount and defenceman Luke Bateman from the Seattle Thunderbirds are playing for the Grizzlies. Blueliner and third-round Montreal Canadiens draft-pick Gianni Fairbrother of the Everett Silvertips is with the Clippers.
The Bulldogs also feature a notable addition, although not from major junior. NCAA Harvard-bound centre Ryan Tverberg, selected in the seventh round of this year鈥檚 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, was acquired late last month in a trade with the Toronto Junior Canadians of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League.
The Grizzlies鈥� explosive offence, meanwhile, was evidenced by the pair of NCAA-committed Victoria forwards who shared the BCHL preseason scoring title. Cody Monds and Alex DiPaolo, bound respectively for Providence College and Colgate, had 20 points along with fifth-round Buffalo Sabres 2020 NHL draft-pick Matteo Costantini of the Penticton Vees. Grizzlies rookie revelation Ellis Rickwood was alone in fourth with 19 points and Sean Donaldson of the Clippers tied for fifth with 17 points. Monds and Quinn Hutson of the Vees tied for the goals lead with 10 each.
The Vees are the top seed in the Interior Division Cup round-robin at 13-1.