The Kings made their way to Nanaimo this weekend looking to get some revenge on the Clippers after they took the first 2 games at Hap Parker to start the season.
On Friday the Kings looked to ruin the party as the Clippers hosted their home opener, but the Clips continued right where they left off as 1:15 into the game new Clippers forward Sean Donaldson opened the scoring and Nanaimo never looked back defeating the Kings 8-1 as Hunter Andrew scored the lone goal for the Kings.
On Saturday it was a different story, Nanaimo opened the scoring once more 5 minutes in after Donaldson knocked in his own rebound but the Kings kept on fighting as Nic Porchetta and Mark D'agostino both had glorious chances but were unable to convert. Despite being down 1 after 20 minutes it was the best period of the Kings season.
The Kings looked to keep the momentum going in the 2nd but Nanaimo kept of pushing, they scored early in the 2nd but the Kings caught a break as the goal was waved off due to goalie interference. The Clippers would go on to add another one 5:29 in as Tristain Fraser batted in the puck past Brice to make it 2-0, then at 10:44 after a scramble in front Alex Morozoff slid in the puck to make it 3-0 for the Clippers through 2 periods.
Heading into the 3rd the Kings weren't going to let the best performance of the season go to waste and pushed hard to make a comeback. They would finally break through early in the 3rd shorthanded as the Clippers couldn't hold the puck in the offensive end and it cam to Hunter Andrew who came flying down the left wing and passed off to Karter McNarland who drove hard to the net for the tap in to cut the lead to 2. From there on the Kings would keep on pressing and 3 minutes later on the powerplay Dylan Hewlett passed to Andrew down low and he had some space in the slot and sniped it passed Cooper Black for his 3rd goal in as many games. However after that the Clippers hunkered down and made it tough for the Kings to get the equalizer. The Kings kept on pushing and got the extra attacker out but the Clippers D kept the puck on the boards and the Kings were unable to notch the tying goal and would fall 3-2 and go to 0-4 on the season.
"We're proud of the effort we put forward" said Brock Sawyer post game "as the game progressed I thought we settled in and kept pushing the pace on them. It was a great effort just too little to late"
The Kings will look to carry on their good play at the BCHL showcase this Thursday as they will meet the Wenatchee Wild for the first time since January 2020 in a early morning affair at the Chilliwack Coliseum. Puck drop is at 10am and will be broadcasted on BCHL TV and 95.7 Coast FM.
