Clippers capitalize on listless Spruce Kings

No, worries, just waves.

Even after a 15-hour trek to the Northern Capital, the Nanaimo Clippers were anything but fazed heading into the Kopar Memorial Arena.

A two-goal performance from Charles Beland paced the Clippers to a 4-0 victory over the Prince George Spruce Kings in front of 1,293 fans Friday night.

The Clippers hold a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven Coastal Conference Final.

Nanaimo took advantage of a shockingly flat Spruce Kings team that had very little jam.

Beland opened the scoring at 13:54 of the first period, accepting a Miller Kay pass, beating PG netminder Colin Reay for a 1-0 edge after 20 minutes.

The hulking power forward from Quebec lit the lamp again at 3:07 of the middle period – this time capping off an Indiana Grossbard feed, leading to his 10th of the postseason.

Nanaimo continued to suffocate the Spruce Kings at every turn as former Vancouver Giant Will Subject collected his first of the playoffs unassisted a minute later.

The Clippers ended the three-goal middle frame with another marker from the defence as Landon Pappas buried a shot past Reay making it 4-0 at the end of 40 minutes.

PG was outshot 28-8 after 40 minutes. Nanaimo held at 34-19 shot advatage at the end of 60 minutes. Neither team received a power-play.

Reay was replaced by Ryder Green, who stopped all 11 Nanaimo shots that came his way in relief.

Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau pitched a 19-save shutout for the Clippers.

The Spruce Kings were once again without the services of Tai Ushio (injured) and Carter Hesselgrave (second game of two-game suspension) and blueliner Nick Bianchi (knee injury).

Hesslegrave will return to the lineup in Game 2 tonight (Saturday) at 6pm from the Kopar Memorial Arena.

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing pgnews@vistaradio.ca.

Brendan Pawliw
Brendan Pawliw
Since moving to Prince George in 2015, Brendan has covered local sports including the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, Prince George Spruce Kings, UNBC Timberwolves, Cariboo Cougars AAA, and Northern Capitals U18 female hockey teams. Career highlights include play-by-play during the Spruce Kings' BCHL championship runs in 2018 and 2019, including the Doyle Cup win. He also covered the 2019 National Junior A Championship, the 2017 Telus Cup, the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship, and the 2022 BC Summer Games. Brendan is the news voice on 94.3 The Goat and Country 97 FM, reporting on crime, real estate, labour, and environmental issues. Outside of work, he officiates box lacrosse and fastball, sits on the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame board, and co-hosts the Hockey North podcast.

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