Powell River Kings’ quest for the Fred Page Cup once again ended a few weeks too short after losing 3-2 to Nanaimo Clippers in game four of the BC Hockey League Island (BCHL) Island Division final Tuesday night at Hap Parker Arena. Nanaimo swept the best-of-seven series with four victories in a row.
With early Nanaimo goals forcing Powell River to play from behind in the opening three games, a good start was crucial. Kings had the start they wanted, but failed to score on opposition goaltender Evan Johnson.
For the fourth straight game, Clippers opened the scoring, late in the first period on a powerplay to make it 1-0, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive penalty kills for the Kings.
Midway through the second period, Kings hit the scoreboard. Mitchell Hawes notched his first of the playoffs, firing a puck from the right wing and looping it past Johnson for a 1-1 tie. Kings then took the lead for the first time in the series eight minutes later when Nick Halagian one-timed a Curtis McCarrick pass into the back of the net, ending a Kings’ streak of 218:54 playing without a lead.
The third period started fast, however it was Nanaimo getting an early goal to tie the game 2-2. Then, at 13:24, former Kings’ affiliate player Corey Renwick put the visitors ahead for the final time, guiding his team to a 3-2 victory and a 4-0 first round sweep.
Powell River goaltender Jeff Smith was busy in net, stopping 33 Nanaimo shots in the loss.
“A very tough, emotional feeling in the room right now,” said assistant coach Brock Sawyer following the game. “The guys know this is the last time this team skates as a group and that’s always a tough pill to swallow. We have a lot of guys moving on; this part of the season is never fun.”
Coming into the game Kings felt good defence would propel them to offensive opportunities, a mantra highlighted by the line of Hawes, Halagian and Austin Kamer accounting for both goals while being tasked with shutting down Nanaimo’s top unit.
“When you’re playing against a very offensive-minded line, you have to take advantage of it,” said Sawyer. “When we had puck pressure down low, they would sit back and give us time and space to make plays and that’s evident in both goals for Mitchell (Hawes) and Nicky (Halagian).”
The loss ends the Kings 27th BCHL season and leaves the club still searching for its first league championship. Nanaimo earns its second consecutive Island Division title and a trip to the third round of BCHL playoffs.
Kings have 16 players eligible to return next season, but lose at least six players with Smith, Adam Brubacher, Jeremy LeClerc, Rylan Ball, Nick Nonis and Halagian all graduating following their 20-year-old seasons.
Kings will hold a spring camp this May in Kamloops to identify potential players for future seasons, and then hold main training camp in August in Powell River. More information is available at powellriverkings.com.
