NANAIMO — October has been packed tightly for the Clippers with the most travel and the most games.
The Clippers have played ten of their 11 games on the schedule with a 5-4-1 record, and they went 3-3 during a stretch of six straight road games spanning from Abbotsford to Prince George and Powell River.
Forward Jack Rimmer actually appeared to get stronger as the month wore on, with six points in the last three away games and a third star of the week honour from the BCHL.
“I think you have to roll with the punches and do what you can,” Rimmer said. “We split, so being on the road for that many games, we’re going to take a 50/50 record. Taking care of your body after games is important. You’ve got to deal with not being with your billets, different food and different roommates.”
Backup goalie Dryden Riley is from Ontario and saw many of the Clippers’ destinations for the first time.
“I think the team had a good time and it brought us together a little more. For me, it feels like I’ve barely been at my billet house we’ve been on the road so much. As a team, it’s been good to really connect. It shows how much you can bond in certain environments, like being on a bus.”
During the six-game road stretch, the Clippers added a pair of players who will both play their first home games on Halloween night
Sam Boisvert returned to the Clippers on Oct. 13 in Abbotsford after leaving for the QMJHL last season, and Antoine Cormier joined the team for their Oct. 24 visit to Powell River.
Rimmer joked the Clippers have seemingly been adding new players every week.
“It was good to have some new faces and it helped us out and kept it fresh.”
In October, the Clippers have been averaging only one or two practices per week.
Oftentimes, the club will practice three to four times a week.
The schedule is a lot lighter currently, with only three games between Oct. 26 and Nov. 13, with two of them at home.
That will allow much more time for practices, integrating the new players, and getting healthy.
Nanaimo has several players out due to injury and several more who aren’t playing at a hundred percent.
The Clippers take a 7-5-1 record into their Friday, Oct. 31, game against the Victoria Grizzlies.
They trail Victoria by one point for second place in the Coastal West Division.
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