NANAIMO — The Clippers have clinched the second seed and home ice advantage for the first round in the Coastal West division BCHL playoffs.
With three games left in the season, they still don’t know who they’ll face when the postseason begins on April 3 and 4 at Frank Crane Arena.
One of the Clippers who is most looking forward to the postseason run is rookie Indiana Grossbard.
“I’m pumped. In these last couple of games, you see it ramping up, and you see shades of it. I’m excited to see what it’s like. We have an unbelievable group, so it’s nice to have that home ice in the first round, and hopefully we go far.”
Nanaimo will host either Alberni Valley or Victoria in the opening round best of seven, and Grossbard said they aren’t focused on which opponent they’ll line up against.
“It’s going to be a really good matchup either way. They’re two physical teams that we’re not very nice to and they’re not very nice to us. We’re going to be ready, and hopefully we’ll beat them in the first round.”
The Clippers will have some control over who they face in the opening round.
Currently they would play Alberni Valley, but the Bulldogs and Grizzlies are separated by just two points in the standings going into the final weekend of the regular season.
Alberni Valley plays Surrey and Cowichan Valley, while Victoria plays the Capitals and then two games against the Clippers.
Those head-to-head games on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, could cement who Nanaimo’s first-round foe will be.
The Clippers ended up 4-2-0-1 against the Bulldogs and are currently 2-3 against the Grizzlies.
Clippers highlights from games March 20 versus Powell River and March 22 against West Kelowna.
Nanaimo last played Alberni in the opening round in 2020 and won in four straight games before the playoffs were shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They went out in the first round in their previous meeting against Victoria, a five-game loss in 2024.
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