NANAIMO - It was a slow start to the new year for the Clippers in a 4-2 setback to the Bulldogs.In the first period Nanaimo got down 2-0 on goals by M.
The race for the Island Division title in the B.C. Hockey League is going down to the wire. The Victoria Grizzlies and Alberni Valley Bulldogs are neck and neck following action Wednesday as the Nanaimo Clippers outscored Victoria 9-6, with Liam Ryan counting twice, while Alberni Valley rode a Brandon Buhr hat-trick en route to defeating the Cowichan Valley Capitals 7-3. The Grizzlies (12-6) and Bulldogs (10-3-4) are tied atop the table with 24 points with the Bulldogs having three games remaining and the Grizzlies two. But Victoria, loser of two straight, still controls its own fate because its final two games are against the Bulldogs on Friday and Sunday. Alberni Valley closes out against the Clippers (7-10) on Tuesday.