Post Game Recap – December 12th, 2025
The Nanaimo Clippers leaned on elite goaltending and timely scoring to earn a hard-fought 2–0 victory over the Surrey Eagles. Despite being heavily outshot early, the Clippers stayed composed as Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau turned aside wave after wave of Eagles chances to keep the game scoreless through a tense first period. Nanaimo broke through early in the second when Jack Rimmer capitalized on a five-on-three power play, a goal that sparked a teddy bear toss and shifted momentum. From there, the Clippers settled into their game, controlling play and clawing back in the shot battle. Rimmer struck again early in the third to give Nanaimo some breathing room. Surrey pushed back late, creating several dangerous looks and even hitting a post on a breakaway. A late penalty and a pulled goaltender made for a frantic finish, but the Clippers held firm. Seguin-Lescarbeau finished with 41 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season. The win marked Nanaimo’s 14th victory of the year.
The Clippers weathered an early storm as the Eagles generated several quality scoring chances in the opening minutes, but goaltender Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau was sharp from the outset, bailing Nanaimo out time and again. An early Clippers penalty put them shorthanded, yet the penalty kill held firm. Just moments after the infraction expired, Tanner Bruender nearly opened the scoring with a deft redirection on a shot pass that drifted just wide of the net. Midway through the frame, the Clippers earned their first power-play opportunity, but it was Surrey that looked more dangerous, creating more chances than Nanaimo could muster with the man advantage. Bruender came close again later in the period, ringing a shot off the post. Another late penalty sent the Clippers back to the kill, and once more Seguin-Lescarbeau stood on his head to preserve the scoreless tie. A pair of penalties in the final minutes ensured the period ended at four-on-four, carrying over into the opening minute of the second. Despite being outshot 18–6 over the first 20 minutes, Nanaimo escaped the period even thanks to stellar goaltending.
Just 40 seconds into the middle frame, the Clippers drew a penalty that quickly turned into an extended five-on-three advantage. The first penalty expired without much incident, but Nanaimo immediately went back to a two-man advantage. This time they capitalized, as Jack Rimmer found the back of the net to open the scoring, triggering a flood of teddy bears onto the ice on Teddy Bear Toss Night. Following the lengthy cleanup, the Clippers still had 1:50 remaining on the power play. Indiana Grossbard came close to extending the lead, ringing a shot off the post, but the score remained 1–0. Nanaimo carried that momentum through the rest of the period, controlling play and generating sustained pressure, though they couldn’t find another goal before the intermission. The Clippers made up ground in the shot battle, outshooting Surrey 18–6 in the second period.
Nanaimo wasted little time adding to its lead, as Jack Rimmer scored his second goal of the game and ninth of the season early in the third to make it 2–0. The Eagles pushed back, but Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau continued his stellar night, turning aside several key chances to keep the shutout intact. Surrey came inches from breaking through on a breakaway, only to hit the post. The closing minutes were frantic after a late Clippers penalty combined with the Eagles pulling their goaltender, creating sustained pressure in the Nanaimo zone. The Clippers bent but did not break, successfully killing off the final push to secure a 2–0 victory, powered by a 41-save shutout performance from Seguin-Lescarbeau.
The three stars of the game were awarded to ESL, Jack Rimmer, and Landon Pappas, respectively. FortisBC Energy Player of the Game went to Tanner Bruender. The Clippers go on the road for a midweek matchup against the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The next home game is Friday, December 19th when the Clippers face the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. Tickets can be purchased at nanaimoclippers.com or the Frank Crane box office on gameday.
-Malcolm Cooke
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