The Nanaimo Clippers finished first in the BC Hockey League’s Coastal Conference this season with a 37-14-3-0 record and faced the Langley Rivermen in the first round of the Fred Page Cup playoffs. The Clippers eliminated the Rivermen in six games before falling to the Chilliwack Chiefs in six games in the Coastal Conference semifinals.
The Clippers have 10 players committed to NCAA Division I schools for this September as of this writing, and two players aging out in Skyler Cameron and Aiden Campbell.
All college commitment data is taken from each team’s individual roster page on the BCHL website and College Hockey News website.
Nanaimo general manager and head coach Colin Birkas has five forwards, four defenders, and one goalie eligible to return in 2023-24.
These numbers will likely change as players move to other leagues like the Western Hockey League, U.S. Hockey League, or North American Hockey League. They may drop to junior B, be sent away in trades, retire, or commit to college before September, and don’t return to their BCHL clubs.
The depth chart is based on the league going with a 24-player roster next season and coaches going with 14 forwards, eight defenders, and two goaltenders.
Graduating players
Michael Craig (Robert Morris University)
Kai Daniells (Princeton University)
Willyam Gendron (Sacred Heart University)
Jake Hewitt (Army West Point)
Ethan Mistry (Brown University)
Mike Murtagh (University of Connecticut)
Jérémie Payant (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Charles-Edward Tardif (Michigan Tech University)
Brody Waters (Bowling Green State University)
Tyler Wishart (Cornell University)
Skyler Cameron (aged out)
Aidan Campbell (aged out)
Eligible returnees (* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 14 forwards and eight defenders)
Forwards
Nick Sajevic (03)
Luca Grabas (03)
Ben Brant (03)
Rylan Yates (03)
Joel Plante (05)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Defenders
Grant Babcock (04)
Lukas Klemm (04)
Brent Merner (04)
Matt Lahey (06)
*
*
*
*
Goaltenders
Shane Shelest (03)
*
