The Nanaimo Clippers lived up to their reputation as one of the top teams in the B.C. Hockey League.
They proved inhospitable hosts to the Prince George Spruce Kings Friday night in Nanaimo, spanking the Kings 9-1.
Matt Creamer led the way offensively for Nanaimo with three goals, all scored in the third period.
It took just 41 seconds for the Clippers to open the scoring. Matthew Hoover connected on a Nanaimo power play. Nolan Aibel followed up with a shorthanded goal at the nine minute mark and Adam Brubacher got the Kings on the board not long after that.
Spencer Hewson stretched the lead when he scored late in the period. Despite outshooting the Clippers 13-7 in the opening frame, the Kings trailed 3-1.
BCHL scoring leader Sheldon Rempal popped in his 38th goal of the season, 12:59 into the second period, beating goalie Sam Tanguay, which put the game out of the Kings' reach.
Hoover and Devin Brosseau also scored in the third period.
Shots were 32-25 in the Clippers' favour.
The win tightened Nanaimo's grip on first place in the Island Division as the Clippers record improved to 23-12-0-1). The Spruce Kings (8-25-0-2) remain fifth in the Mainland Division, second-last overall in the BCHL.
The Spruce Kings are in Duncan tonight (7 p.m.) to play the Cowichan Valley Capitals, then head to Langley for a Sunday afternoon (3 p.m.) encounter with the Express.
The Kings will be back in Prince George for practice Dec. 29.
They have two weekend roadtrips Jan. 2-3 and Jan. 8-10, before they play again at the Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 14 against Trail.
