Nanaimo, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies and Nanaimo Clippers meet for the first time this season at 7:00 p.m. at the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo to kick off their seven-game season series.
For two teams that are just an hour-and-a-half separated, it may come as a bit of a surprise that the Grizzlies and the Clippers have yet to begin their Island rivalry this year. What will not be a surprise is if there is some festive spooky stuff with no love lost between these teams. Victoria and Nanaimo have historically battled hard and not enjoyed each other’s company on ice (to put it lightly).
The two squads faced off once in a preseason game, and that was full of feistiness. One can’t promise there is much carryover from the preseason, but the five returning Grizzlies and eight veteran Clippers will not have it far from memory that Victoria trounced the Clippers 4-1 in the first round of the 2024 BCHL playoffs two years ago, while also winning the season series 4-3 last year. That is two straight years with the Grizzlies getting the last laugh.
Victoria has played strong hockey as of late, taking five of their last seven contests, including a 3-2 win on the road in Alberni Valley last time out. They currently sit second in the Coastal West Division with an 8-5-0 line which is also good enough for third in the Coastal Conference. Nanaimo is close at their heels with a 7-5-1 record and coming off a weekend sweep over the Powell River Kings. They had, however, lost three in a row and four of five before that, so this past weekend was a good turn in the right direction for them to get back on track after a hot start.
There will be no trick-or-treating for either of these squads on Halloween Night as they prepare for their first of seven meetings this year including four times in a month to close out the year.
Puck drop goes at 7:00 p.m. from the Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo with the game being free to listen live with Tom Wilke on the Grizzlies Audio Streaming Service on mixLR while also being available to watch with a paid subscription on floHockey.
Who To Watch:
Victoria: Max Silver
- 18-year-old forward Max Silver has found his stride after a big off season. The San Diego product has a three goal streak going (four in that time) with eight points in his last five games. As one of the few returnees for Victoria this year, they needed a big jump from the Colgate commit and he has done nothing short of deliver
Nanaimo: Jack Rimmer
- Toronto’s Jack Rimmer is fresh off being named third star of the week in the BCHL thanks to a five point weekend in Powell River. He, much like Silver, has scored in three straight and now has four goals and 11 points through his first 13 games of the year.
2025-26 Team Ranks
| Victoria Grizzlies | Nanaimo Clippers | |
| Record | 8-5-0 (10th) | 7-5-1 (11th) |
| Goals Per Game | 4.00 (5th) | 3.69 (7th) |
| Goal Against Per Game | 3.38 (9th) | 3.46 (10th) |
| Power Play Percentage | 26.7% (6th) | 27.3% (5th) |
| Penalty Kill Percentage | 81.4% (T-5th) | 76.9% (3th) |
| Penalty Minutes Per Game | 15.38 (4th) | 11.31 (15th) |
| Home Record | 3-4-0 (T-10th) | 2-3-0 (T-13th) |
| Away Record | 5-1-0 (T-4th) | 5-2-1 (9th) |
| Head To Head (Last Year) | 4-2-1 | 3-3-1 |
