The Alberni Valley Bulldogs suffered a 5-3 defeat on the road in Nanaimo against the Clippers Saturday night, in pre-season action.
Down 1-0 after 20 minutes, and 4-1 after 40, the Bulldogs clawed their way back with a pair of power play goals in the third to get within one, before the Clippers sealed it with an empty netter.
Grayson Salmon and Gustav Bryvall had a goal and assist each for Alberni Valley, while Gleb Semenov added a single. Eduard Mishikov chipped in with a pair of helpers.
Nanaimo’s Captain Kay Miller led the charge, scoring 2 goals and adding an assist for a 3 point night, while Tate Swanson also put up a trio of points with a goal and 2 helpers. Charles Beland and Murray Kanerva added singles.
Both goaltenders went the distance with the Bulldogs starting recently signed Dayton Kitchener, and the Clippers electing Grayson Hanggi.
Alberni Valley closed our their Exhibition play with a 2-1 record, and will open the regular season back in Nanaimo next Friday night, before their home opener on Saturday September 19th against Victoria at 6pm.
Text Scoring Summary:
Alberni Valley Bulldogs 3 at Nanaimo Clippers 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Frank Crane Arena
Alberni Valley 0 1 2 – 3
Nanaimo 1 3 1 – 5
1st Period-
1, Nanaimo, Kanerva 1 (Swanson), 14:33.
Penalties-Meier Av (hooking), 13:03; Giger Nan (interference), 13:03; Anund Av (illegal check to the head- minor, misconduct), 20:00.
2nd Period-
2, Nanaimo, Béland 1 (Swanson, Roelofs), 3:41.
3, Nanaimo, Kay 1 (Giger), 5:29.
4, Alberni Valley, Salmon 1 (Mishikov), 8:55.
5, Nanaimo, Kay 2 15:47.
Penalties-Alves Pereira Av (roughing), 6:23; Barclay Nan (roughing), 6:23.
3rd Period-
6, Alberni Valley, Semenov 2 (Mishikov, Bryvall), 8:37 (PP).
7, Alberni Valley, Bryvall 1 (Salmon), 17:07 (PP).
8, Nanaimo, Swanson 1 (Kay), 19:29 (EN).
Penalties-Alves Pereira Av (tripping), 4:53; Kanerva Nan (hooking), 7:19; DeFeo Av (misconduct), 14:35; Loehndorf Nan (misconduct), 14:35; Okovita Nan (checking from behind- minor), 15:13; Okovita Nan (misconduct), 15:50.
Goalies-
Alberni Valley, Kitchener 1-1-0-0
Nanaimo, Hanggi 1-1-0-0
A-725
Referees-Adam Barish (23), Mack Sanderson (29).
Linesmen-Shayne Heinekey (65), Reid Ellingson.
