It doesn’t seem like a previous chapter, but another book altogether. The last time Sean Donaldson went this far into the B.C. Hockey League playoffs, he was a rookie on the Prince George Spruce Kings team that beat the Victoria Grizzlies, captained by current NHL Colorado Avalanche rookie Alex Newhook, in the pre-pandemic 2019 league semifinals.
The 20-year-old Donaldson has since been with the Nanaimo Clippers, then to the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, and now back to the Clippers in pacing Nanaimo with seven post-season goals and to an 8-0 run in the first two rounds of the playoffs and into the Coastal Conference final against the Langley Rivermen.
The best-of-seven series, essentially a BCHL semifinal, begins tonight and Saturday at Frank Crane Arena in the Harbour City before swinging across the strait into Langley for the third and fourth games Tuesday and Wednesday.
Donaldson, with a seamless pro-style skate glide, was among the three nominees for BCHL regular-season MVP, along with rookie prodigy and 2023 NHL draft top-10 rated Canada U-18 player Matthew Wood of the Victoria Grizzlies, and eventual MVP award winner Simon Tassy of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
“Sean [Donaldson] put everything together and found his game and his personality this season,” said Nanaimo coach Colin Birkas.
“He has worked so hard and matured and has a desire to win on his way out the door [to Cornell Big Red in NCAA Div. 1 next season].”
The Clippers are backstopped by six-foot-eight goaltender Cooper Black, headed to Ivy League Dartmouth College of NCAA Div. 1, and riding a stingy and league-leading 1.71 goals-against average over eight playoff games.
“You don’t sweep eight games in the playoffs without good goaltending and a group willing to sacrifice in front of your goaltender,” said Birkas.
“We believe in our goaltending and defence while our opportunistic offence has been able to score timely goals.”
The Rivermen dispatched Victoria in the first round and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in the second round to reach the Coastal final.
“Langley has a frustrating, stifling style but we are prepped and ready for that,” said Birkas.
“The Rivermen prey on opponents’ frustrations and their goalie [Ajeet Gundarah] is right up there with Cooper Black.”
The Clippers overcame a season of turmoil. Head coach Darren Naylor will remain off the Nanaimo bench for the remainder of the post-season on league-mandated administrative leave until May 31 for allegedly breaching the league’s coaches code of conduct, although the BCHL has offered few details about the situation. Clippers assistant coach Birkas was also on league-ordered administrative leave until allowed to return to the team late in the regular season.
“It was super unfortunate and it wasn’t pleasant on a personal level,” said Birkas.
“But our kids have come through the adversity and bonded and become even closer.”
The Interior Conference final also begins tonight with the West Kelowna Warriors travelling down to Penticton to face the regular-season champion Vees.
The champions of the Coastal and Interior conference finals will meet in the BCHL final for the Fred Page Cup.
ICE CHIPS: Tassy was named BCHL MVP; Wood rookie of the year and Brett Hull Trophy winner as league-leading scorer; Tyson Jugnauth of the Warriors best BCHL defenceman, with Clark Hiebert of the Grizzlies also nominated; Owen Say of the Silverbacks was named top goaltender, with Black and Hoby Hedquist of Alberni Valley also nominated; Cameron Johnson of Chilliwack was selected most sportsmanlike player; and Fred Harbinson of the Vees coach of the year.
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
