Former Vernon Viper Fitzgerald Is Fit To Wear 'C' Again:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Trevor Fitzgerald is returning to Nanaimo for his second and final season in the BCHL as captain of the Clippers.  Fitzgerald played parts of two seasons with the Vipers (2009-2011) as an "AP" and a regular before being traded to Prince George last off season.  Fitzgerald didnt report to the Spruce Kings and was traded to Nanaimo.

Trevor Fitzgerald's Player Profile:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/rosters_profile.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&teamID=339740&playerID=615780

This is posted in the Nanaimo Daily Newspaper:

Fitzgerald is fit to wear 'C' again

Last year's leader returns to the Clippers in the best shape of his life and is ready to show the way

Josh Aldrich, Daily News

Published: Friday, August 31, 2012

Fitzgerald rewarded Vandekamp with a 40-point (162440) campaign. Still the coach is hoping to squeeze a little more scoring out of him.

"For Trevor . . . the intangibles are all there, now he really needs to step up and be consistent as he can in games and provide some offence, that's the next challenge for him."

All eyes in the B.C. Hockey League will be on the Clippers this year. That is no secret. It is a reality that has been accepted by Fitzgerald, but now the pressure is on to perform.

A repeat of last year's frustrating 26-25-0-9 record would be unacceptable, but he says they are doing their best to learn from that experience.

"A lot of the guys are coming back more mature and knowing what it takes to win and what the league is about. I think it is going to help us a lot in the long run."

The Clippers round out their exhibition season this weekend with a game against the Bulldogs in Port Alberni tonight at 7 p.m., and then host the four-time conference champion Powell River Kings on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.

Ice Chips - Vandekamp trimmed four players from the roster on Thursday as Jared Chinn, Ryan Panichelli, Nathan Brown and Garrett Brandsma were all released. Chinn was the only returning player of the group let go, scoring four points (1-3-4) in 36 games last season as a rookie. "We just didn't have a spot for (Chinn) in our top six or nine for him. At the end of the day, it makes some sense for us to keep some younger guys in those spots," said Vandekamp . . . The Clippers also officially added Nick Josephs (26-23-49, in 30 games) from the Calgary Flames of the Alberta Major Midget Hockey League.