NANAIMO — Clippers veteran Jeremie Payant will join the NCAA Division 1 hockey program at RPI next season.
The announcement came on on Saturday, Feb. 11, one day after he scored his first career hat trick in Wenatchee.
“The process was pretty long if you look back at it,” Payant said. “I visited there three years ago. I loved it out there and I stayed in touch with the school. They made a decision they wanted me for next year and made me an offer.”
Payant is confident his game has evolved over the past couple of seasons so he’ll be NCAA ready.
“I wasn’t really a two way player the way I am now. My defensive zone play needed some work. Through the years I’ve developed my game to be a 200 foot player and I’ve grown a lot on and off the ice.”
Payant’s family is excited because the campus in Troy, New York is less than a four hour drive from home.
“They’re really happy for me. My parents came to visit the school with me and they really liked it. My family is going to come and watch a bunch of games”
In his most recent outings for the Clippers, Payant has been on a tear.
He has eight points during a four game point streak, he was recognized with an honourable mention for the BCHL three stars of the week with four goals in his last two games.
“Getting a hat trick doesn’t happen very often so it felt really good. I’ve got to give a lot of credit to my line mates who gave me some really nice passes.”
The Clippers won the game 7-5 against the Wild and Payant scored the only goal in Nanaimo’s most recent contest, a 6-1 loss in Salmon Arm.
Payant expects the team to rebound in a divisional game against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 17.
“We have a big rivalry with them so it’s always a physical game. We’ve got to be ready to put the work in, get in the corners and get gritty.”
CLIP NOTES:
With 30 wins the Clippers have just three fewer wins than their 2021-22 total of 33. With 15 games remaining in the BCHL season Nanaimo has an eight point lead for first place in the Coastal Division.
When the Vernon Vipers visit Nanaimo on Saturday, Feb. 18 it will be the first time Vernon has been to Frank Crane Arena since October 2019. The clubs played twice in the 2019-2020 season with the Clippers winning 5-0 in the October contest and taking a 3-2 decision in Vernon in February 2020.
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