Semple (middle) said it is important more than ever to keep the momentum of inclusion in sports, primary men’s and professional sports, moving forward. Photo: Island Images Photography

Highlighting the importance of inclusion in sports, the Nanaimo Clippers hockey team and the Nanaimo Pride Society hosted a Pride Night for the first time.

On January 31st at the Frank Crane Arena, pride flags flew and audience members displayed colourful rainbow outfits as they cheered on the home team.

The Clippers Junior A Hockey Team was up against the Coquitlam Express as excitement was filling the arena.

Manager of Sales and Business Development for the Nanaimo Clippers, Rikki Thompson spoke to CHLY right before the puck dropped that night.

“We want to really start to bring the community together. We're now in 2026 and it's time for people to be more welcoming of everybody,” Thompson said. “Everybody could be what they want to be, love who they want to love, and we support that here in Frank Crane, and we want to see everybody out here with us.”

She said that the Clippers wanted to host this Pride Night because they are proud to be inclusive, and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space.

“Hockey is bigger than just a game. We want to start involving the community more. We are inclusive, we want the people to see that,” Thompson said. “We want people to come here, feel safe, feel like this is home.”

Lauren Semple, is president of the Nanaimo Pride Society. She said they are focusing on working with existing community groups to increase visibility and representation for 2SLGBTQAI+ people in those spaces. They aim to introduce their community members to spaces that might have not always seemed welcoming and inclusive.

“A lot of folks that are new to the space; new to Nanaimo, perhaps, or just have never been to a hockey game before, never seen the Clippers play,” Semple said. “Also a lot of folks that used to go to hockey or have in the past, and they haven't been for a while. So we're welcoming people home, we're welcoming people back, we're welcoming newcomers, and kind of saying ‘Hey, Frank Crane Arena is for you too, the Clippers is your hockey team as well.’”

Semple said it is important more than ever to keep the momentum of inclusion in sports, primary men’s and professional sports, moving forward.

They said hockey has not always been a welcoming space for those in the 2SLGBTQAI+ community.

In 2023, the NHL banned players from using rainbow pride tape, which is used to encourage inclusion in the sport. The ban was quickly lifted after backlash from players and fans.

Semple said the Clippers hosting Pride Nights show that there is no room for hate in Nanaimo.

“When we start to see the cracks open in what is typically an exclusive culture, and we start to see people step up and say, ‘Hey, I'm here, I'm queer, and I want to be counted, I matter.’ It's like, ‘Heck, yeah!’ That's the pride. That's the pride of Pride Night is we're getting into this,” Semple said. “We are going to be there and be visible and show folks that we are the athletes of hockey, the coaches, the trainers, the staff members, the season's ticket holders; we are hockey in Nanaimo, just like everyone else is.”

For the drag queen sisters, PJ and Vicki Smuge, this was not their first Clippers game.

The two are longtime Clippers fans and season ticket holders, but this was their first ever game the two showed up as the C-Queens.

Vicki said everyone has been welcoming to them showing up as their drag queen personas.

“Both PJ and I are season ticket holders. It's the first time I've looked so fabulous at a game. Usually I'm just wearing a normal plain jersey and a baseball cap,” Vicki said. “I was a little apprehensive, a little nervous, but so far, everyone's been incredibly welcoming.”

PJ said they have both always known the Clippers as being an inclusive space and she is excited to showcase that inclusion to the rest of the community.

The two (PJ left, Vicki right) are longtime Clippers fans and season ticket holders, but this was their first ever game the two showed up as the C-Queens. (Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm)

“I don't know that I imagined we'd ever be here in drag, but I always knew that the organization is inclusive, and Nanaimo is a very inclusive society,” PJ said. “Vicki and PJ have been involved in a lot of firsts in Nanaimo. It's great to see.”

Along with hosting a photo booth before the puck dropped, the sister Drag Queen Extraordinaires joined the Pride society on the ice for the ceremonial puck drop and hosted a “drag race” game during the first intermission.

For the Pride Night, a section of the arena was turned into a Pride Zone for community members to all sit together.

Tyler Green, a director with the Pride Society, was greeting people at the top of the section.

“For myself and many of the people I've talked to, it's our first time out at a Clippers game, so it's a lot of fun, and I'm excited to see how the evening goes,” Green said.

Green, who was waving around a rainbow fabric fan, told CHLY that while they never attended a game before due to a busy schedule, he was excited to come out for the Pride Night.

“I'm fairly comfortable myself in a lot of places, but definitely being a pride night, I can definitely dress up and be more myself than I would if I had come to a normal night here,” Green said. “I dress up so that everyone knows that however they want to dress, however they want to act, that is acceptable and it is praise, not something to hide.”

Pride Night also pulled in a large crowd, bringing in an audience of approximately 1,500 people, the third largest crowd of the season.

Attending their second ever Clippers game, was Korina and Mia Beaupre. CHLY spoke to them in the Pride Zone during the second intermission.

Mia said while they wanted to go to a game earlier in the week, when they heard about the Pride Night event, they made sure to show up for it.

“It's really fun. I love all the events going on,” Mia said.

Korina said it's nice to be part of the first ever Pride Night.

“It's nice to see the support,” Korina said. “It's nice to see the community out here and having fun watching the hockey game.”

Pride Night finished with a win, the Clippers seeing a 5-3 victory over the Coquitlam Express. This season, the Clippers rank as the second highest scoring team overall in their league.

The Nanaimo Clippers take on the Prince George Spruce Kings, Friday February 6th at the Frank Crane Arena. Puck drops at 7 p.m.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.