5 BCHLers GET CALL FROM NHL DRAFT

Rounds 2-7 of the NHL draft were completed today in Montreal, and 5 BCHL players had their names called.

Kyle Bigos who helped lead the Vernon Vipers to the RBC Cup Championship was enough for the Edmonton Oilers to select him in the 4th round 99th overall.

That was followed by the Oilers Alberta rivals the Calgary Flames selecting Surrey Eagle and former Express Spencer Bennett in the 5th round 141st overall. Bennett tallied 20 goals and 41 points last season. He will be spend another season in Surrey before beginning his college career with the University of Alaska Anchorage in the fall of 2010.

Up next was Penticton's Curtis Mckenzie who was picked by the Dallas Stars in the 6th round 159th overall. Mckenzie's committed to the University of Miami-Ohio for next season. He joins former Victoria Grizzlie Jamie Benn as BCHL products in the Stars system.

The Nashville Predators continued their plucking of prospects from the BCHL tree next when they selected Westside Warriors forward Cam Reid in the 7th round 192nd overall. Other BCHL alum in the Preds system includes Mike and Mark Santorelli, Mark Dekanich and Taylor Stefishen.

Rounding out the BCHL selections in the NHL draft is Cowichan Valley defenceman Curtis Kedig. He was selected by the New Jersey Devils 204th overall in the 7th round. Kedig is the 2nd BCHL blueline product in New Jersey's system. They had previously selected Tyler Eckford out of Surrey in 2004.

Congratulations to all 5 players on their selections today in the NHL draft.

EXPRESS RELEASE 09-10 SCHEDULE

Here is this years 09-10 schedule for the Burnaby Express.

Notable dates:

Season opens Friday September 11th @ Cowichan Valley
Home opener Saturday September 19th vs. Powell River
Surrey Eagles first visit is Saturday October 17th
Langley Chiefs first visit is Friday October 23rd
RBC Cup Champion Vernon Vipers visit Sunday November 22nd

Total breakdown:
10 games vs. both Langley & Surrey (5 home, 5 away)
6 games vs. Powell River
4 games vs. the 4 Island teams (2 home, 2 away)
18 games vs. Interior Conference (1 home, 1 away)

3 games in 3 nights 8 times.
11 of first 16 games on the road.
10 game homestand from Nov. 22 - Dec. 31.
13 of 16 games at home from Nov. 21 - Jan. 8


Click here to view schedule

TURRIS LOOKS AHEAD TO HIS 2ND SEASON

Ok, lets take a moment away from all the wheeling and dealing coach Dave Mclellan has been up to in rebuilding the Express.

Lets catch up with Express alum Kyle Turris. His first full season in the NHL saw its ups and downs personally and for the Coyotes. Whether it was the disappointment of being a healthy scratch for what would have been his first NHL game in his home town in Vancouver. To a 4 point night in a win vs. San Jose in March. Turris also spent time in the minors playing with the San Antonio Rampage. He finished the season with 8 goals, 12 assists for 20 points in 63 games. But he finished with a -15 rating.

His team was in contention for a playoff spot right up until the all star break then faded down the stretch to finish 13 points out of a playoff spot.

Now off the ice, the Coyotes are in the news for all the wrong reasons. The ownership situation is up in the air as it goes through bankruptcy court.

Personally, I expect the Coyotes to faceoff in the desert this October. But Jim Ballsillie is doing all he can to try and re-locate the franchise to Hamilton Ontario.

There is little Turris can do in regards to the Coyotes ownership situation being uncertain at this point. It's completely out of his hands. All he can do is focus his efforts on his preparations for his 2nd NHL season.

He recently was interviewed on the Coyotes website to discuss his first season and how his preparations are going for his 2nd season.

EXPRESS WHEELING AND DEALING CONTINUES

Well,

Express Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Dave Mclellan has been a busy man this off-season wheeling and dealing.

He's done it again as part of a 3 team deal involving Nanaimo and Prince George.

Mclellan sent recently acquired forward Cody Bremner along with veteran defenceman Greg Bay to the Nanaimo Clippers in exchange for forwards Dan Korreale and Konrad Sander.

Nanaimo had acquired Korreale and Sander from Prince George in a deal that saw goaltender Evan Smith and forward Matt Betker traded up north.

Bremner was acquired from the Victoria Grizzlies as part of the future considerations from Salmom Arm Silverbacks in the trade that saw Brent Vandenberg head to Salmon Arm. The Siverbacks were owed futures as part of a deal completed last summer that saw Derek Lee go from Salmon Arm to Victoria. Salmon Arm then flipped those futures to Burnaby in the Vandenberg trade.

Korreale (91) is entering his 3rd season in the BCHL. He had 5 goals and 7 assists in 36 games last season in Prince George. He stands 5'10, 180lbs.

Sander (90) put up 3 goals and 3 assists in his first season in the BCHL in 44 games last season with the Langley Chiefs. He stands 6'1, 195lbs.

Prince George acquired Sander as part of the future considerations that saw goaltender Joe Rodwell head to Langley last season.

Bay spent the past 2 seasons with the Express putting up 8 goals 33 assists for 41 points in 107 games.

EXPRESS ACQUIRE BREMNER

The Burnaby Express have acquired Cody Bremner from the Victoria Grizzlies to complete the trading of Brent Vandenberg to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at last seasons trading deadline.

Salmon Arm was originally owed future considerations from Victoria after an off-season trade last summer.

Salmon Arm then flipped those future considerations from Victoria to Burnaby in the Vandenberg trade.

Bremner stands at 6'1 and last season scored 16 goals and 31 points in 59 games.

"He's a quality kid. I spoke to him last night and he's excited about coming here and we're excited to have him," said Burnaby head coach Dave McLellan.

(Quote courtesy of Burnaby Now)

EXPRESS ACQUIRE RIDLEY FROM VEES

Tom Berridge, Burnaby Now
Published: Saturday, June 06, 2009
The Burnaby Express have secured the services of a highly touted defenceman as part of the deal that sent Brodie Reid to the Penticton Vees last season.

Matt Ridley, a 6-3, 1990-born blueliner and son of former NHLer Mike Ridley, was named as one of the future considerations resulting from the deal for Reid.

A second defensive prospect is also expected to complete the deal, but had not yet been finalized as of press time.


This is a real high-quality kid and player. San Jose is really interested in him," said Express head coach Dave McLellan.

The Express also expect to get a top-six forward from the Victoria Grizzlies as future compensation for a late-season trade that sent Brent Vandenberg to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. That deal has also yet to be completed.

CHANGES ANNOUNCED FROM THE BCHL'S AGM

There's a few exciting changes coming out of the BCHL's AGM meeting this past weekend. They include a new playoff format, a full interlocking conference schedule again and the adoption of a popular NHL rule.

Here's the release from the BCHL.

Burnaby, BC -- June 9, 2009 -- After a season spent cultivating local rivalries, the British
Columbia Hockey League will return to a double-interlock schedule that will see all 17
teams make an appearance in each opposing arena during the 2009/10 season, the league
announced following the conclusion of its Annual General Meeting in Surrey this weekend.
As a result, the 2009/10 schedule will include more games between Interior and Coastal
Conference opponents. As well, the Mainland and Island Divisions have been disolved,
leaving a total of eight teams competing under the Coastal Conference banner.
The playoff structure for the 2009/10 season has also been adjusted, with two additional
teams set to make postseason appearances. A total of seven representatives from each
conference will qualify for the playoffs, with the top seeds in each receiving a first round
bye. The remaining six teams in each conference will then face off for the remaining
three Conference semi-finals berths.
A number of rule changes were also approved at the three-day meetings, including the
adoption of a of National Hockey League rule. For the 2009/10 season, defending players will no longer be able to make a line change
following an icing call.
The league’s Governors also approved the addition of a Clipping penalty, which penalizes
certain hits made below the waist.
The meetings ended on Saturday evening with the announcement that the 2010 AGM will
be held in Vancouver from June 3rd through 5th.

HARDY TRADED FOR BERRA

The Burnaby Express have traded forward Thomas Hardy as part of a 3 team trade involving Burnaby, Merritt and Prince George.

Merritt acquired 1990 Forward RJay Berra from Prince George as future considerations to complete the deal that sent Alex Goodship to Prince George. Merritt then sent Berra to the Express in exchange for Hardy.

"Rjay Berra is a great addition to any team. He brings a great attitude and work ethic and will provide us a very strong utility player with tremendous strength on the puck with some offensive upside." said Express head coach Dave Mclellan.

Hardy had 3 goals and 5 assists in 35 games with the Express last season.

Berra had 8 goals and 6 assists in 45 games last season in Prince George.

A thank you goes out to Thomas Hardy for his contributions to the Express. And welcome RJay to Burnaby.