EXPRESS 11-12 SCHEDULE RELEASED

Today the BCHL released its schedule for its 50th season which begins Friday September 23rd.

Click on the link below for the full Express 11-12 schedule:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/print_schedule.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamID=305107

That night the Express will kick off their 11th season in the league with a marquee matchup opening the season at home vs. the Penticton Vees. Jon Calvano's squad which includes top recruit Alex Kerfoot will face off against a Vees team that will feature 3 players that were selected in the first 100 players chosen in the NHL draft last month in Minnesota.

This season the BCHL is going back to a half interlocking schedule the same way it was structured in the 08-09 season with the Express playing 52 of their 60 games vs. Coastal Conference clubs with just one game played against the 8 Interior conference teams. (4 home, 4 road)

Here's how the schedule breaks down with some highlights and or anomalies.

The Express will play their playoff opponent from last season the Surrey Eagles 7 times.(3 home, 4 road) Of those 7 games, the teams will play 4 straight head to head meetings December 3-10 (2 home, 2 road). That December 10th matchup will be the final game between the two clubs during the regular season.

Coquitlam will see the new look Langley Rivermen 8 times (4 home, 4 road). Just before the Express play Surrey 4 straight times, they will play Langley 3 straight times between November 25 - December 2. (1 road, 2 home)

The three time defending Coastal Conference champion Powell River Kings will face the Express 8 times. (4 home, 4 road) The Express will play one double header in Powell River on Saturday February 11th and Sunday the 12th.

The schedule vs. the 4 teams on Vancouver Island breaks down like this, 7 games vs. Alberni Valley (4 home, 3 road), 7 games vs. Victoria (3 home, 4 road), 7 games vs. Nanaimo (3 home, 4 road), and 8 games vs. Cowichan Valley (4 home, 4 road).

9 times this season the Express will play 3 games in 3 nights. Plus they will play 4 games in 5 nights on the second to last weekend of the season March 2-4 and March 6 @ Victoria.

Here's a simple numerical breakdown of the schedule:

30 home, 30 away.
52 games vs. Coastal Conference, 8 vs. Interior Conference.
8 games vs. Langley, Powell River, and Cowichan Valley.
7 games vs. Surrey, Alberni Valley, Victoria, and Cowichan Valley.

9 times this season the Express will play 3 games in 3 nights.

8 Interior conference games:

Home:

Sept. 23 vs. Penticton
Sept. 30 vs. Salmon Arm
Feb. 17 vs. Merritt
Mar. 9 vs. Chilliwack

Road:

Oct. 20 @ Prince George
Oct. 21 @ Westside
Jan. 13 @ Trail
Jan. 14 @ Vernon

Marquee matchups:

September 23 home opener vs. Penticton Vees.

Surrey Eagles: Home Oct. 28, Dec. 3 & 9. Road Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 4 & 10.

Langley Rivermen: Home Oct. 7, Nov. 4 & 25, Mar. 2. Road Nov. 26, Dec. 2, Jan. 21, Mar. 3.

Powell River Kings: Home Oct. 9 & 14, Dec. 29, Jan. 7. Road Nov. 18, Feb. 2, 11, 12.

Chilliwack Chiefs: Home Fri. Mar. 9. *Final game of the regular season.

Vernon Vipers: Road Sat. Jan. 14.

There are a trio of mid week one off games for the Express on Vancouver Island Wednesday Nov. 2 @ Cowichan Valley, Wednesday December 14 @ Nanaimo and Tuesday March 6 @ Victoria.

The longest home stand of the year is 6 games from December 16-January 8. That home stand is part of a run that will see the Express play 7 of 8 games at home dating back to December 11th vs. Cowichan Valley. And 7 of the Express final 9 games of the season will be played on home ice.

The longest run of road games is 5 games from January 28th-February 4th. Those 5 straight games is the only porition of the schedule that will see the Express play more than 3 consecutive games on the road.

That road trip is also part of the most difficult portion of the schedule that sees the Express play 11 of 14 games on the road for a full month from January 13th-February 12th

DOTAN COMMITS TO SFU

Former Express David Dotan has committed to Simon Fraser University for next season. He played 40 games with the club in Burnaby during the 09-10 season scoring 1 goal and 4 points.

See the full press release below.

The Simon Fraser University’s Men’s Ice Hockey program is pleased to announce a commitment from defenceman David Dotan (Richmond, B.C.) to attend SFU and join the team for the 2011/12 British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League season.

Dotan, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 225 pounds, brings over 100 games of Major Junior and Junior A experience to the Clan blueline. His junior career began in the Western Hockey League, where he suited up in 45 games and picked up two assists as a member of the Prince Albert Raiders between 2007 and 2009. He then returned to the Lower Mainland for a season with the BCHL’s Burnaby Express before joining Spruce Grove of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in January and helping the Saints to a second consecutive League Championship.

"David is big, physical defenceman who gets around the ice and moves the puck well for a guy his size," says SFU general manager Jeff Dubois. "He’s chosen to pass up his final year of junior eligibility to begin his university hockey career close to home, and our staff believes he possesses all the qualities and potential to develop into an excellent defenceman in the BCIHL."

Dotan, who is already an experienced web entrepreneur, plans to study towards a Business degree at SFU.

"I know many SFU alumni and everybody speaks very highly of their experience here, and I was attracted to being a part of a hockey program that’s been steadily improving and is now starting to compete against NCAA and CIS schools," says Dotan. "My expectations for myself are very high and I’m going to be focused on helping the team every night. SFU has a winning culture and that was a real draw for me as I always play to win."

The addition of Dotan brings SFU’s commitment total for the 2011/12 season to 13. He joins a group that includes goaltender Graeme Gordon (Vernon Vipers/BCHL), defencemen Tyler Mah (Flin Flon/SJHL), Derek Henderson (Grand Prairie/AJHL), Kenton Valliant (Portage/MJHL), Todd Fletcher (Burnaby/BCHL) and Taylor Swaffield (Trail/BCHL) and forwards Mike Krgovich (Coquitlam/BCHL), Jonathan Ceci (Estevan/SJHL), Trent Murdoch (Prince George/BCHL), Tony Oak (Battlefords/SJHL), Taylor Piller (La Ronge Ice Wolves/SJHL) and Trevor Milner (Notre Dame/SJHL).

SEABROOK TRADED TO PANTHERS

Former Express Keith Seabrook had his rights traded from the Calgary Flames to the Florida Panthers in exchange for fellow defenceman Jordan Henry.

Seabrook has played the last 2 seasons in the AHL splitting last season with the Flames affiliate in Abbotsford and also playing 15 games with the Manitoba Moose.

He played 2 seasons with the Express from 2004-06 scoring 18 goals and 62 points in 118 games.

His skills played a vital role in helping the Express winning the Royal Bank cup in 2006. Following that season he was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 2nd round 52nd overall. Just two picks after former teammate with the Express Milan Lucic.

Seabrook recently completed participating in the Calgary Flames summer development camp.

Panthers GM Dale Tallon does have some familiarity with the Seabrook family winning a Stanley Cup as the GM of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 who had Keith's older brother Brent on the roster.

LADD RE-SIGNS

Former Express Andrew Ladd has avoided salary arbitration by signing a 5 year deal worth 22 million with the Winnipeg Jets.

See full details below...

The Winnipeg Jets are pleased to announce they have agreed to terms with left wing Andrew Ladd to a new contract. As per club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Ladd, 25, posted career highs in goals and points with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010-11 recording 29 goals and 59 points in 81 games. The Maple Ridge, BC native was named captain of the Thrashers on November 18, 2010. Ladd joined the Thrashers after a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, 2010, in exchange for defenceman Ivan Vishnevskiy and a second-round pick in 2011 which the Blackhawks used to select defenceman Adam Clendening.

Ladd has won the Stanley Cup twice in his career, winning his first as a rookie with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 when he scored five points (2g, 3a) in 17 playoff games. He won the Stanley Cup again with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, recording six points (3g, 3a) in 19 playoff games. Ladd won a gold medal at the 2005 World Junior Championships when Team Canada won the tournament in Grand Forks, ND.

In 402 career NHL games with Carolina, Chicago, and Atlanta, Ladd has recorded 208 points (92g, 116a) and 219 penalty minutes in 402 games played. Ladd was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, fourth overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

BCHL PRODUCTS @ NHL SUMMER CAMPS

It is that time of year for NHL development camps and there are a number of BCHL products who will make an appearance or two at these camps.

Here's who's where.

ANAHIEM DUCKS:

Justin Schultz - Westside Warriors (Drafted 08)

Josh Manson - Salmon Arm Silverbacks (Drafted 11)

CALGARY FLAMES:

Keith Seabrook - Burnaby Express (Drafted 06)

Laurent Brossoit - Cowichan Valley Capitals (Drafted 11)

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS:

July 7-11 Roster TBA

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS:

Ryan Johansen - Penticton Vees (Drafted 10)

Wade Mcleod - Merritt Centennials (Invitee)

DALLAS STARS:

Chris Rawlings - Powell River, Salmon Arm, Cowichan Valley (Invitee)

EDMONTON OILERS:

Kyle Bigos - Vernon Vipers (Drafted 09)

Connor Jones - Vernon Vipers (Invitee)

Kellen Jones - Vernon Vipers (Drafted 10)

Tanner House - Penticton Vees (Invitee)

Wes Vannieuwenhuizen - Surrey Eagles (Invitee)

NASHVILLE PREDATORS:

Garrett Noonan - Vernon Vipers (Drafted 11)

NEW YORK RANGERS:

Tommy Grant - Westside Warriors, Quesnel Millionaires (Invitee)

OTTAWA SENATORS:

Patrick Wiercioch - Burnaby Express (Drafted 08)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS:

Kyle Mountain - Penticton Vees (Invitee)

Harry Zolnierczyk - Alberni Valley Bulldogs (Free Agent signee 10)

Sean Bonar - Penticton Vees (Invitee)

PHOENIX COYOTES:

Brett Hextall - Penticton Vees (Drafted 08)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS:

Beau Bennett - Penticton Vees (Drafted 08)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:

Brendan O'Donnell - Penticton Vees (Drafted 10)

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS:

Grant Rollheiser - Trail Smoke Eaters (Invitee)

Mark Zengerle - Salmon Arm Silverbacks (Invitee)

VANCOUVER CANUCKS:

Justin Courtnall - Burnaby Express/Victoria Grizzlies (Drafted 08)

Karel St. Laurent- Surrey Eagles (Invitee)

Joey Laleggia - Penticton Vees (Invitee)

Chris Rawlings - Powell River, Salmon Arm, Cowichan Valley (Invitee)

DEKANICH TRIES ON A BLUE JACKET

It now looks like former Express Mark Dekanich will get a fair shake to make a name for himself in the NHL.

On the opening day of free agency Friday he signed one year, one way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. They also signed journeyman goaltender Curtis Sanford as some insurance to a two way contract.

This contract gives Dekanich the opportunity he never really got with the Nashville Predators who drafted him in the 5th round back in 2006. He only appeared in one game with the Preds and that was in mop up duty of a game vs. the Los Angeles Kings this season while on a call up when Pekka Rinne was hurt and Anders Lindback was on a hot run and wouldn't give up the crease.

Dekanich has had three strong seasons at the AHL level putting up very respectable numbers. If you look at his history, all he does is post good numbers.

The 25 year old played two seasons with the Express from 2002-04 before heading up to Colgate University.

Before heading to Columbus, Dekanich will head to the Bahamas on Monday after getting married Saturday.

Congratulations Mark. Show the Preds they made a mistake.