STANWOOD STANDS ON HIS HEAD

Lyndon Stanwood made 49 saves as the Express fired a season high 52 shots on goal, but it still wasn't enough as the Chilliwack Chiefs dropped the Express 4-3 Sunday afternoon.

It was a game where the Express deserved a better fate based on their effort but weren't rewarded for it at the end of the 60 minutes.

The Express jumped on the Chiefs right from the start of the game peppering the diminutive Chiefs net minder. They broke through just over 5 minutes in as Corey Mackin banged home the rebound of a Marc Biega shot for his 11th goal of the season.

Less than 2 minutes later the Express struck again as Mackin set up Jace Hennig for his 5th goal of the season. Hennig played on the top line with Mackin and Captain Ryan Rosethal as leading scorer Adam Rockwood missed his first game as he attends the selection camp for Team Canada West for the upcoming World Junior A Challenge.

The Express speed was very effective in the first period helping create a number of quality scoring chances in the first period as they fired 20 shots on goal but couldn't put any more past Stanwood whose athleticism made for a number of quality saves in the first period.

Chilliwack got on the board late in the opening period while shorthanded. Their captain Austin Plevy danced into the Express zone. He couldn't beat Zach Hodder one on one, but followed up his chance and set up Quentin McShane who blasted a one timer past Gordie Defiel.

The Express re-stored their lead early in the second period early as Bo Pieper hustled to the puck along the boards and fired the puck at the net where Joey Santucci was alone in front who easily re-directed home his 7th of the season.

Stanwood's best save of the many he made Sunday afternoon came midway through the second period. Bo Pieper led a 2 on 1 with Mackin and Bo slid the puck across to Mackin who had a gaping net but couldn't best Stanwood who dove to his right to make a remarkable save.

The Chiefs used that big save as a turning point to try and get back in the game despite being heavily outshot.

Jaret Babych on a feed from Jake Hand scored just moments after the Stanwood save on Mackin to cut the Express lead down to 3-2.

Despite a 37-14 advantage in shots through 40 minutes the Express only had a 1 goal lead to work with.

4 minutes into the third the game was even as Kurt Black set up by Austin Plevy slid the puck through the legs of Defiel.

Then midway through the frame Ben Butcher from the point blasted a high shot that went over the glove of Defiel to give Chilliwack their first and only lead of the game.

Looking for the equalizer the Express kept firing pucks at Stanwood who wouldn't be beat the rest of the night. That included a pair of powerplays for the Express who finished 0 for 6 on Sunday. And like Friday night vs. West Kelowna, the outcome would have been better for the Express had the powerplay been a difference maker.

The Express are back in action Friday night for their lone game of the weekend when they will try again to pick up just their 2nd win on home ice and snap a 4 game losing skid when they host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

WARRIORS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of the Warriors 4-3 win over the Express Friday.

WARRIORS USE LAST MINUTE HEROICS TO KNOCK OFF EXPRESS

Reid Simmonds scored his second goal of the game with just 22 seconds remaining in the third period to give the West Kelowna Warriors a 4-3 win over the Express Friday night.

The loss was the third straight for the Express. And they still have just 1 win on home ice in 7 games played at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre.

The Express couldn't have asked for a better start to the game as they opened the scoring just over a minute in. Ben Isreal's shot from the right wing got through Andy Desautels and Canon Pieper followed up on the play and poked it home for his 10th goal of the season.

The first half of the game was filled with penalties. The Express had 4 powerplays in the first period but couldn't use any of them to extend their lead.

It took a 5 on 3 for the Express in the second period to finally put them up a pair. In his last game before heading off to Calgary for Team Canada West selection camp, Adam Rockwood set up Zach Hodder blasted home a one timer past a screened Desautels for Hodder's second goal of the season.

One does have to wonder what could have been for the Express on this night if they were more powerful on the powerplay. They finished the night 1 for 7 with the extra man. And all 7 powerplays came in the first half of the game. On the penalty kill it was a good night for the Express however killing off all 5 Warrior powerplays.

The Warriors cut the deficit to one before the second period was done. Moments earlier goaltender Gordie Defiel was bumped and had a tough time getting back on his feet and re-establishing his crease. No goaltender interference penalty was called and seconds later the puck was in the Express net as Jason Cotton scored at 17:22.

West Kelowna came out strong in the third period looking for the equalizer. They opened up a 5-0 advantage in shots. Reid Simmonds pulled the visitors even as he roofed a shot over the glove of Defiel at 6:26.

That was followed 1:07 later with David Pope cutting to the net and sliding a backhand past the glove of Defiel to put the Warriors in the lead for the first time.

West Kelowna's come back was all part of a back and forth finish in the third period.

With less than 3 minutes to go the Express pulled even as Zach Hodder's snap shot hand cuffed Desautels and Bo Pieper followed up to score on the rebound to tie the game at 3.

That goal didn't rattle the Warriors who kept pushing forward. Carl Hesler was robbed by Defiel with just over a minute to go as he came across the crease and got his pad down to make at the time a game saving stop.

But with 22 seconds left the Warriors decided the contest. Simmonds cut in from the left wing, his shot couldn't be corralled by Defiel and rolled in to give the Warriors a 4-3 lead with their third goal of the final frame.

It's a day of rest and recovery for the Express before they play host to the only team they've been able to defeat on home ice so far this season the Chilliwack Chiefs Sunday afternoon.

EAGLES @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of Surrey's 5-4 win over the Express Wednesday.



Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

EAGLES ADD TO EXPRESS TROUBLES AT HOME

The Surrey Eagles snapped a 5 game losing streak and picked up their first win in the month of October with a 5-4 victory over the Express Wednesday.

The loss dropped the Express to 1-3-0-2 at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre. Their overall home record is 1-4-0-2 if you include the neutral site home game at the BCHL showcase vs. Merritt.

It is a riddle that the Express haven't been able to solve on home ice while on the other hand they're 6-0 on the road. And 5-0 if you don't include the neutral site road game at the showcase in Chilliwack.

Turnovers would be a key story of the night for the Express. The mistakes would prove to be costly and it started early.

A bad pass coming out of their own zone then Danton Heinen slid the puck to Jonah Renouf who teed it up for captain Brett Mulcahy who snapped the puck past Gordie Defiel just 1:35 into the game.

Just over 5 minutes in it was 2-0 as Joseph Drapluk was set up by Nicolas Pierog.

A little shell shocked the Express needed a break to go their way. And that's exactly what happend. Ben Isreal fired the puck into the Surrey zone, the puck hit a stanchion and bounced front of an open net and Jace Hennig poked in as Devon Fordyce was caught out of his net.

The Eagles re-stored their two goal lead as they got a buzzer beater on the powerplay to end of the 1st period.

Nic Pierog banged home a rebound from a Kale Bennett point shot just in the nick of time (pardon the pun) scoring as the first period came to a close to re-store the two goal Eagle lead.

The second period saw the BCHL's most dangerous shorthanded team go to work again to pull the Express even.

With Ben Isreal serving a blow to the head penalty, Ryan Rosenthal and Canon Pieper scored 45 second apart to tie the game at three. For Ryan and Canon they each tallied their 2nd shorthanded goals of the season. The Express now as a team lead the BCHL with 7 shorthanded goals on the season.

But more turnovers would haunt the Express on this night. Pierog who played a strong game Wednesday stole the puck in the Express zone and set up Drapluk for this second of the game to put the Eagles ahead 4-3.

Then just over two minutes later following another turnover in the Express end Danton Heinen and Jonah Renouf teamed up to set up Brett Mulcahy for his second of the game for a 5-3 Eagle lead after 40.

Jace Hennig scored his second of the game in the third period on the powerplay re-directing a Corey Mackin shot just over 5 minutes into the period.

But the Eagles would shut the door the rest of the way and close out the game and picked up the victory.

Devon Fordyce turned aside 31 of 35 Express shots in his Eagles debut to post the victory. The game also marked the first game as a Surrey Eagle for former Express Garrett Forster who was acquired earlier in the week.

Zach Hodder who the Express re-acquired earlier made his Express re-debut Wednesday. In another Express transaction they traded the rights to defenceman Cal Hofford to the Cornwall Colts of the CCHL for future considerations.

Now the Express hit the road this weekend with visits to Trail and Salmon Arm.

EXPRESS RE-ACQUIRE HODDER

The Coquitlam Express got a boost to the blueline by bringing back a familiar face Wednesday.

They have re-acquired defenceman Zach Hodder from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.

The 20 year old Delta native played 43 games with the Express during the 2011-12 season. In those 43 games, Hodder was very productive piling up 12 goals and added 21 assists for 31 points.

The 12 goals he scored that season is the second highest total in a season by an Express defenceman.

He returned to the WHL last season where he split the season with Prince Albert Raiders and Medicine Hat Tigers. In 60 games he had 3 goals and 13 assists for 16 points.

This season he played 6 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors and had picked up 1 assist. He has 128 career WHL games with Vancouver, Saskatoon, Price Albert, Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw registering 8 goals and 30 assists for 38 points.

Hodder will make his Express re-debut tonight vs. the Surrey Eagles and will wear #2. 

RIVERMEN @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of Langley's 3-1 win over the Express last Friday.

RIVERMEN PREVAIL IN BATTLE FOR 1ST PLACE

The Langley Rivermen came out on top over the Express in a battle for first place in the Mainland division 3-1 Friday night in Coquitlam.

The win was the second in a row for the visitors at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre.

Austin Azurdia opened the scoring in the contest as he took a slick back door pass from Viktor Dombrovsky and re-directed the pass by Gordy Defiel at the 6 minute mark.

Langley took the one goal lead to the second period thanks in large part to goaltender Steve Myland.

He set the tone in the first period that he was going to be difficult to beat with a number of quality saves. His best possibly coming off a Jackson Cressy midway through the period as he kicked out the left pad on a bang bang play in front. Myland finished the period with 15 saves.

The second period was filled with penalties to both sides. Each team was assessed double minors, they each had a 5 on 3 for a full two minutes and couldn't score.

Not surprising the only goal of the period came on the powerplay.

Bo Pieper scored his 9th goal of the season as he snapped a point shot past a screened Myland at 8:41.

The game was deadlocked at 1 entering the third period. Langley broke free and took the lead when Jakob Reichert made a nifty drop pass to Nathan Craft who quick snapped a shot low past Defiel.

That was followed up 2 minutes later by Kevan Killistoff's second goal this season vs. the Express as he tapped in a loose puck lying in the Express crease for a 3-1 Rivermen lead.

From then on Langley put the clamp down the Express and put the game away.

The Express are right back at it Saturday night when they travel to Merritt for the second meeting of the season vs. the Centennials. 

ROSENTHAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Coquitlam Express forward Ryan Rosenthal is the BCHL player of the week. And 3 other Express players are recognized as honourable mentions.

See the full release from the BCHL below:

Coquitlam Express forward and captain Ryan Rosenthal has been named the BCHL Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 6, the league announced Monday.

Rosenthal racked up nine points in helping the Express to three-win weekend over division rivals Chilliwack and Surrey. The Montvale, N.J. had two goals and one assist in each of the contests and scored the game-winner in a the weekend-opening victory over Chilliwack. He was named 2nd Star in each of the team's three wins.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward now has 15 points in nine games on the season to sit fifth in the BCHL scoring race.

Honourable mentions this week:

West Kelowna Warriors F Jason Cotton: 3G, 4A, 1st Star, GWG

Powell River Kings F Jarryd Leung: 3G, 1A, 1st Star, hat trick, OT GWG

Langley Rivermen F James Robinson: 1G, 5A, two 1st Stars

Coquitlam Express G Gordy Defiel: 2W, 84 save/87 shots, .965 sv%, 1.50 GAA, two 1st Stars

Coquitlam Express F Corey Mackin: 3G, 4A, 3rd Star

Coquitlam Express F Canon Pieper: 4G, 2A, 1st Star

ROCKWOOD ON BREAKFAST TELEVISION

Tuesday Coquitlam Express forward Adam Rockwood was featured on Breakfast Television's Athlete of the week.

The feature cover's his recovery a year ago from a broken jaw suffered in the pre-season, the start to his season. And his pursuit of an NCAA scholarship.

Click here to see the video

EXPRESS SWEEP 3 GAME WEEKEND

3 games against Mainland division foes, and 3 wins and 6 crucial points for the Coquitlam Express.

They started the weekend by taking both games of a home and home with Chilliwack 5-2 Friday and 9-4 Saturday.

Then capped it off with a 5-1 win over the Surrey Eagles Sunday.

Like Saturday in Chilliwack, the Express wanted to jump on their opponents early. They did that again Sunday but weren't able to finish their chances. Ryan Rosenthal had a breakaway in the opening 50 seconds and was turned aside in his bid to open the scoring for a second straight game on the first Express shot by Eagles starter Bo Didur.

Surrey got the games first powerplay. But it was the Express who got the best scoring chances.

Canon Pieper, Joey Santucci and Adam Rockwood all had good chances to score while the Express were a man down.

The Express opened up a early 6-1 advantage in shots. But Surrey finished the period strong outshooting the Express the rest of the way 13-5 but the teams were scoreless after 20 minutes.

The deadlock was broken 5 minutes into the second period as Adam Rockwood set up Bo Pieper in front of the net and he slid it past Didur.

Adam Rockwood put the Express up a pair midway through the period as he took a feed from Ryan Rosenthal and roofed a backhand over the glove of Didur.

A turnover while the Express were on the powerplay late in the second period resulted in Surrey's only goal as Nic Pierog stole the puck and scored on a breakaway picking the top corner over the glove of Gordy Defiel.

Two quick Eagles penalties in the third period gave the Express a 5 on 3 powerplay for 1:58.

They made it count as Ryan Rosenthal blasted home a one timer from the left circle for a 3-1 Express lead.

Defiel finished with 42 saves Sunday earning the game's first star. His best save came off Jonah Renouf in the third period with a glove save as the Eagles forward tried to beat him on the backhand.

Rosenthal added his second of the period minutes later to put the Express up 4-1. That was quickly followed by Canon Pieper scoring his 6th of the season on a wrap around following great work along the boards in the Surrey zone with his brother Bo.

It was a very explosive weekend offensively for the Express. They outscored their opposition 19-7 in the three games.

And there were some very impressive individual performances that are certainly worthy of BCHL player of the week consideration.

Ryan Rosenthal has to be at the top of the list with a trio of 2 goal and 1 assist games for 6 goals and 3 assists and 9 points this weekend.

Corey Mackin with 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points, Canon Pieper had 4 goals and 2 assists for 6 points, Bo Pieper with 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points, and Adam Rockwood with 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points.

The Langley Rivermen also went 3 for 3 this weekend picking up 6 points with two wins over Surrey and an overtime come from behind win over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs Sunday. They will be the Express next opponent on Friday in Coquitlam. It will be a battle for first place in the Mainland division as the Rivermen will enter the game one point up on the Express in the standings.

EXPRESS WACK THE CHIEFS

The Coquitlam Express matched a season high with 9 goals in a 9-4 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs to sweep a home and home between the Mainland division rivals.

The Express got Chilliwack down early and didn't let them up until the clock struck 0:00 at the end of the third period.

Captain Ryan Rosenthal got the visitors offence rolling in the opening minute as he scored from the slot on the first shot of the game 45 seconds into the contest.

Canon Pieper had a memorable night in the valley with his first BCHL hat-trick. He got his evening kicked off by snapping a shot from the left wing past Chiefs started Josh Halpenny. The goal chased the Chiefs netminder after he allowed 2 goals on 6 shots in the first 12:20 of the game.

Lyndon Stanwood who got the start the night before didn't fare much better. Canon Pieper scored his second of the game shorthanded as he split the Chiefs defence and poked the puck through the legs of Stanwood.

It was the 5th shorthanded goal of the season by the Express which is the most of any team in the BCHL. At the time of the goal, the Express had scored 1 more goal while shorthanded than powerplay goals they had allowed all season.

Jordan Kawaguchi got the Chiefs on the board as he put home a rebound from a Carter Cochrane point shot.

But just 12 seconds later the Express were back up by 3 as Corey Mackin scored his Express leading 8th goal of the season at 18:31.

Pierce Dushenko got his 3rd start of the season in the Express crease. And with his teammates putting 4 on the board in the first period giving him some run support to work with, it's easy to overlook the 20 saves on the 21 Chief shots sent his way in the first period. Some of his best saves came off Mathieu Tibbet and Austin Plevy.

It was more of the same for the Express in the second period.

Marc Biega picked up his first point of the season as his wrister from the point on the powerplay gave the Express a 5-1 lead.

Austin Plevy finally scored his first goal of the season while shorthanded for the Chiefs as he took the puck hard to the net and jammed it under Dushenko.

But like they did in the first period, the Express had a quick response as Bo Pieper who had his first two assists of the season fired a great pass to hit Rosenthal in stride and he cut to the net and tucked the puck past Stanwood for a 6-2 Express lead.

Canon Pieper finished off his hat-trick late in the second period as he came out from behind the Chiefs net and made a spin move and fired off a backhand past Stanwood.

Halpenny came back out to start the third period in the Chiefs crease. And the story didn't change for the hosts. Matthew Barry-Lamontagna scored his second goal of the season as his innocent looking wrister from centre ice wasn't so innocent and it bounced off the blocker of Halpenny and in for an 8-2 Express lead.

Jackson Cressy scored the final goal of the night for the Express as he finished off a great passing play set up by Anthony Gardner's great back door pass.

10 players hit the scoresheet tonight for the Express, 6 had multi point efforts.  The 9 goals matches a season high for most goals in a game set earlier this season in a 9-4 win over Alberni Valley at the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack at the Bauer BCHL showcase.

To close out the night Kyle Westerlingh had Dushenko beat on a penalty shot but put his backhand off the post. Then the Chiefs scored two meaningless goals to cap off the score off the sticks of Andrew Silard and Kurt Black.

The win puts the Express one point back of both Langley and Prince George for first place in the Mainland division. And the two wins also puts the Express 9 points clear of Chilliwack.

The Express finish off the weekend Sunday afternoon in Surrey.

EXPRESS DROP CHIEFS FOR FIRST HOME WIN

The Coquitlam Express picked up their first victory at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre with a 5-2 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs. The win also snapped a mini 3 game losing streak the Express had entering the contest.

The Express were facing a Chilliwack squad that was still looking to find it's stride with just 1 win in and 8 goals in their first 6 games.

The Chiefs entered this game with just 1 powerplay goal in 30 opportunities this season. They caught a break with the man advantage as they opened the scoring. Zach Diamantoni's centering pass bounced in off the skate of Gordy Defiel at 4:23.

The lead didn't last long as less than 3 minutes later Bo Pieper unleashed a rocket from the slot off a feed from his brother Canon just under the cross bar for his 7th goal of the season.

49 seconds later the Express were in the lead as BCHL scoring leader Adam Rockwood set up Corey Mackin for his 6th goal of the season.

There would have been more goals in the opening frame were it not for some great saves by both Gordy Defiel and Lyndon Stanwood.

Stanwood turned aside Mackin on a shorthanded breakaway after he picked the pocket of a Chiefs defenceman breaking out of his own zone. Defiel's best save came as he got the glove down and turned aside Jake Hand as he tried to tuck the puck around the Express netminder.

Captain Ryan Rosenthal extended the Express lead in the second period as his high shot from the slot handcuffed Stanwood and trickled into the net for a 3-1 Express lead.

Mackin added his second of the game midway through the period snapping home a quick shot from the slot.

This game was decided early in the third period. Chilliwack cut the lead down to two on their second powerplay goal of the game off the stick of Carter Cochrane at 1:36. Moments later the Chiefs were back on the powerplay and had the momentum looking to cut the lead to one. But the Express pressure on the puck on the penalty kill forced a turnover and an odd man rush up ice and Ryan Rosenthal was able to jam the puck under Stanwood for his second of the game to give the Express a 5-2 lead.

The Chiefs kept pressing but couldn't find another goal as Defiel finished with a 42 save outing to post the victory in the Express crease.

Corey Mackin and Ryan Rosenthal each finished with 2 goals and an assist. BCHL scoring leader Adam Rockwood and Canon Pieper each had a pair of helpers.

The teams will do it all over again in the second of a home and home Saturday night in Chilliwack. 

SPRUCE KINGS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of this past weekends games between the Express and Spruce Kings.

Friday.


Sunday.