EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Friday, February 28, 2014

BIEGA TO MERRIMACK

Coquitlam Express defenceman Marc Biega has secured a scholarship to Merrimack University for the 2014-15 season.

The 19 year old Pointe-Claire Quebec native has had a great second season in Express colors.

He enters the final regular season game leading all blue liners with goals (16) and points (35). His 16 goals is currently tied with Chilliwack's Carter Cochrane for the BCHL lead. That mark also has equalled an Express franchise record for most goals in a season by a defenceman set by Brad Hunt during the 2007-08 campaign.

In 93 career games with the Express over the last two seasons, he has 20 goals and 39 assists for 59 points.

Biega will be attending Merrimack with teammate Jace Hennig next season. He is the 9th Express player with a post secondary commitment secured.

Congratulations Marc. 

EXPRESS YEAR END AWARDS

Prior to the regular season home finale, the Express handed out their year end award winners.

Here's who took home hardware.

Most improved - Jackson Cressy and Pierce Dushenko

Unsung Hero - Cameron Marks

Most popular - Canon Pieper

Community involvement - Joey Santucci

3 stars/player of the game - Canon Pieper

Top scorer - Adam Rockwood

Rookie of the year - Corey Mackin

Top forward - Ryan Rosenthal and Adam Rockwood

Top defenceman - Marc Biega

MVP - Marc Biega and Ryan Rosenthal

CHIEFS OUT GUN EXPRESS IN REGULAR SEASON HOME FINALE

The Chilliwack Chiefs spoiled the final regular season home game for the Express in a 6-5 goal fest Friday. 

Mathieu Tibbet led the way for Chilliwack with a 4 point night with 3 goals and an assist. 

There was nothing to play for in the game for the two teams in the standings. The Express looking to fine tune their game before the playoffs and avoid injury. Chilliwack looking to finish on a high note on what has been a difficult and non playoff season.

The teams started trading goals in the first 5 minutes of the contest. Canon Pieper opened the scoring 1:34 into the game when he snapped a shot through the legs of Spencer Tremblay for his team leading 32nd of the season. 

Tibbet got his big night started a few minutes later when Chilliwack won a face-off in their own zone and quickly fired the puck up to Tibbet who used his size to get the puck to the net and put it past Gordie Defiel.

In the second period the teams really began to fill the net. 

The Chiefs took their first lead when Tibbet took the puck hard to the net. His shot was denied by Gordie Defiel but Blake Gober following on the play banged home the rebound. 

That was followed by a key turning point in this game. Canon Pieper set up his brother Bo on a two on one break, but he was robbed by a great pad save by Tremblay coming to his left. Chilliwack went up the ice and Daniel Delbianco finished off the rush with his first of the season for a 3-1 Chiefs lead.

19 seconds later the Chiefs thought they had scored again when Andrew Silard beat Gordie Defiel. But the goal was called back. Following the play the Express switched net minders with Pierce Dushenko coming in off the bench.

The Express took advantage of the break they got with Chilliwack's no goal and Ryan Rosenthal scoring his 32nd of the season moments later to pull the Express back within one. Rosenthal and Canon Pieper will try and decide the Express goal scoring crown Saturday night. 

The captain then set up the tying marker on the power play with a great diagonal pass through the Chilliwack penalty killers to set up Bo Pieper who got a measure of revenge on Tremblay snapping home his 25th of the season.

Kyle Westerlingh gave Chilliwack the lead in the final minute of the second period when he re-directed a pass from the boards from Ben Butcher. 

The Express started the third period strong looking for the equalizer. But it was the visitors getting the upper hand. Tibbet got in behind the Express defense while killing a penalty and scored his second of the night shorthand for Chilliwack's 2nd two goal lead of the night.

Adam Rockwood again pulled the Express back within one on that same power play when he tipped a Marc Biega pass to make it a 5-4 game at 9:31. 

Tibbet capped off his hat-trick in the final minutes of the third period when he tipped home Zach Diamantoni's point shot. 

Again the Express pulled within one in the final minute when Jace Hennig scored on a deflection of a Zach Hodder point shot. But the Express couldn't muster any more offense and Chilliwack held on for the win.

Spencer Tremblay turned aside 41 of 46 Express shots to post the win.

The regular season will conclude for both teams Saturday night for the re-match Saturday in Chilliwack. 

Friday, February 21, 2014

SPRUCE KINGS EDGE EXPRESS IN FINAL PLAYOFF DRESS REHEARSAL

In one final meeting before they meet in the playoffs, the Prince George Spruce Kings knocked off the Coquitlam Express by a score of 3-2.

It was a tight evenly played game. And if this game and some of the recent match ups are any indication, the up coming playoff matchup could be a very close one.

The first ever Prince George, Coquitlam playoff date was officially set when Langley clinched first place in the Mainland division by knocking off Chilliwack 8-5.

The visitors got the jump on the Express midway through the first period when Stephen Penner's point shot got past a screened Pierce Dushenko.

Another screened point shot this time on the power play found the back of the net 4 minutes later when Brent Lashuk re-directed a Bryant Christian shot for a 2-0 Spruce Kings lead.

The Express had their chances in the first period they couldn't convert on including a Corey Mackin breakaway.

Bo Pieper put the Express on the board when he banged on the rebound of a Ryan Rosenthal shot on the power play at 14:42.

Moments later Braiden Epp cut to the net from the right wing. His shot was stopped by an athletic save by Pierce Dushenko, but the collision left the Express net minder clearly shaken up. He decided to finish the second period after a delay to try and shake off the hit.

Prince George added to their lead in the final minute of the second period. Chad Staley converted a drop pass from Jeremiah Leudtke and snapped a shot over the glove of the Express net minder. It's hard to tell if the collision had an impact on the goal.

When the horn went to end the second period, it was clear the Express net minder was still feeling the effects of the hit when he talked to his teammates on the ice and Erin Berkowski on the Express bench.

Gordie Defiel came out for the start of the third period between the pipes for the Express.

Marc Biega pulled the Express within one 6 minutes into the period when his slap shot changed directions and got past Alex Murray. The goal for Biega was his 16th of the season which ties him with Brad Hunt for most goals in a season by an Express defenceman originally set in 2007-08.

The Express pressed hard in the third looking for the equalizer. But Alex Murray was very solid in the Prince George crease turning aside 32 of 34 Express shots sent his way. His best save came with less than 4 minutes remaining in the third period to deny Bo Pieper who was set up on back door pass  but Murray came to his left and stretched out the pad to protect the lead.

Ryan Rosenthal had one final chance for the Express to equalize in the final 10 seconds he had the puck bounce over his stick on a 6 on 4 power play. The Express finished 1 for 7 with the man advantage.

This game tonight I don't think one way or the other gave any indication of how the upcoming Express and Spruce Kings series will go. If anything, be prepared for an evenly played and possibly 6 game or more series.

When the Express have all their regulars in their lineup, they were missing 5 tonight, we will get a better indication of how they matchup with Prince George.

The Express have two games left in their season next weekend with a home and home with the Chilliwack Chiefs.

The playoffs will begin Tuesday March 4th in Prince George.


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

EXPRESS WITH AN OFF NIGHT IN LANGLEY

Usually games between the Express and Langley have a playoff type feel to them. And a physical intensity that makes for very entertaining hockey. But the two teams took a night off from that Tuesday.

All night long the Express seemed to be just off their game by "that much". The final outcome was a 4-1 Langley Rivermen win. They now sit 10 points clear of Prince George and their magic number to clinch the Mainland division title is now 1.

Ryan Rosenthal scored the lone goal for the Express on the power play with a blast from the right circle.

The goal capped a strong start for the Express in the opening 5 minutes.

Langley pulled even on a power play when Chris Forney powered home a one timer from a great pass cross ice by Evan Anderson just seconds after a Langley 5 on 3 man advantage expired.

It was a game where the passes weren't quite able to click, or the chances the Express had they just weren't able to convert.

Marc Biega rang a shot off the goal post, Corey Mackin missed a tap in chance in the first period.

In the second period Langley made life difficult for the Express to try and generate an attack. They forced them into turnovers in the neutral zone or just inside the Rivermen blue line.

The best chance to score came on the power play when Bo Pieper had a chance at the side of the net, but a good stick by Tanner Johnson got in the way when Bo looked to put it in the empty net.

Gage Torrel had a tap in from a feed off the stick of Evan Anderson at 6:40 to give Langley the lead for what would turn out to be for good.

Kevan Killistoff gave Langley insurance in the third period when he banged home the rebound of an Austin Azurdia shot following a won face-off in the Express zone.

The Express looked to try and get back in the game, but they never found their game on this night. Whether it was another apparent tap in for Corey Mackin that didn't connect or Cameron Marks being unable to unload a slap shot when the puck appeared to be sitting on a tee.

Mitch McClain capped off the scoring stealing the puck off Mark Whitley and putting it into an empty net.

The best thing for the Express on this night is to quickly put it behind them and get ready for one final first round playoff preview with Prince George at home Friday night. 

Saturday, February 15, 2014

EXPRESS SMACK BACKS

The Coquitlam Express posted their 2nd straight win and their 3rd in their last 4 games with a 7-1 win over their expansion cousins the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday night.

The top line of Ryan Rosenthal, Adam Rockwood and Corey Mackin carried the mail for the Express offensively combining for 9 points with 4 goals and 5 assists. The captain had a pair of goals and an assist, Rockwood tied a season high with 4 assists and Mackin scored a pair of goals. Bo and Canon Pieper and Cody Boyd scored singles for the Express.

Rosenthal scored his first of the night opening the scoring when he came down the right wing and snapped a shot short side over the glove of Angus Redmond.

The visitors got their lone tally late in the first period when BCHL scoring leader Landon Smith beat Gordie Defiel high with a shot on the short side for his 42nd goal of the season.

The tie would last exactly two minutes as Bo Pieper scored in the final minute for a 2-1 Express lead after 20 minutes.

The middle period saw Corey Mackin strike for his two goals. Rosenthal also added his second of the night on a shorthanded breakaway. The goal was the 19th shorthanded goal this season for the BCHL leaders in that category. It also ties an Express franchise record for most shorthanded goals in a season which was originally set during the 2006-07 season.

Cody Boyd and Canon Pieper tallied power play goals 17 seconds apart in the 3rd period to put the icing on the cake for the Express on this night. On the other side of the special teams battle the Express were a perfect 4 for 4. The Express have killed of 16 of 17 shorthanded situations in 5 games in the month of February.

Gordie Defiel was solid between the pipes for the Express finishing with 39 saves on 40 shots for his 19th victory of the season.

The Express are back in action for a rare Tuesday night game when they will visit the Langley Rivermen.