The Coquitlam Express opened up defence of their 2014 Fred Page Cup title at the third annual Bauer BCHL showcase in Chilliwack with a 6-2 loss to the West Kelowna Warriors.
It didn't take long for the goals to start to flow and some early chemistry to be demonstrated.
Greydon Robinson's screened point shot on the powerplay got things rolling by beating Pierce Dushenko from the point.
The lead only last 10 seconds however as Corey Mackin setup up Union committed forward Brett Supinski who wired home his first BCHL goal under the crossbar. Supinski certainly impressed in his first BCHL contest. He showed some smooth hands earlier in the first period with a nice toe drag and shot attempt while the Express were shorthanded. If the first game is any indication Supinski and his fellow Pennsylvania native Corey Mackin should have some good chemistry together.
This night however belonged to West Kelowna. Liam Blackburn scored his first of two of the first period shorthanded less than two minutes after Supinski's goal to restore the Warrior advantage. Just past the 10 minute mark it was 3-1 on a goal by Jonathan Desbiens. Blackburn potted his second of the frame at 17:45.
Fortunes for the Express didn't change a whole lot in the second period. Goals by Jason Cotton on a tip and Brett Mennear poking in a loose puck in the crease made it 6-1 after 40.
The final shots Friday night finished 50-21 in favour of the Warriors. A good chunk of the play in the course of the evening was spent in the Express end of the rink.
Pierce Dushenko did take the loss. Perhaps you could see some opening night jitters in his game in the first period, but to his credit he did settle into the game the longer it went on and did well to keep the score closer than it might have otherwise been.
Colton Kerfoot i'm sure would have preferred he scored his first BCHL goal under better circumstances as he whipped home a quick cross crease pass by Brendan Lamont for a powerplay goal with four seconds remaining in the game.
West Kelowna went 1 for 5 on the powerplay while the Express finished 1 for 4.
Friday's result was just part of an all around tough night for Coastal conference team in the first day of the showcase. Coastal conference teams lost all four of their games vs. Interior conference foes by a combined score of 23-6.
The memories of Friday's game have to be short for the Express as their right back at it Saturday at high noon for a home game vs. the Trail Smoke Eaters at the main rink at the Prospera Centre.
No comments:
Post a Comment