EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Sunday, February 26, 2012

EDWARDS OVERREACTS TO TURRIS HIT

Former Express Kyle Turris faced a disciplinary hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety after his hit on the Bruin's Joe Corvo last night, but after review he was not suspended.

Turris did receive a 2 minute minor for boarding on the hit.

But what stands out the most is how the biggest homer broadcaster in the NHL by far Jack Edwards goes way over the top with his reaction to the hit. Don't believe me, judge for yourself.







Saturday, February 25, 2012

ALEX PETAN GOES NATIONAL


Earlier this week Alex Petan did an interview with TSN's Gino Reda on the only Nationally Syndicated Radio show RBC Junior Hockey Magazine.

The Express Captain was the subject of the Junior A report on the show.

Check out the interview below.


Click to listen to Petan

BULLDOGS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of the 7-4 Express win over Alberni Valley Friday night.



Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen.

Friday, February 24, 2012

EXPRESS PULL AWAY FROM PESKY BULLDOGS

It wasn't an oil painting, nor was it easy to come by, but the Express used a 3rd period offensive outburst to get past the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 7-4.

The Express scored 4 times in the third to put it away.

The game set up well in the Express' favour. They had won the last 5 meetings with the Bulldogs. Alberni Valley started 15 year old goaltender Nathan Alaluof who plays for the Greater Vancouver Canadians of the BC Major Midget League.

Coquitlam did jump on the youngster early when Alex Petan jumped on the rebound of a Malcom McKinney slap shot to open the scoring just 44 seconds into the game.

They couldn't build on the momentum of the early goal. Yan Kalashnikov scored just under 5 minutes later to pull the Dogs even.

Walker Hyland scored to put Alberni Valley in the lead that they would carry into the second period.

Cole Huggins needed to be sharp to keep the Express close in the first period. He had 17 shots sent his way while the Express mustered just 11.

Another opening minute goal for the Express by Brady Shaw pulled the Express even. He buried the rebound of a Joona Kunnas shot off the end boards and put it in a gaping net.

Alex Petan put the Express ahead for a second time just over three minutes later. He was set up alone in front of the goal and slid it home for his 32nd of the year.

The lead lasted only 18 seconds as the Bulldogs came back and tied it up as Evan Tironese roofed it over Huggins off the rush.

The chances were there for the Express in the second period. The powerplay had its chances but had trouble setting up due to the up ice pressure from the Bulldogs penalty killers.

Mitchell Fyffe and Cody Michelle each put shots off the post in the period.

Alberni was unfortunate to have not finished off two breakaways in the period.

Finally a bounce went the Express way in the third period. Jason Brid dumped the puck in from centre ice, it bounced off a stanchion and through the legs of Alalouf.

Then in quick succession the Express finally put the Bulldogs to rest. Alex Kerfoot scored twice in a span of 26 seconds to put the Express up by 3. Both goals were set up by Brady Shaw and John Siemer.

Trent Dorais did score shortly after Kerfoot's tallies to bring Alberni Valley back within two to cap off a run of 3 goals in 1:04.

Malcom Mckinney rounded out the scoring on a wraparoud with the Express on the powerplay late in the third period.

The top two lines did most of the damage for the Express. Alex Petan along with linemate Malcom Mckinney combined for 3 goals and 2 assists. Brady Shaw, John Siemer and Alex Kerfoot meanwhile combined for 3 goals of their own and 3 assists for 6 points.

The win was capped off a season series between the two clubs that saw the Express win the final 6 meetings after losing the first contest back in Alberni Valley.

Alberni Valley outshot the Express 37-34. And one of the strange anomalies of the season series dominated by the Express, Alberni Valley outshot the Express in each of the 7 games this season.

Coquitlam opened up a 13 point lead on Nanaimo for 4th place after they fell 6-3 in Surrey. Nanaimo has just 7 games remaining in their season. In the race for third, the Express still sit 3 points back after Cowichan Valley knocked off Vernon 6-4. The Express will have their chance to make their move on Cowichan Valley in March when they will have 3 games in hand on the Caps.

Up next for the Express is a home a home with the Langley Rivermen starting next Friday in Coquitlam.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

ALEX PETAN HIGHLIGHT TAPE

Camera man Cary Derksen put together a highlight tape for captain Alex Petan.

Check it out.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

CAPITALS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of the Express 4-1 win over Cowichan Valley Saturday.



Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

THAT'S BETTER...

A sign of a good team is the ability to bounce back and get back in the win column after a tough loss the night before. That's exactly what the Express did with a very solid 4-1 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

It was a tough opening minute for the Express, they gave up the opening goal just 30 seconds in as Brett Knowles set up Troy Paterson who fired a slap shot past the glove of Cole Huggins.

It didn't take long for the Express to respond. Clinton Atkinson fired home a powerplay goal from the left point past the glove 6 minutes into the first. The goal for Atkinson was his second in his last three games. The 20 year old defenceman now has 52 points on the season. He sits just 3 points behind Brad Hunt's Express franchise record for points in a season by a defenceman with 55 set in 07-08.

John Siemer was on the business end of a perfectly executed 2 on 1 with Alex Kerfoot giving the Express their first lead with three and a half minutes remaining in the period.

The Express took their lead to the second period. It was the first time in 6 games the Express led after the first period.

Cole Huggins came up with some of his best work in the second period. He made a number of solid saves in the frame to keep the Express in the lead. Huggins turned aside the final 30 shots he faced after allowing the goal by Paterson on the opening shot of the game.

Mitch Nardi helped out his goaltender by finishing off a two on one break by firing a great shot over the glove of Brady Rouleau to put the Express up 3-1.

Clinton Atkinson was also helpful taking goals away for the Caps on this night. He helped clear the puck away from danger after the puck got past Huggins and was lying in the crease in the third period.

Mitch Nardi put the game away with his second of the night scoring on the powerplay with just over three minutes remaining.


Click here to listen to the Express goals
It was back to business as usual for the Express on the powerplay on this night. They finished 2 for 4. Entering tonight's game, the Express were 0 for 11 on the powerplay in the previous 3 games. And just 1 for 11 in the last 4. A rare slump for the second best powerplay in the BCHL.

The two powerplay goal performance for the Express capped off a dominant season series for the Express on the powerplay vs. Cowichan Valley converting 16 times on 31 opportunities, 51.61%.

On the other side of the coin, the Express had played a near perfect game when it came to discipline. They were only shorthanded once all game with Jason Bird getting penalized in the third period. The discipline of the Express is an aspect of the game that some times gets overlooked. They've been shorthanded for three times or less in each of their last 7 games for a grand total of 17 times in that span. The team average for the season sits at being shorthanded just 4.5 times a game.

The win pulled the Express back to within three points of the Caps in the race for third place with the Express having a game in hand and 7 games remaining.

This was the 8th and final game of the regular season with Cowichan Valley. The Express officially posted a 4-3-0-1 mark vs. the Caps this season. Cowichan Valley picked up 10 points head to head vs. the Express compared to 9 for the Express. The Caps get the edge thanks to a pair of points picked up in 2 overtime losses to the Express.

Just one game for the Express next weekend when they host Alberni Valley on Friday.

CENTENNIALS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of the Cents 8-0 win over the Express Friday night.



Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen.

Friday, February 17, 2012

ONE TO FORGET...

It was a game any Express follower would quickly want to forget about. It was all Merritt Centennials in a 8-0 drubbing.

The visitors had a strong opening period. They were rewarded with their first goal 15 minutes in when Carter Shinkaruk snapped a shot from the slot past Khaleed Devji.

The Cents struck in the opening minute of the second period when Regan Soquila tipped a wrist shot by Evan Stack.

Then came a sequence of puck possession for Merritt that saw the Express chasing the puck in their own zone for at least 90 seconds.

Back to back powerplays for the Express midway through the period couldn't give them the boost they were looking for to try and get back into the game.

The Cents top unit of Evan Stack, Soquila and Chad Brears were at it again late in the period. They won a draw deep in the Express end, got the puck to the net and eventually Stack poked it in.

That goal was followed 47 seconds later by a tally from Jakob Reichert as he out waited Devji then slid it through his legs to give Merritt a 4-0 lead heading to the third.

The goals kept coming in the third from Stack, Reichert again, Billy Marshall shorthanded and Brandon Bruce to finish off the scoring.

Khaleed Devji was on the hook for 6 of the goals on 31 shots.

Tyler Steel was steady when called upon making 31 saves for his third shutout of the year.

Merritt has now won two in a row outscoring their opponents 15-1 in that time following a 6 game losing streak that saw them score just 5 times.

No time to dwell on this one for the Express as they have Cowichan Valley in town Saturday.

Perhaps its time to tug on a nostalgia cord and remember a 8-0 game the wrong way for the Express late in 06 to the Chilliwack Chiefs. That loss sparked a 13 game winning streak that carried into the playoffs as the Express began their march to the 2006 Royal Bank Cup championship.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

CLIPPERS @ EXPRESS HI-LITES

Here's the highlights from the 6-3 win for the Express over Nanaimo on Wednesday.



Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

EXPRESS DRAWING CLOSER TO THE PLAYOFFS

There aren't too many nails left to hammer, but the Express drilled another one into the playoff coffin of the Nanaimo Clippers with a 6-3 win.

Coquitlam opened up an 11 point lead on the Clippers for the final playoff spot with the Express having 9 games remaining and Nanaimo 10.

The win improved the Express to 5-0 vs. the Clippers this season.

As expected, considering the stakes for the visitors they got off to the start they wanted. They opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game as Brendan Forbes poked a loose puck in the crease past Cole Huggins after Clayton Chessa drove it to the net.

Kyle Kramer added to the Nanaimo lead after he got the puck past a pinching defenceman giving Kramer a lane down the right wing and he snapped a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Huggins.

At that point in the game the Cllippers were in control, out shooting the Express, and giving them trouble coming out of their end and through the neutral zone.

The penalty killing clutched up for the Express in the first period killing off both disadvantages they would give Nanaimo on this night to keep the deficit at just two.

Nanaimo took that lead to the second period after out shooting the Express 16-8 in the period.

It was more of the same in the first few minutes of the second period.

Then came the only two powerplays the Express would get. They couldn't score on either of them. But they were the catalysts for the Express as they turned the game around.

Just seconds after the second powerplay expired, Malcom McKinney scored his 20th of the season to get the Express on the board. McKinney became the 5th 20 goal scorer for the Express this season. The third year forward joins Alex Petan, John Siemer, Brady Shaw and Alex Kerfoot in the 20 goal club for the Express.

Only the runaway leaders of the BCHL the Penticton Vees have more 20 goal scorers with 8.

The gates were now open for the Express and Mitch Nardi took a feed from Alex Petan who was behind the net and Nardi snapped it home to erase the two goal deficit.

Coquitlam capped off a run of 3 goals in 2:32 with Taylor Bourne snapping a shot from the slot set up by Brady Shaw to give the Express their first lead.

By this time the Express had turned the tables around in the flow of the game. A little more puck luck and the play of goaltender Billy Faust kept the game from completely turning on Nanaimo.


Click here to listen to the 3 Express 2nd period goals


Veteran Dan Correale clutched up for Nanaimo in the final minute of the second period. With Faust on the bench for an extra attacker and a delayed penalty for the Express in effect, Correale wheeled out from his own end and went coast to coast snapping a shot past Huggins to tie the game at 3.

The Express pressed for the lead again to open the third. They broke through when Alex Petan snapped a shot from the slot low past Faust for the 30th of the season for the Express captain.

Petan was also in on the insurance marker as Clinton Atkinson fired a slap shot that was partially tipped by a Nanaimo defender and it beat Faust up high.

The line of Alex Petan, Mitch Nardi and Malcom Mckinney was very productive. All three skaters scored a goal. And they combined for 8 points with 3 goals and 5 assists.

Affiliate player Eric Margo capped off a two point Express debut by sealing the game into an empty net. He also assisted on Taylor Bourne's goal back in the second period.

Margo along with Vancouver Northwest Giants teammate Anthony Conti played for the Express as affiliate players. The vets had some fun at their expense during warmup allowing them both to go out first and the vets shut the gate behind them leaving the youngsters out there on their own for the first few laps.

Now with a double digit lead on Nanaimo in the standings for the Express, they can also try and reel in some of the teams ahead of them. They remain three points back of Cowichan Valley for third place after the Caps got a 5-4 overtime win over Alberni Valley. The Express and Caps will go head to head on Saturday night. But before that the Express will play host to the Merritt Centennials in the only regular season meeting between the two teams on Friday in Coquitlam.

Friday, February 10, 2012

PEARS RIPE FOR GRIZZLIES WIN

Taylor Pears had a memorable 58 save performance as the Victoria Grizzlies snapped a 13 game win less streak with 6-5 win over the Express.

It was another depleted bench for the Grizz dressing just 13 skaters. Victoria needed to get a special exemption to bring in former Express Cole Gelley who played in his 3rd game in black and gold.

Victoria's first goal showed what they would do most of the night is try and get the puck and bodies up the ice when they could to generate a scoring chance. They opened the scoring when former Express Stefan Gonzales quickly advanced the puck up ice to Coltyn Hansen who slid it across to Chase Kaiser who finished off the two on one.

Coquitlam responded shortly thereafter on the powerplay as Brady Shaw shovelled the puck to John Siemer who buried it following a Clinton Atkinson point shot.

The Express were only able to muster the one goal in the opening 20 minutes as they couldn't finish some of their chances in combination with the strong play from Pears who faced 19 shots. It was a sign of things to come on this night.

Victoria got into penalty trouble early in the second as defencemen Stefan Gonzales, Cole Gelley and Braxton Bilous were all called for minors in quick succession giving the Express an extended 5 on 3.

The Express were able to strike once with the advantage as Alex Petan snapped home a shot from the slot seconds after he couldn't convert on a pair of glorious scoring chances just before the goal.

The lead only lasted for just under three minutes as Mitchell Smith scored his first goal of the season to pull the scrappy Grizzlies even at two.

John Siemer put the Express back in the lead as he scored on a partial breakaway sliding the puck through the legs of Pears for his second of the night and Express leading 27th of the season.

Friday's game was the fourth straight Friday the two teams have gone head to head. Much like the last time they met in Victoria last week, the Grizzlies scored three quick goals to end the second period. A pair of powerplay goals just 1:13 apart by Alex Holland and Coltyn Hansen put Victoria into a 4-3 lead.

Then in the final minute of the period Mitchell Smith was the beneficiary of a bad bounce for Rajan Sidhu who lost the puck behind the net and the puck came right to Smith who blasted it past a surprised Khaleed Devji to give Victoria a 5-3 lead entering the third.

Cole Huggins came out to start the third for the Express. He was called upon to come up with a number of key saves in the opening minute to keep the deficit at just two for the Express.

Brady Shaw scored moments later to pull the Express back within one. From then on, the Express came with a full on blitz. They sent puck after puck after puck the way of Taylor Pears. And the Victoria goaltender kept on turning the pucks away. Rebound chances were plentiful for the Express throughout the night, but they couldn't finish them off. Malcom McKinney had two great rebound chances in the third period but wasn't able to finish.

As the shot clock creeped towards 60, time began to run out on the Express. Alex Holland put the final dagger into the heart of the Express as he raced after a loose puck in the Express zone and powered it to the net and slid the puck past Huggins for a huge 6th goal for Victoria.

Zach Hodder scored with just under 10 seconds left to pull the Express within one again, but it was too little too late.

When all was said and done, the Express sent 29 shots on Taylor Pears in the third period who had 27 saves in the frame alone. The Express finished with 63 shots and Pears finished the night with a 58 save performance.

The 63 shots for the Express is the second most they've had in game. The record is 66 set on December 16, 2003 vs. Surrey.

Next up for the Express is a pair of games Saturday and Sunday in Powell River.