The full BCHL schedule has now been released. The dates for the 3rd annual Bauer BCHL showcase in Chilliwack were released last week with the Express will beginning their defence of their 2nd Fred Page Cup championship Friday September 19th a road game vs. the West Kelowna Warriors.
The Coquitlam faithful will see their team at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre for the first time since they defeated the Vernon Vipers in game 4 of the Fred Page cup final in April when they host the Prince George Spruce Kings in the home opener Friday September 26th. It's the first of a pair of visits on consecutive nights for Prince George as they get re-acquainted with the defending champions for the first time since their 1st round playoff meeting that saw the Express advance in 6 games.
The Express have a great opportunity to get off to a good start on home ice with 5 consecutive games played at the Palace on Poirier following the showcase. As part of the early season home stand, the Express will play their second round playoff opponent the Langley Rivermen on Friday October 3rd.
The schedule then begins to balance out for the Express who will play 7 of their next 8 games on the road. The only home game is the front end of a home and home series with the Chilliwack Chiefs on Saturday October 17th. That is followed by 4 consecutive road games vs. Mainland division opponents Chilliwack, Langley and back to back games in Surrey on October 19th and 24th.
Coquitlam and their mainland division rivals will get very familiar with one another in October and November.
The Express will play 8 games within the division in October.
From October 17th until November 12th the Express will play 11 of 12 games against Mainland division clubs (6 road, 5 home). They will see Surrey 4 times, Chilliwack 3 times, Langley twice and Prince George once.
Here's the breakdown by division.
Vs. Mainland division opponents 34 games.
Vs. Interior division opponents 14 games (1 home, 1 away) *Plus one additional game vs. West Kelowna (A) and Trail (H) at the Bauer BCHL showcase.
Vs. Island division opponents 10 games (1 home, 1 away).
The Express will play Langley and Surrey 8 times. And have 9 games vs. Chilliwack (4 home, 5 away) and Prince George (4 home, 5 away).
With the 5 road games vs. the Spruce Kings, it means the Express will be making 3 separate trips up north this season. They will visit for a pair of games on November 28th and 29th and February 6th and 7th. They will also have a Sunday afternoon visit on January 18th. The night before Saturday January 17th will be the first meeting between the Express and the Vernon Vipers since the Fred Page cup final. Vernon will visit the Express on Friday January 23rd.
The Express will have a 4 game home stand just before their season finale on Saturday February 28th in Chilliwack.
Three times this season the Express will have Friday/Saturday home and home series with the Chiefs. They all will start on the Friday in Coquitlam and concluding the next night in Chilliwack. They will take place on October 17th/18th, November 21st/22nd, and February 27th/28th to conclude the season.
Five times the Express will play three games on three consecutive days. They will also play three games in four nights on Family day weekend with a Monday afternoon matinee in Surrey on February 9th. That game is on the heals of a pair of games in Prince George Friday and Saturday night.
Here are some highlights of the schedule.
Season opener Friday September 19th vs. West Kelowna in Chilliwack at Bauer BCHL showcase.
Home opener Friday September 26th vs. Prince George.
Home and home with the Penticton Vees Wednesday January 7th in Penticton, January 9th in Coquitlam.
Click here for the full 2014-15 Express schedule
