Coquitlam Express captain and defenceman Troy Robillard has committed to the University of Alaska Anchorage for next season.
Robillard, a Coquitlam native is the longest serving member of the Express in his 4th season with the team.
This season he has 1 goal and 12 assists for 13 points in 36 games. In 17-18 Robillard dressed in all 58 games and put up a career best 5 goals and 21 assists for 26 points. In 157 career games Robillard has 7 goals and 39 assists for 46 points.
The Express now have 13 players on their roster with an NCAA commitment. 6 players have secured their commitment during the 18-19 season. Only the Penticton Vees with 16 have more NCAA committed players than the Express in the entire BCHL.
It took seven rounds of the shootout, but the Langley Rivermen eventually prevailed for a 2-1 win over the Express to complete a weekend sweep of the home and home between the teams. Click here for boxscore
Like the night before in Coquitlam it was a tight affair all night long.
Josh Wildauer scored what would turn out to be the lone goal of the night for the Express taking a cross ice feed from Ty Westgard then roofing a shot over the shoulder of Shayne Battler for a powerplay goal just 2:17 into the game.
Connor Gregga nearly made it a 2-0 Express lead with a chance from his off wing just over three minutes later, but was stonewalled by Battler.
Kolby Matthews held Langley at bay through two periods with 23 saves after 40 minutes.
Langley finally broke through on a brief two man advantage in the third period. Following a won face-off in the Express zone Rivermen defensemen Jake Livingstone and Alec Capstick would switch spots at the top, then Livingstone would walk in and blast a slapshot past Matthews to tie the game at 1.
Both teams played the rest of regulation playing very tight to the vest.
Early in overtime Connor Gregga poked the puck past a Rivermen defenceman to spring a breakaway only to be denied by Battler as Gregga tried to go five hole.
Shortly thereafter last night's hero for Langley Tanner Versluis was whistled for a hooking penalty.
After call his timeout, Jason Fortier sent out four forwards to work the powerplay. There were numerous chances to win it. Jared Power had trouble handling a pass at the side of the net which may have resulted in the winner for the Express if the pass was handled cleanly. Regan Kimens was denied on a jam play in the crease and Connor Gregga put a one timer wide of the net.
Overtime solved nothing as the Rivermen finished the game outshooting the Express 31-24.
It was the third shootout for the Express while it was Langley's first time this season.
The Express emerged from round 1 with the advantage after Trevor Ayre was stopped by Matthews and Chase Danol scored his 3rd shootout goal this season.
The story in the shootout was the Express inability to put the Rivermen away. Jared Power was stopped in round 2 which would have won the game for the Express.
Mark Gallant in round 3 scored to keep Langley alive. But then Connor Gregga had a chance to win on the Express third shot but couldn't beat Shayne Battler.
That theme would continue into extra shooters as Dallas Farrell, Christian Sanda and Ty Westgard all were stopped by Battler with chances to win the game for the Express.
Then Chase Pletzkie put the pressure on the Express scoring in round 7 with a shot over the glove of Kolby Matthews. Then defenceman Jordan Schulting was stopped on his must score shot and Langley sealed the win.
Langley has now won 6 of 7 meetings with the Express this season.
The Express will visit the Chilliwack Chiefs on Wednesday night.
Tanner Versluis scored with 1:23 left in the third period to give the Langley Rivermen a 3-2 win over the Express. Click here for boxscore
The win improved Langley to 5-1 vs. the Express this season.
In the first 5 games of the 6 game home stand for the Express the games were more wide open which allowed the Express to pile up the offence with 4 wins in 5 games.
Friday was a lock it down, fight for your ice tight game where it matched the Express skill against the Rivermen will.
The Express bent in the opening half of the first period, but never broke and moments after killing off a Juliano Santalucia penalty, Ty Westgard set up Pito Walton in the slot whose shot was stopped by Braedon Fleming, but Regan Kimens buried the rebound to open the scoring.
Dallas Farrell kept up his productive play on this home stand taking feed in the slot and ripping a powerplay goal over the shoulder of Fleming for a 2-0 Express lead after 1.
Langley outshot the Express 12-10 in the first period, then in the second the Express tightened up their game in the second to the tune of opening a 8-0 lead in shots in the middle frame. But Fleming shut the door on the Express.
Once Langley got in position for their first shot late in the period, Daneel Lategan quickly rushed up the ice after the Express turned the puck over at the attacking blueline and Lategan's shot was stopped by Matthews but the rebound was buried by Riley Lanthier to make it a 2-1 game.
The third period set up for the Express needing to clamp down against a Langley team that used their physicality to slow down the skill of the Express. It was going to require finding a way to fight through the tight checking of the Rivermen to seal the win.
But slowly the Rivermen wore down the Express as the period ticked down.
At 12:22 Juliano Santalucia battling a bouncing puck in the Express zone eventually ended up behind the Express net where it was quickly fed out front to Daneel Lategan who tied it.
The chances for the Express in the third period were limited. Their best opportunity came to the stick of Christian Sanda who was stopped in tight with about 3 minutes to play.
Moments later Pito Walton was whistled for closing his hand on the puck after scooping a rebound off Kolby Matthews giving Langley a late powerplay.
Following a Langley time out a shot from the point by Jake Livingstone hit the glass then created a scramble opportunity for Tanner Versluis to jam in loose puck at the side for the Express net with 1:23 to play and the first Langley lead of the night at 3-2.
The Express did pull Matthews for the extra attacker and created scramble opportunities in the crease, but Fleming held on as he shut the door with 17 saves in the final 40 minutes to allow his team to claw back for the win.
Langley improved to 5-1 vs. the Express this season. The teams meet again Saturday night in Langley.
Carlo Finucci was a member of the 2006 RBC cup champion Burnaby Express. Then in his 3rd season in the league he was the first player in Express history to win the BCHL scoring title with 102 points.
He then went on to a 4 year NCAA career with the University of Alaska Nanooks. He then went professional that included a stop in the ECHL with Las Vegas. He's now playing pro hockey in the EIHL with the Fife Flyers in Scotland where he's teammates with another member of the 06 Express Paul Crowder.
Dallas Farrell scored twice including the overtime winner as the Express won for a 4th time in 5 games, 6-5 over Surrey. Click here for boxscore
The win comes despite the best efforts of former Express Jake Toor who scored his first BCHL hat-trick.
Like Sunday vs. Alberni Valley, the Express came out fast forcing the Eagles to struggle to keep up.
Connor Gregga opened the scoring converting a Jordan Schulting setup from the slot just shy of the 8 minute mark. Gregga's goal came after he fanned a great chance in the slot 20 seconds previous.
At the time of the goal the Express had a 7-0 advantage in shots. Surrey didn't register their first shot until 20 seconds after Gregga's goal. The shots finished 15-6 in favour of the Express.
An early second period defensive lapse allowed Jake Toor to find himself alone in front of Clay Stevenson and Toor slid home his first of the afternoon.
The goal gave Surrey jump and 1:23 later it was a 2-1 Surrey lead on a goal from Corey Clfiton snapping a shot past Stevenson following an Express turnover at the offensive blueline.
The spark Surrey received following the two quick goals set the stage for 90 seconds of Surrey pressure in the Express zone which very nearly resulted in a 3-1 Surrey lead.
Wednesday was the first time that Ty Westgard and Aaron White for the Express and Cole Edgerton for Surrey faced their former teams following the trade last Wednesday.
It was Westgard scoring his first Express goal on a scramble in front of the Surrey net for a powerplay goal to tie the game at 2.
That goal appeared to spark the Express who picked up their pace again and soon took their second lead of the game on a goal from Jared Power who snapped his 7th of the season after taking a Ty Westgard drop pass. The former Eagles captain finished with one goal and an assist against his former team. White and Edgerton didn't register points.
Dallas Farrell then capped off three Express goals in 4:24 taking a feed on the right wing and ripping a shot short side over the glove of Cole Dolan to give the Express a 4-2 lead.
The two goal lead appeared to be safe heading into the third period, then Jake Toor struck again. He hustled after a loose puck deep in the corner as the period was winding down and banked in his second of the game with one second left in the period.
Toor then capped off his first BCHL hat-trick in the opening minute of the third period hustling after a puck that was flipped into the Express zone then snapping a shot through the pads of Clay Stevenson to tie the game at 4.
Reigning BCHL player of the week Regan Kimens did his part to help shake off the pesky Eagles. He took a pass from behind the net from Alex DiPaolo and snapped home his 15th of the season.
Midway through the period Holden Katzalay was whistled for a double minor high sticking penalty on Kabir Gill. And despite Express pressure, they couldn't extend their lead. They almost gave up the equalizer on the powerplay when Riley Hayles put a shot off the goal post on a two on one with Toor.
Corey Clifton tied the game at 5 with just over three minutes to play snapping a shot from the left wing boards that beat Stevenson on the short side.
The goal ensured for a 3rd time in 4 games the Express would go to overtime.
Holden Katzalay nearly won it for Surrey in the opening minute on a redirection in front of Clay Stevenson.
The first good chance for the Express was a backdoor pass by Josh Wildauer on the tape of Dallas Farrell, but the forward couldn't get the puck up high enough on Dolan who made the glove save.
Farrell wouldn't miss on a second chance moments later converting a set up from Alex DiPaolo on a similar looking play.
The Express finished the game outshooting Surrey 49-23. The Express weren't whistled for a single penalty this season while finishing 1 for 6 on the powerplay.
Langley will visit Coquitlam to cap off the 6 game home stand in the first game of a home and home with the Rivermen.
Coquitlam Express forward Regan Kimens has been named the BCHL Player of the Week for the week ending Jan. 13, the league announced Monday.
Kimens tallied four goals in his team’s four-game home stand this week, three of which were game-winners. He also added five assists, leading the Express to three wins and an overtime loss.
The 19-year-old Merrimack College commit started off his week by scoring the eventual game-winning goal and adding a pair of assists in his team’s convincing 8-1 win over the West Kelowna Warriors on Monday night. He was named the game’s second star. Two nights later, Kimens chipped in another two assists as Coquitlam dropped a 5-4 decision in overtime to the Merritt Centennials.
On Friday, the Concord, Ont. native scored the deciding goal just under four minutes into overtime and was named first star as the Express beat their division rivals the Chilliwack Chiefs 5-4. He finished off his impressive week on Sunday afternoon by potting another two goals, including his third game-winner of the week, and added one assist as the Express put up eight goals for the second time in a week and beat the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8-4.
In his second season in the BCHL, Kimens sits fourth in team scoring with 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 38 games.
Honourable mentions:
Vernon Vipers G Aidan Porter: 3GP, 3W, 66 saves/70 shots, .943 SV%, 1.33 GAA
Victoria Grizzlies F Alex Newhook: 3GP, 3G, 3A, GWG, 1st star, 2nd star
Penticton Vees F Massimo Rizzo: 2GP, 2G, 3A, GWG, 1st star
Penticton Vees F Eric Linell: 2GP, 2G, 3A, 2nd star
Salmon Arm Silverbacks F Matthew Verboon: 3GP, 3G, 2A, 1st star
Ty Westgard picked up four assists and Regan Kimens scored twice while adding a helper as the Express doubled Alberni Valley 8-4. Click here for boxscore
The Express started the game as if they were shot out of a cannon playing a high tempo pace that the road weary Bulldogs looked like they would have trouble keeping up with.
Defenceman Pito Walton followed the play right to the Bulldogs net and converted a Regan Kimens pass for a 1-0 Express lead just 30 seconds into the game.
And from there the Express were buzzing in the Bulldogs zone and it took until the 8 minute mark of the game before Alberni Valley was credited with their first shot, while the Express had 8 on John Hawthorne at the other end.
Alberni Valley pulled even taking advantage of an Express turnover at the Bulldogs blueline allowing Issac Tonkin-Palmer to be quickly sprung the other way and snapping a shot in off the glove of Clay Stevenson to tie the game at 1.
Jordan Schulting restored the Express lead late in the period, heading to the net and converting a tip in pass from Ty Westgard for Schulting's 2nd of the season.
Christian Sanda was robbed in the final minute of the period by John Hawthorne who stretched out as far as he could to keep the Express lead at just 2-1 after the Express outshot Alberni Valley 15-4 in the first period.
Dawson Tritt thought he tied the game at two on a powerplay goal he jammed in from under the glove of Clay Stevenson. After discussion by the officials, the call was overturned on coincidental contact.
Regan Kimens potted his first of the net converting from the slot for the second two goal Express lead of the night at 3-1.
The second period wasn't quite as uptempo as the first period. That allowed Alberni Valley to claw their way back in the game at moments.
Mitch Deelstra cut in the Express zone with speed and did a good job to fight off Jack Cameron then slide home his 15th of the season.
Josh Wildauer had the response for the Express just 30 seconds later snapping home his 22nd of the season from the right circle.
The pesky Bulldogs made it a one goal game for a third time two minutes later on a goal by Stephen Castagna.
It was at this point the Express would shake off the Bulldogs and pull away for good.
Regan Kimens from just inside the blueline took a drop pass and ripped home his 5th goal against Alberni Valley this season. Then exactly one minute later Dallas Farrell found himself alone in front of the net and took a backhand from Danny Pearson and Farrell put the Express up 6-3 after 2 periods.
Danny Pearson 5 minutes into the third scored for a second straight game in which he dressed going to the net and converting a set up from Farrell to make it a 7-3 game.
Ryan Novecosky surprised Clay Stevenson snapping a shot from the point for his first of the season to make it a 7-4 game.
That was followed by Alex DiPaolo finishing the scoring tipping home a heads up pass from Jack Cameron.
John Hawthorne then denied Regan Kimens second hat-trick of the season vs. the Bulldogs with a great glove save on a late third period powerplay.
The Express finished the game outshooting Alberni Valley 34-23. Both teams went 0 for 2 on the powerplay.
The win improves the Express to 3-0-1 in their 6 game home stand picking points in all 4 games so far. It will continue Wednesday afternoon when the Express host the Surrey Eagles.
Regan Kimens scored at 3:54 of the first overtime to lift the Coquitlam Express to a 4-3 overtime victory over Kimens' former team the Chilliwack Chiefs. Click here for boxscore
The result ensured that all 6 games have been won by the home team in the season series. Each time has won three times on their comfortable confines.
This was the tightest of the six games between the teams, which felt more like a playoff game. Clay Stevenson had one of his better outings in recent weeks to post the victory in the Express crease.
Friday marked the Express debuts for Ty Westgard and Aaron White who were acquired from Surrey on Wednesday. Dallas Farrell also returned to the lineup after missing the previous 5 games.
Penalties were the name of the game for the Express in the first period. Chilliwack struck on their first powerplay on a cross ice pass by Ethan Bowen to set up Cole Donhauser for the 1-0 Chilliwack lead.
Clay Stevenson ensured the deficit was just one shutting the door the rest of the period including a number of challenging saves on deflections.
The Express were whistled for two other penalties in the opening period, but the penalty killing rose to the occasion to keep the Express only down 1-0 after being outshot 15-4.
Dallas Farrell pulled the Express even late on their first powerplay in the second period. Alex DiPaolo from the left wing fired a wrist shot that produced a rebound for Farrell to bury his 9th goal of the season.
2:02 later now with the Express shorthanded, a clearing attempt into the Chilliwack end was pressured up ice by Josh Wildauer who stole the puck off Chiefs goaltender Daniel Chenard and was beat on a wraparound by Wildauer for the first Express lead of the night.
The second period was a more wide open period with the teams at times trading chances at both ends of the ice.
Pito Walton extended the Express lead to 3-1 taking pass from Alex DiPaolo then ripping a snapshot for his 4th of the season.
The pesky Chiefs cut the lead to one before the second period was through on a goal from Brett Rylance cutting into a slot then snapping a shot over the shoulder of Clay Stevenson with 1:45 remaining in the second period.
Chilliwack opened the third period with a powerplay with Christian Sanda in the box for kneeing. Jacques Boquot even the game at 3 just 30 seconds into the third period taking a cross ice pass from Skyler Brind'Amour then cutting to the net and sliding home a backhand.
Now in a tie game the teams settled into a tight and somewhat nerve racking third period with neither team wanting to be the one to blink.
Alex DiPaolo came close to giving the Express the lead with a shot off the post with 3 minutes to play.
Then with just under 90 seconds left Clay Stevenson made his best save of the game off Ethan Bowen from the slot. Stevenson finished with 31 saves.
Ty Westgard may have been able to play the role of hero for the Express if a pass from Dallas Farrell into the slot in the final minute wasn't behind one of the newest members of the Express.
Friday was the second straight game for the Express to head to overtime. They played much better in the overtime compared to the previous game Wednesday vs. Merritt. The Express managed to get more puck possession which is so vital in overtime, and that lead to more chances in the extra session for the Express.
Late in the overtime a shot from the boards by Kimens was stopped by Daniel Chenard. Then the Chiefs Harrison Blaisdell took the rebound behind his net to slow things down for the Chiefs, only to bel pressured by his former teammate Regan Kimens who stole the puck off Blaisdell then scored the overtime winner lifting the puck over the pad of Chenard to give the Express the 4-3 overtime victory.
The win gives the Express a 2-0-1 record picking up 5 out of 6 points so far on their 6 game home stand. It will resume Sunday afternoon when the Express host Alberni Valley.
The Coquitlam Express made a big trade one day prior to the BCHL trade deadline acquiring forwards Ty Westgard and Aaron White in exchange for forward Cole Edgerton and future considerations.
Westgard is the marquee name in this trade as a 20 year old veteran and 5th year player in the BCHL.
The Surrey native's production has taken a big jump dating back to last season. In 82 games dating back to last season Westgard has 25 goals and 79 assists for 104 points. This season he has 10 goals and 24 assists for 24 points in 26 games. Those number are still tops on the Surrey Eagles this season.
Last season Westgard teamed up with John Wesley for one the more explosive offensive duos in the BCHL. His 55 assists were the second most in the BCHL. His 70 points finished tied for 2nd in BCHL scoring.
In 160 career BCHL games all with Surrey, Westgard has 43 goals and 116 assists for 159 points. He also spent time in the WHL with Victoria and Portland with 1 goal and 3 assists in 28 games.
Aaron White has split this season with Surrey in the BCHL and Madison and Omaha in the USHL.
This season in Surrey the Sylvania, Michigan native had 3 goals in 10 games All three goals coming in a 7-6 loss in Merritt in early September. In the USHL White had 1 goal and 5 assists in 21 games. Last season in Surrey, White 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points in 43 games.
Both Westgard and White are entering the Express room to some familiar faces playing last season with forward Chase Danol. White was also a teammate in the 16-17 season with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies U18 program with Danol and Josh Wildauer.
Edgerton dressed for 30 games with the Express this season with 3 goals and 7 assists.
Nick Wicks tied the game in the final minute, then won it in overtime in Merritt's 5-4 overtime win over the Express Wednesday night. Click here for boxscore
The Merritt captain started the game by taking the games opening faceoff against his younger brother Garrett who dressed for the Express for a second straight game as an AP.
Danny Pearson returned to the Express lineup after being on the receiving end of a big hit from Powell River's Ryan Pouliot in the final game before the Christmas break. Pearson picked up right where he left off chipping in offensively, 5:35 into he game he went hard to the net and tipped home a perfect pass from Christian Sanda to open the scoring.
The lead was extended to 2-0 just over 6 minutes later when Chase Danol's shot from the left wing eluded Austin Roden for Danol's Express leading 21st of the season.
39 seconds later the Centennials cut the lead to 2-1 on a powerplay goal from Payton Matsui chipping home a loose puck in the Express crease.
Rylan Van Unen erased Merritt's two goal deficit for the first time putting home a rebound that was put right on his tape from Kolby Matthews following a shot from Talon Zakall.
Christian Sanda was really effective using his speed to be a difference maker for the Express Wednesday. He put the Express back in the lead with a pass from the right wing that went off a Centennials defender and in for Sanda's 16th of the season.
Alex DiPaolo was on the receiving end of a hit from Matthieu Gosselin that didn't sit well with the Express. Regan Kimens among others quickly got into the face of Gosselin, but they showed good restrain to not take their team off the on-coming powerplay.
DiPaolo got his revenge personally late in the advantage burying the rebound of Jordan Schulting point shot giving the Express a 4-2 lead heading to the 3rd period.
The lead was looking pretty safe as the final minutes of the third period stared to emerge on the horizon. Kolby Matthews appeared to be pretty dialled in in the Express crease.
Then a 3 on 2 resulted in a third chance opportunity ending up on the stick of Daniel Tkac who buried the rebound with 3:50 to play.
In the final minute with Austin Roden on the bench, his replacement Nick Wicks set up shop in front of the Express net and tipped home a Jayden Fetter shot to tie the game at 4 with 37 seconds left to play.
The Express argued the goal was contacted with a high stick. And the referee originally waved off the goal. Then upon further discussion the call was overturned and the goal was allowed to stand sending the game to overtime.
Chase Danol had the best chance for the Express in overtime cutting into the slot firing a wrist shot that was denied by Roden.
Merritt showed good patience in overtime being very reluctant to give up the puck during the 3 on 3. That patience paid off on the game winning goal. Nick Wicks had the puck in the Express zone and retreated back into the neutral zone then went back on the attack from the right wing and ripped a shot over the shoulder of Kolby Matthews to give the Centennials the 5-4 overtime win. For the Centennials it was their third consecutive overtime win.
The 6 game home stand for the Express continues Friday when the Express host the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Jared Power scored his first BCHL hat-trick and second of his junior career in a 8-1 Express win over West Kelowna on a rare Monday night game. The Express used a six goal second period to take complete control of the game. Click here for boxscore
Little went right for the West Kelowna Warriors. Their lone goal of the night opened the scoring, Auston Chorney rushed the puck right into the Express zone then snapped a shot from the right wing past Kolby Matthews. That goal would be the lone knock on Kolby Matthews who had a great night the rest of the way shutting the door.
Power's big night got rolling on the Express first powerplay of the night. With Power standing in front of the net, he showed good hands deflecting a Connor Gregga shot to tie the game at one. Prior to the game, Connor Gregga was named the Express player of the month after 5 goals and 10 assists for 15 points in 9 December games.
It didn't take long for the Express to completely suck the life out of the Warriors in the second period.
Regan Kimens gave the Express their first lead converting a set up from the slot from Jordan Schulting for a 2-1 Express advantage at 4:18.
And from there the goals just kept coming.
Jared Power buried his second of the night on a scramble lifting a backhand over a sprawled out Connor Hopkins at 7:30.
2:11 later a quick pass up ice on the tape of Chase Danol allowed him to cut in from the left wing and his shot trickled through Hopkins and was poked home by Josh Bruce for his 3rd of the season to open up a 4-1 lead.
That goal chased Connor Hopkins after 4 goals on 21 shots. Warriors Head Coach Geoff Grimwood also called his timeout at that time.
The message didn't get through as the Express kept rolling along, and Brock Baier faced the brunt of the Express attack. He was welcomed to the game by facing a great odd man rush chance for Christian Sanda.
Power then put the puck past Baier completing his first Express hat-trick converting a tap in pass from Connor Gregga to make it a 5-1 lead. It was the first hat-trick for Jared Power since November 22, 2016 when he was a member of the Olds Grizzlys of the AJHL. Connor Gregga finished up three assists.
Jack Cameron got in on the fun 43 seconds after Power's third goal taking a feed in the slot and snapping home just his second of the season.
Then Alex DiPaolo capped off 6 Express goals in 11:05 burying the rebound of a Kabir Gill point shot to make it a 7-1 game.
Even though the Express middle period will be highlighted by the offensive eruption, Kolby Matthews had a very strong second period as well making 15 saves at the other end of the ice. He would finished with 36 saves for 12th win of the season.
The Express took their foot off the gas in the third period. The only goal of the frame came late in the period by Josh Wildauer poking home a loose puck in the crease after Jordan Schulting was set up backdoor by Regan Kimens.
There will be little time for the Express to enjoy their victory as they continue their busy week Wednesday when they host the Merritt Centennials.
