EXPRESS OUTPACE BULLDOGS

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.

BCHL FIRSTS SHOWCASE EXPRESS SKILL VS. KINGS

Alex DiPaolo, Connor Gregga and Cole Edgerton all scored their first BCHL goals, and the Express struck four times in the second period in a 6-3 win over the Powell River Kings at the Bauer BCHL showcase. Click here for boxscore

The victory was the second of the season for the Express.

Cooper Connell opened the scoring for the Express just under 4 minutes into the game taking a quick pass at the top of the left circle and snapping a shot over the glove of Mitch Adamyk.

Penalties were a theme for the Express in the first period. It started with a double minor high sticking penalty assessed to Josh Wildauer. Later in the period penalties were assessed to Hunter Alden who made his Express debut and Jonathan Sheardown and the penalty killing rose to the occasion each time keeping the Express in the lead. The Express entered the game with the second best penalty killing in the BCHL this young season.

The Express had chance to take a two goal lead into the second period with Dallas Farrell ripping a shot just high off the wing then on a breakaway. Cole Edgerton put a shot on a shorthanded breakaway just over top of the net.

The chances started to fill the net for the Express in the second period. Jonathan Sheardown walked down the wing and got the puck to the net where Alex DiPaolo found a loose puck in the goal crease and poked it home for his first BCHL goal.

1:02 later Chase Danol stole the puck behind the Kings net and set up Christian Sanda in front of the Kings net for a 3-0 Express lead.

Kolby Matthews got the start in goal for the Express. He was solid with 7 first period saves. And he finally got his first goals of support in front of him in his 3rd start of the season.

Powell River got their first goal past the Express netminder on a powerplay thanks to Neal Samanski scoring from the slot to cut the Express lead to 3-1.

Just 1:11 later the Express were back up by three thanks to Josh Wildauer scoring off the rush for his second off the season on a set up by Dallas Farrell.

Powell River momentarily cut the Express lead to two for a second time on the first BCHL goal for former Express AP Christian Buono deflecting a Matt Rickard shot.

Connor Gregga late in the middle frame was the second member of the Express to score his first BCHL goal Thursday. Goaltender Kolby Matthews raced up out of his net to move a Kings clearing attempt up ice as they changed to Regan Kimens. He then dropped it to Dallas Farrell whose shot was tipped home at the edge of the crease by Gregga.

The four goal second period was powered by 20 Express shots in that frame.

Ben Thomas early in the third period pulled the Kings within two for a third time jamming the puck past Kolby Matthews. But that would the final puck to get past the Express netminder who finished the game strong to kill the Kings come back hopes. Matthews finished with 24 saves for his first win in an Express uniform.

Cole Edgerton completed a hat-trick of first BCHL goal scorers for the Express scoring from the left circle to finish off the scoring. Jordan Schulting picked up his first point of the season on the goal.

Five players had multi point games for the Express, Wildauer, Sanda, Farrell, Gregga and Chase Danol.

The Express will play their second game at the showcase Saturday afternoon vs. Cowichan Valley. They will finally play their home opener the next day vs. the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.