EXPRESS ACQUIRE WESTGARD AND WHITE FROM EAGLES

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. 

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.