EXPRESS ALUMS WIN NCAA LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

It's NCAA playoff time and a number of Express alumni have gone head to head in their respective league playoffs.

And a number of them won their respective league championships.

HOCKEY EAST CHAMPIONS NORTHEASTERN:

Ryan Rosenthal's Northeastern Huskies are the Hockey East champions. In the hockey east semi finals they defeated Thatcher Demko and Boston College. Then defeated UMass-Lowell in the final.

Click here for the Northeastern game story. 

ECAC CHAMPIONS QUINNIPIAC:

Bo and Canon Pieper at Qunnipiac are ECAC champions. They defeated Express alums Alexander Kerfoot and Phil Zielonka and Harvard University for the title. Bo Pieper scored for Qunnipiac as they opened up a 3-0 lead Saturday. Click here for Qunnipiac game story Qunnipiac has had a fantastic season and will be the number one seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

WCHA CHAMPIONS FERRIS STATE:

The winning beat goes on for Corey Mackin, he along with another Express alum Simon Denis are the WCHA champions. Along the way they defeated Alex Petan's Michigan Tech Huskies in the semi finals. Then they defeated Cole Huggins and Minnesota State 2-1 to win the WCHA title.

Mackin this year was named the WCHA rookie of the year. As part of Minnesota State's runs to the WCHA final they defeated Gordie Defiel and Lake Superior State in the quarter final last weekend in a best of three. Lake Superior's lone win was a 2-0 shutout win where Defiel made 57 saves.

Click here for Ferris State game recap

Today was selection Sunday for the NCAA tournament which leads to the Frozen Four. Click here for the NCAA tournament matches

Quinnipiac will face RIT in one East Regional first round game. Ferris State will face St. Cloud State in the West Regional first round game. 

Northeastern will face North Dakota in one of the Midwest Regional first round games.

Harvard will play Boston College in one of the Northeast Regional first round games.

The Frozen Four will be held April 7-9 in Tampa Bay. 

EXPRESS ALUMS FEATURED IN NCAA PLAYS OF THE WEEK

The NCAA top 5 plays of the week had some Express flavor in it with members of the 2014 Fred Page cup championship team Adam Rockwood, Gordie Defiel and Cam Marks. (Sorry Marksie I know you're on the wrong side of number 1) But we're still proud of you at UNH.

Check out the top 5 plays by clicking here.

Also want to recognize Corey Mackin who was named the WCHA rookie of the week last week with one goal and two assists while going +2.

Click here for more on Mackin

DEFIEL TO LAKE SUPERIOR STATE

Photo Courtesy of Tri Cities Now.

Goaltender Gordie Defiel has committed to Lake Superior State University for the 2014-15 season.

Moving on to an NCAA school is a great reward for a goaltender who has shown a championship pedigree in his final two seasons of junior hockey.

He was acquired by the Express just prior to the 2013-14 season from the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) in exchange for goaltender Daniel Urbani, forward Garrett Forster and the defenceman Bryce Eviston.

During the regular season he posted a 20-21-1 record with a 3.69 GAA and .887 save percentage.

The Stillwater Minnesota native raised his game in the post season posting a 14-5 record with a 2.69 GAA and .922 save percentage with one shutout while backstopping the Express to their second Fred Page cup BCHL championship.

At the 2014 Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup in Dauphin Manitoba Defiel posted a 2-3 record with a 3.21 GAA with a .913 save percentage.

Prior to coming to the Express Defiel played with the Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL) during the 2012-13 season. He guided the Wilderness to an SIJHL championship and a berth in the RBC cup semi final.

Congratulations Gordie.

EXPRESS EARN GUTSY WIN VS. BLUES

Photo courtesy of Todd Pederson.

The 2014 Fred Page Cup champions improved to 2-0 at the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada cup with a 2-1 win over the MJHL champion Winnipeg Blues.

Coquitlam started fast, then had to battle hard in the end to earn the victory.

The Express were flying in the opening 20 minutes getting plenty of pucks on Winnipeg goaltender Byron Spriggs. They were also able to create many second chance opportunities for themselves off rebounds.

One of the best chances for the Express early was a 2 on 1 for Ryan Rosenthal and Corey Mackin, the captain laid a pass across the crease to Mackin and some how the puck stayed out of the net.

The chances kept coming, Joey Santucci rang a shot off the post on a pass to the side of the net, Adam Rockwood also had a great chance off a rebound but neither opportunity was converted.

Ryan Rosenthal opened the scoring 14 minutes in as he came down the right wing with speed and fired a wrist shot that got through the arm and body of Spriggs for Rosenthal's 3rd goal of this Western Canada Cup.

The Express did convert one of the many rebound opportunities they had in the final minute when Brendan Lamont scored on the rebound of a Zach Hodder shot for a 2-0 Express lead.

Coquitlam outshot the Blues 15-6 in the first period.

Winnipeg pulled within one midway through the second period on the power play with Clay Tait setting up Warren Callis on a two on one down low at 10:16.

The third period saw the Express lock it down in an effort to protect their 1 goal lead.

Players were sacrificing their bodies blocking shots, and diving to get the puck out of the defensive zone to keep the Express in the lead the rest of the way.

Gordie Defiel who was named the Express player of the game continued his very strong play with a 32 save performance. And like he has especially since the start of the Fred Page Cup final he is at his best in the third period with the game on the line. Tonight vs. Winnipeg was a great example of that. He turned aside all 15 Blues shots in the final 20 minutes.

Coquitlam now sits atop of the standings at the Western Canada Cup at 2-0 with each team having played one game.

Winnipeg is now in a 3 way tie with Yorkton and Dauphin at 1-1. Spruce Grove is 0-2.

The Express don't play Tuesday and return to action Wednesday vs. the Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) at 5PM Pacific time.

EXPRESS OPEN WCC VICTORIOUS

Express and Saints line up following 3-1 Express win to open WCC.

The BCHL champion Coquitlam Express continued their winning ways as they opened up the Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup with a 3-1 win over the AJHL champion Spruce Grove Saints. Coquitlam has now won 7 straight games dating back to the third round of the BCHL playoffs.

Ryan Rosenthal soared a pair of goals and Canon Pieper added the insurance marker for the Express.

Gordie Defiel turned aside 31 of 32 Saints shots sent his way for the victory.

The Express captain got things rolling just under 7 minutes into the game as he fired a shot from the right circle that caught the inside of the post and just got past Saints goaltender Kenny Cameron.

The opening half of the second period saw the Express spend the majority of that time shorthanded with infractions called on Cody Boyd, Zach Hodder and a double minor high sticking penalty to Brendan Lamont. Coquitlam's penalty killers really do deserve praise for their efforts Sunday. They killed off all that time shorthanded at a key point in the game. In total the Express finished the game killing off 6 Saints man advantages.

The power play time did give Spruce Grove momentum to build on for the second half of the middle period. They continued their push when the game returned to even strength.

Isaac Farrah finally broke through for the Saints as his slap shot appeared to be tipped past a screened Gordie Defiel. That would be the only puck to get past him as he kept up his high level of play in the Western Canada Cup opener.

It was another game that had the Express right where they wanted entering the third period and that is hanging in the balance tied at one.

Early in the third period however there was a scare as Bo Pieper got tangled up with defenceman Gabe Bast and crashed heavily into the end boards with the collision only intensified by the fresh ice.

Pieper was shaken up and was down on the ice for a long period of time bringing a hush over the crowd in Dauphin. Bo eventually shook off the hit and got up and went down the tunnel but did return a few minutes later. And seeing him quickly post game he didn't look to be too worse for ware.

Ryan Rosenthal broke the deadlock with just over 6 minutes remaining in the third period as he had two cracks at the puck from the slot and snapped home his second of the game for a 2-1 Express lead.

Then late in the third period Bo quickly forgot about the collision with the end wall as from the same spot as the hit, he set up his brother Canon who scored with 1:17 remaining for a 3-1 Express lead.

The win sees the Express open up with a 1-0 record. Spruce Grove who had spent time late in the season as the number 1 nationally ranked team is in an early hole at 0-2.

No rest for the wicked as the Express are right back at it facing another 1-0 team Monday when they will take on the MJHL champion Winnipeg Blues at 5:00 PM Pacific time.

EXPRESS UP 2-0 IN MAINLAND FINAL

Gordie Defiel and Tyson Witala in game 2 of Mainland final. Photo courtesy of Garrett James.

The Coquitlam Express have a 2-0 lead in the Mainland final after taking game 2 at the George Preston Rec. Centre 2-1 over the Langley Rivermen.

The Express got first period goals from Zach Hodder and Ryan Rosenthal and Gordie Defiel had another solid performance between the pipes with 36 saves for the win.

Early on saw a parade to the penalty box for both teams. Soon the Express found themselves with a 5 on 3 power play that they made count.

Ryan Rosenthal teed up a one timer for Zach Hodder who blasted it past the glove of Brock Crossthwaite at 2:39.

It was a much better first period for the Express in this one compared to 24 hours earlier where they were outshot 19-9.

The Express outshot the Rivermen 15-8.

The animosity between the two clubs starting to come to the forefront in game 2. Bo Pieper seemed to draw the ire of the Rivermen late in the first period. He was sent hard to the ice deep in his own zone and got up reaching for his face after a cross check from Austin Azurdia.

Then in the final minute of the first period Bo was decked and left some blood on the ice following a pass to Ryan Rosenthal who scored for a 2-0 Express lead.

Langley started to raise their game in the second period trying to get back into it. They fired 15 shots toward the Express goal but couldn't get a puck past Defiel. His best save came off Tony Bretzman who was robbed by Defiel's quick glove hand.

8 minutes into the third period Mark Whiteley was on the receiving end of a double team hit that left the Express defenceman shaken up. He did not return. On the play Evan Anderson was assessed a 5 minute major for a blow to the head penalty and given a game misconduct.

Anderson could be facing an automatic two game suspension according to the Junior A Supplement.

The Express power play couldn't take advantage of the 5 minute power play they could have used to put the game in the bag.

With renewed life Langley struck just after the penalty expired as Kevin Kilistoff scored to give what was at the time a listless game the Express appeared to have in control suddenly some drama and life for Langley.

The final 6:32 saw Langley look for the equalizer. Their best chance may have come on a scramble when the puck went in the air and landed on top of the with 2 minutes remaining.

The Express weathered that final push which included a few more key stops for Defiel.

Some final fireworks late in the game saw a boarding penalty assessed to Cody Boyd. Then at the end of the game Jacob Reichert picked up a double minor for a spear on Gordie Defiel and Zach Hodder was assessed a slashing penalty coming to the defense of his goaltender.

That sets the table for what should be a vital game 3 in the series Monday night in Coquitlam. The Express will look to try and put the BCHL's top team in the regular season into a 3-0 hole.  

EXPRESS TAKE GAME 1 OF MAINLAND FINAL

Defiel with one of his 36 saves in game 1. Photo courtesy of Garrett James.

The Coquitlam Express took game 1 of the Mainland division final with a 4-2 win over the Langley Rivermen at the George Preston Recreation Centre.

The Express used 3 third period goals and another strong performance from Gordie Defiel who finished with 36 saves.

Defiel set the tone for what would be a very strong night in the opening minute with a great glove save off Marcus Vela.

Canon Pieper opened the scoring for the Express when he was set up by Brendan Lamont and scored on a backhand deke past Brock Crossthwaite following a Langley turnover at their own blue line.

An unlikely source tied the game for Langley 2:31 later when AP Cameron Bertsch scored poking the puck past Defiel following a face-off in the Express end.

Langley peppered the Express crease with 19 shots in the first period but were only able to get the lone goal.

Gordie Defiel continued to punctuate his strong night in the second period and looked as calm and composed as ever turning aside the next 12 Langley shots in the second period. They had a 31-17 edge after two periods.

Coquitlam began to turn the game in their favor in the third period.

Ryan Rosenthal on a set up from Corey Mackin slid home his 5th of the playoffs for a 2-1 Express lead at 3:32.

Cody Boyd provided the goal from the third different line for the Express when he threw the puck at the net and it hit the leg of Rivermen defenceman Chris Forney and bounced in at 8:44.

2:04 later it was back to a one goal game when James Robinson took a drop pass from Austin Azurdia and snapped a wrist shot low to the stick side past Gordie Defiel.

Boyd then sealed the win for the Express when he struck for his second of the night with just over two minutes remaining when he converted a set up from Joey Santucci and deked past Crossthwaite and slid the puck home.

The strong finish in the third period saw the Express outshoot the Rivermen 15-7. Langley finished with 38 shots compared to 32 for the Express.

Coquitlam also killed off 4 Langley power plays and weren't able to convert on any of the 3 man advantages they had.

Game 2 of the series is back at the George Preston Rec Centre Saturday night with the Express looking to bring a 2-0 series lead back to Coquitlam. 

EXPRESS BLANK SPRUCE KINGS FOR SERIES LEAD

Gordie Defiel made 24 saves to post his first shutout of the season as the Express took game 3 of their best of 7 Mainland division semi final with a 2-0 win over Prince George.

This series had lived up to it's billing of being a tight series for the first two games up in Prince George. The script remained the same in game 3.

Prince George started well opening up an early 8-2 advantage in shots.

Then the Express started to turn the game in their favor with some power plays.

Prince George was assessed 4 minor penalties in the first period and that included two late in the frame giving the Express a 5 on 3 for 1:42. Nothing was decided in the opening frame and it was scoreless after one with the shots 13-11 in favor of Prince George.

The Express couldn't take advantage of the 5 on 3 power play time they had to open the second period.

Cody Boyd broke the dead lock just over 3 minutes into the second period as he led a rush out of his own zone and carried it all the way down the ice to the Spruce Kings end and let a backhand go that snuck through the legs of Alex Murray to open the scoring.

After a run of Express penalties in the first period, the pendulum began to swing back in favor of Prince George in the second period. On this night they ran into a Express penalty killing unit that had a strong run of success to end the regular season and it's carried over in the playoffs.

One of the better chances to extend the Express lead again came off the stick of Cody Boyd who couldn't finish off a breakaway.

The Express protected their lead well into the final minutes of the third period. They got their insurance with 2:23 to go when they quickly advanced the puck up the ice and Bo Pieper skated on to it and scored on a backhand for his first of the series.

The game appeared to be winding down to it's conclusion before tempers started to flare in the final minute.

Things really got heated when following an initial scrum in the Express zone resulted in an Express power play. Then as the teams lined up for the face-off Bo Pieper was sent to the ice and AP Roshen Jaswal was assessed a 5 minute major penalty for slashing and things all went awry again. Things started to get a little out of control off the ice when a fan was trying to spill beer in the Prince Geoge penalty box.

After a lengthy delay things finally settled down and the Express skated off with a 2-0 win and the lead in the series.

It was a solid team effort throughout. The Express defense played well in front of their goaltender who has now turned aside 63 of 65 shots in the last two games both Express victories.

This series still awaits it's first power play goal from either team. The Express went 0 or 6 on the power play while killing off all 5 Spruce Kings power plays. Corey Mackin led the charge for the Express while they were a man down and was very difficult for the Spruce Kings power play to handle.

This is definitely a series now with some emotion kicked into it. And these teams who have been as evenly matched through the first three games will go at it again Saturday night in game 4.