SPECIAL TEAMS DIFFERENCE IN GRIZZLIES WIN OVER EXPRESS

Reid Cooper finished with 20 saves Photo courtesy of Garrett James

A productive power play for the Victoria Grizzlies and the lack of one for the Express was the difference in a 4-2 Victoria win Sunday in the finale at the BCHL showcase for both teams.
Click here for boxscore

The Grizzlies struck twice on the power play while the Express were blanked.

The Express had a second straight strong start. They outshot the Grizzlies early on opening up a 6-1 advantage. They were physical and controlling the play below the hashmarks in the Victoria zone.

A strong shift in the Victoria zone by Aiden Wagner, Hadyn Delorme and Jake Toor teamed up to open the scoring with Toor burying his own rebound after he was set up alone in front of the net for a 1-0 Express lead.

The Express had their opportunities to expand their lead with three powerplays in the first but were unable to capitalize in their chances.

In the second period Mitch Newsome hit the post and Will Lawrence was stopped in front of the net by Shawn Parkinson on more good scoring chances for the Express to add to their lead.

Midway through the second period the Grizzlies power play used their patience to tie the game. A smart dump and puck retrieval allowed the Victoria to set up in the Express zone.

Troy Robillard - Photo courtesy of Garrett James

Then 16 year old Alex Newhook on a slap pass tipped home by Tanner Hopps tied the game at one.

This was a key point in the game that started to turn it in Victoria's favour.

Late in the period a two on one down low in the Express zone resulted in a goal by Ethan Nother giving Victoria a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Veteran Jamie Rome scored 18 seconds into the third period for a 3-1 Grizzlies lead.

That goal didn't dissuade the Express and they cut the deficit back to one after a good shift of patient puck control in the Grizzlies zone. Eventually the puck was worked to captain Alex Ambrosio who scored his first of the season on the backhand to cut the deficit to 3-2 with just under 14 minutes left.

Then the Express power play let them down again moments after the Ambrosio scored when they were unable to strike with Nico Somerville in the box.

As the final minutes ticked down the game started to open up as the Express pressed for the equalizer. Reid Cooper did all he could to keep the Express within one. His best same coming off Lucas Clark with just over 5 minutes to play.

A. Ambrosio & J. Brien - Photo courtesy of Garrett James

Seconds later Alex Ambrosio was whistled for boarding for a hit delivered in front of the Victoria bench.

The Grizzlies only needed 20 seconds on the power play to convert restoring their two goal lead. Justin Michaelian potted a loose puck in front of the net to give Victoria a 4-2 lead. 16 year old rookie Alex Newhook picked up his third assist on the tally. The Grizzlies finished 2 for 5 on the power play.

In a fitting ending to the game the Express couldn't cut the deficit in the final moments of the game on their final power play of the game. The Express finished 0 for 6 on the power play.

The effort level was there for the Express but they just couldn't take advantage of their chances. The Express outshot Victoria 28-24. The loss now sees the Express winless in their first 5 games (0-4-1) to start the season.

Up next the Express are in Salmon Arm this Friday.

EAGLES & EXPRESS BURN OUT GOAL LIGHTS IN SEASON OPENER

Keegan Jones opened the scoring - Photo courtesy of Damon James

If you were looking for tight checking, structured defensive hockey, the season opener between the Express and Eagles wasn't the game for you.

It was a game that resembled the lack of structure of a season opener for both the Express and Eagles.  The end result was a 8-7 goal fest in favour of the Express. Click here for boxscore

Both teams had their runs offensively throughout the night and it was the fans who entertained.

Keegan Jones got the Express off on the right foot opening the scoring 41 seconds into the game snapping a shot from the right wing.

Newly minted Express captain Luca Leone on a breakaway gave the Express a 2-0 lead just over seven minutes in.

Sam Kozlowski - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Then the pendulum swung in the Eagles direction. Logan Mostat scored his first of two on the night tipping a Andrew Cordssen-David point on the power play to get the Eagles on the board midway through the 1st period.

To cap off the first period Surrey scored three times in a span of 2:24 on goals from Jeffery Stewart, Andrew Kemp and Mitchell Williams for a 4-2 Eagles lead after 1 period.

The pendulum swung back in the Express direction in the second period. Cam Bertsch scored his first of the season just over a minute into the second period with a deflection in the high slot of a Troy Robillard point shot.

Then Jake Toor had a moment he won't forget picking off a cross ice D to D pass and snapped home his first BCHL goal 12 minutes into the second to tie the game at 4.

Like the first period the goals came fast and furious to end the period.

Blake Hayward scored his first of the season for a 5-4 Express lead. 1:05 later it was 5-5 when Darius Davidson beat Lawson Fenton on a quick pass out from behind the Express net.

The Eagles fans haven't had a chance to savor the goal when the Express struck on a goal by Alex Ambrosio just 11 seconds after the Davidson goal to re-store the Express lead at 6-5.

Cal Walker - Photo courtesy of Damon James

1:44 later Owen Stout found a loose puck in the Eagles crease and poked it home for a 7-5 Express lead through two periods.

The second period ended with four goals in exactly four minutes.

At this point entering the third period it was clear no lead was safe.

The Eagles battled back to tie the game at 7 in the third period on power play goals by Tyler Cooper and Logan Mostat. Surrey finished 3 for 6 on the power play.

Owen Stout scored what would turn out to the the game winning goal coming off the boards and snapping home his second of the night with just 4:19 left in the third period. Stout finished with 2 goals and 2 assists and was named first star. Blake Hayward had 1 goal and 2 assists.

Goaltenders Lawson Fenton for the Express picked up the win with 38 saves on 45 shots and Marc Audet for Surrey took the loss with 8 goals on 27 Express shots.

The Express will be back in action Saturday night when they take on the Langley Rivermen from the George Preston Recreation centre.