PEARSON OT HERO AS EXPRESS PUT RIVERMEN ON THE BRINK

Danny Pearson's overtime winner gave the Express a 5-4 come from behind win over the Langley Rivermen opening up a 3-0 Express lead in the Mainland division semi final. Click here for boxscore

The dramatic finish capped off a gutsy come back effort that saw the Express tie the game three times in the third period alone to force overtime.

Langley looking for a change in fortunes went with Bredeon Fleming in goal for his first start of the series. The Express meanwhile got Connor Gregga back after he missed the first two games.

Gregga paid immediate dividends with his return with a toe drag to change the angle of his shot that found the back of the net to open the scoring at 8:45.

Brendan Budy was pointless in the first two games of the series. He put an end to that shortly after Gregga's goal by taking a Jonathan Stein drop pass and ripping a rocket over the glove of Jack Watson to pull Langley even.

Game 3 had some similarities from game two with the teams being very patient which didn't result in a lot of shots on goal or scoring chances for either side early on. After 20 minutes the shots were just 6 apiece.

Matthew Hubbarde gave Langley their first lead of the series with a shot from the left wing where he used Wyatt Head as a screen and snapped it past Jack Watson on the short side.

Early in the third period just after an Express powerplay expired, Josh Wildauer swatted a loose puck in front of the net home to pull the Express even at two.

That goal set the stage for a wild back and forth third period.

1:07 later Hubbarde potted his second of the night burying the rebound of a Brian Scoville point shot for a 3-2 Langley lead.

Wldauer pulled the Express even for a second time in the third period. This time his backhand had barely enough steam to slide between the post and Fleming's stick and cross the goal line to tie the game at 3.

Langley's response came on the powerplay 34 seconds later after winning the face-off to start the powerplay and Ryan Helliwell fired a seeing eye shot to the net that gave Langley a 4-3 lead.

Now with their third lead of the period the Rivermen played it very conservatively hoping to hold on long enough to get the win. Dumping the puck deep any chance they could. Even at the expense of passing up chances to expand the lead.

As the third period ticked down the Express kept up the pressure looking for the equalizer. Off a face-off with 26 seconds left Greg Lapointe's quick shot was blockered away by Fleming. Seconds later Lapointe had the puck behind the net and made a great pass to Will Margel in the high slot who used his time wisely to find his spot and beat Fleming low to the glove side with 9.8 seconds left in the third period to tie the game at 4. It was the third goal for the Express in the final frame that pulled them on even terms and sent the game to overtime.

Jack Watson did his part early in overtime turning aside all 3 Langley shots. As the OT progressed the Express started spending more time in the Rivermen zone. Just past the 7 minute mark Massimo Rizzo found Danny Pearson in the slot and he wasted no time bringing this game to an end beating Fleming high over the glove to give the Express the 5-4 win and commanding 3-0 lead in the series.

The Express will be in search of the sweep as the series continues on Wednesday night with game 4 in Langley.

CLIPPERS AT EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the Express dramatic 4-3 win over Nanaimo Sunday.



Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory.

WILDAUER'S BUZZER BEATER KEEPS EXPRESS UNDEFEATED AT HOME

The Express needed 59 minutes and 58.2 seconds to keep their undefeated home ice record in tact. They did off the stick of Josh Widlauer's powerplay goal with 1.8 seconds to play to give the Express a 4-3 win over Nanaimo. Click here for boxscore

The teams were without a combined 5 players from their rosters who were off to selection camp for Team Canada West and the World Junior A challenge. The Express were missing Massimo Rizzo and Connor Gregga.

Sunday's game was also the Express annual teddy bear toss. It's hard to quantify of the absence of two forwards and or the anticipation of the teddy bear toss goal and if it helped play a role in some early nerves in the Express game.

A turnover at the Express line allowed Travis Walton to pounce in the puck and snap a shot past the glove of Jack Watson to open the scoring just 2:23 into the contest.

The Express had to dig deep throughout the game to find their rhythm. It started to come as the first period progressed.

Ethan O'Rourke along with Danny Pearson joined Will Margel's line to start the game with Rizzo and Gregga in Calgary. O'Rourke made the most of his opportunity today and he got sent the stuffed animals flying by busting down the wing and snapping a shot past the stick of Jordan Naylor to tie the game at 1.

Cooper Connell came oh so close to giving the Express a 2-1 lead when the puck got behind Naylor and Connell did his best to jam in the bouncing puck lurking in the crease with no luck.

A won battle behind the Express net midway through the second period resulted with the second Clippers lead of the game on a goal from Steve Agriogianis set up by Sean Donaldson.

Again it was Ethan O'Rourke with a key role to help pull the Express even. This time his shot from the right wing was kicked out by Jordan Naylor but Adam Trotman quickly pounced on the rebound to tie the game at two. For Trotman it was his first goal since his two goal effort at the end of October in Nanaimo.

Nanaimo had an answer for an Express tying goal for a third time. Devon Mussio went D to D to Aidan Hansen-Bukata whose seeing eye shot eluded Jack Watson through a screen for a 3-2 Nanaimo lead after two periods.

Sunday's game was Nanaimo's 3rd in as many days with stops in Wenatchee and West Kelowna before coming to Coquitlam.

In the opening seconds of the third period a fall by Steven Bellini allowed Travis Walton to walk in and was denied on a key save by Watson to keep the deficit for the Express at one.

Slowy as the third period went along the tide of the game slowly started to turn in the Express favour. They were spending more time in the offensive zone. Forcing Nanaimo into a number of icing calls. And they were content at times to clear the puck out of their zone by any means necessary while holding on to a one goal lead.

Just shy of the 9 minute mark Brad Ong pulled the Express onto even terms for a third time burying  a rebound set up by Nick Carabin and Will Margel. Margel picked up a pair of helpers for the Express.



Then with just over a minute to play and the Express pressing in the Clippers zone, Josh Wildauer was hauled down behind the net with 1:05 to play for just the second Express powerplay of the game.

The powerplay was patient while waiting for their chance to break the deadlock. It finally came in the dying seconds with Wildauer feeding Steven Bellini at the line and then the puck was back on Wildauer's stick who snapped home the goal that would give the Express their lone lead of the night with 1.8 seconds left on the clock.

The dramatic goal keeps the Express undefeated at home now sitting at 17-0. And it extended their home winning streak to 18 games dating back to game 4 last year vs. Prince George in the first round.

It's now 7 straight wins for the Express and 14 wins in their last 15 games. The Trail Smoke Eaters will visit the Express Friday night in the 7th game of the season high 8 game home stand.

CHIEFS RALLY IN 3RD TO SNAP EXPRESS STREAK

The Coquitlam Express winning streak was snapped at five games thanks to a third period rally by the Chilliwack Chiefs to defeat the Express by a 4-1 score. The Chiefs scored all their goals in the 3rd period for the come from behind win. Click here for boxscore

The Express stormed Chilliwack in the opening minutes peppering Mathieu Caron with the first five shots of the game. Christian MacDougall had the best chance early on taking a pass and finding himself alone in front of the net only to lift his shot too high and out of play.

Tyler Schleppe then was set up in the slot only to be denied by a quick glove save from Caron. Then Caron made his best save of the night coming to his left to rob Brad Ong on a two on one break with a pad save.

At the other end Tyler Schleppe made a great play defensively diving to get a stick on a cross ice pass to break up a Chiefs two on one break.

Thursday's game saw the return to the lineup of forward Josh Wildauer and Massimo Rizzo made his Express debut. They joined Connor Gregga on a line. And the addition of Rizzo down the middle moved Connor Gregga to the wing.

Rizzo's impact was immediately felt on the first goal of the night. He took a pass with speed on the powerplay from Steven Bellini. Rizzo then slid the puck into Connor Gregga's wheelhouse where he ripped home his first of the season to open the scoring. That goal capped off a strong opening 20 minutes that saw the Express outshoot Chilliwack 13-5.

Chilliwack was determined in the second period to send more rubber the way of Clay Stevenson. That was highlighted by Stevenson quickly shutting the five hole on a chance for Brett Willits.

As the second period wound down the Express created more top notch chances. Connor Gregga came close to adding his second of the night but had his stick checked at the last minute as he tired to tuck it in past Caron. Then Massimo Rizzo dished a cross ice pass to Ryan Tattle who had to adjust his angle to receive the pass but still got a decent shot away and put it wide of the net.

Brett Willits got Chilliwack on the board in the 3rd period finishing a give and go with Peter Reynolds to tie the game at 1 at 4:25.

8 minutes into the third Cooper Connell was whistled for a tripping penalty on Cooper Moore deep in the offensive zone. The Express penalty killers did a good job on the penalty kill by disrupting the Chiefs break out with strong up ice pressure most notably by Ryan Tattle.

But just as the penalty came to an end and before Connell could get back in the play the puck was snapped to the side of the Express net where Joey Larson scored to give Chilliwack a 2-1 lead.

Then in a blink of an eye Chilliwack scored again as Kyle Penny snapped a shot through the pads of Clay Stevenson for a 3-1 Chiefs lead with the goal coming just 16 seconds after the goal by Larson.

Caron shut the door in the third period finishing with 9 saves in the final frame. That capped off a 27 save performance.

Ethan Bowen capped the game off for Chilliwack by hitting the empty net with 5 seconds to play to round out the scoring.

The Express saw their record fall to 7-2 on the season. Chilliwack's win was their 4th straight and they pulled within two points of the Express for first place in the Mainland division.

Saturday will see the Express in Penticton for their second game of the showcase bright and early at 10 in the morning vs. the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. 

EXPRESS 2019-20 SCHEDULE RELEASED

2019-20 captain Drew Cooper (Graphic by Jacob Lazare)

The BCHL released the schedule for the upcoming 2019-20 season. 56 of the 58 games have been announced so far. The two showcase games will be revealed Wednesday. Click here for full schedule

The season will start for the Express on Saturday September 7th in Langley. That's all part of the first three games the Express will play on the road, with a visit in Surrey on Friday the 13th and one week later back in Langley on September 20th.

The next night the Express will have their home opener on Saturday September 21st vs. Chilliwack. The home opener kicks off a 5 game home stand for the Express which includes the first meeting between the Express and Spruce Kings since last season's playoffs on Sunday September 22nd at 3:00.

The Express will travel to Langley four times this season. And they will be done with the George Preston Recreation centre before October is done after visits on back to back weekends October 12th and 18th. All told, the two teams will face each other 6 times in the first two months of the season. Considering the competitive nature that comes out of Express and Langley meetings, the two teams will certainly be sick of seeing each other by the time those six games are done. The final two meetings with Langley will be in Coquitlam in January.

All told the Express will play 8 games each vs. Mainland division rivals Surrey, Chilliwack, Langley and Prince George. The Express will have one home and one road game vs. the teams in the Island and Interior divisions.

Of those games that caught my attention, the Express will play 3 straight games vs. Prince George December 13th and 14th in Prince George. Then the Express will host the defending BCHL and Doyle Cup champions for their final game before the Christmas break on Wednesday the 18th at 12 noon. They will also play the Spruce Kings at noon on Wednesday January 22nd.

Then following a 10 day break, the Express get back in action with a home and home with Chilliwack on December 28th in Chilliwack and the next night in Coquitlam.

Surrey will make two visits to Coquitlam in one weekend Friday November 22nd and Sunday the 24th. That is all part of the longest home game of the season for the Express with 8 games from November 16th to December 8th.

They will start the new year with a 3 game in 3 night Interior division road trip with stops in West Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm January 3-5. They will finish January with 6 of 7 games on home ice with a visit to Chilliwack sandwiched in between.

By February the Express will have played most of their home games with only two more games remaining on Poirier during the regular season. They will play 6 of their last 8 on the road. That includes Massimo Rizzo's return to Penticton on Valentines day. What better day for the Vees faithful to show love for their former captain?

The final regular season home game is Wednesday February 19th vs. Surrey before concluding the season with a pair of games in Prince George Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd.

Other dates of note include Wednesday November 20th when Alex DiPaolo returns to Coquitlam with the Penticton Vees. Sunday December 8th, Dallas Farrell returns to Coquitlam with the Wenatchee Wild at 7:15pm. Eight times this season the Express will have 7:15 starts for home games.

Last season after playing 3 games in 3 nights only once, in 2019-20 they will do it a total of four times.

The weather may be nice now, but soon it will turn and it will be time to head back into the rink.

CHIEFS AT EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the Express 10-5 win over Chilliwack.



Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory. 

EXPRESS NOVEMBER REPORT

Hear from Jason Fortier, Captain Troy Robillard and forward Josh Wildauer on the Express recent play leading into a two game road trip this weekend.

Video produced by Eddie Gregory. 

EXPRESS COME BACK PAYS OFF THIS TIME VS. SPRUCE KINGS

For a second straight game the Express had a multi goal comeback vs. the Prince George Spruce Kings, this time the Express came away with the full two points with a 5-3 victory.
Click here for boxscore

Like Friday, the Express came out of the first period trailing 2-0. Ben Brar who has been an Express killer this season opened the scoring with his second shorthanded goal against the Express on a rebound at 5:03.

Brar struck again in the final minute of the 1st period using a defender as a screen then snapping a shot past the glove of Clay Stevenson for a 2-0 Spruce Kings lead. For Brar it was his 3rd two goal outing against the Express this season. He has 7 goals already in 5 meetings with the Express this season.

Sunday the Express had their early period rally one frame earlier than Friday doing it in the second period.

Chase Danol started the come back for a second straight game firing a shot over the shoulder of Logan Neaton just 27 seconds into the second period.

That was followed 54 seconds later by Josh Wildauer scoring from the slot and the Express had erased a two goal Prince George lead in quick fashion for a second straight game.

Those goals proved to be a spring board for the Express attack that wouldn't let up.

Regan Kimens scored the third Express goal in a span of 6:16 converting a cross ice pass from Dallas Farrell.

Late in the second period a confident Express powerplay moved the puck around at will creating numerous quality chances. Finally, Dallas Farrell put a perfect pass on the tape of Josh Wildauer who tipped home his second goal of the period and a 4-2 lead after two periods. Farrell had three assists in the second period while his line mates Josh Wildauer scored twice and Regan Kimens had a goal and an assist.

Christian Sanda iced the game with just over 7 minutes to play redirecting an Alex DiPaolo pass through Neaton for a 5-2 lead moments after an odd man rush went awry.

Corey Cunningham finished the scoring with 10 seconds left. That only put a minor damper on Clay Stevenson's 5th win of the season as he finished with 28 saves.

The win puts the Express back up by two points of the Prince George Spruce Kings for second place. And they're three points back of the Chilliwack Chiefs for first place.

Wednesday night the Express will visit the Penticton Vees. 

EXPRESS TOP MAINLAND DIVISION'S BEST

The Express played one of their more complete outings in recent weeks and came away with a 3-1 win over the Mainland division champion Prince George Spruce Kings. Click here for boxscore

The win snapped a 7 game losing streak for the Express.

Saturday night the Express dug in to play a game that saw them make smart plays in the defensive zone that translated into success in the other end.

In the Express crease Brock Hamm was in fine form. One of his best saves of the first period came on an Express power play to deny Dustin Manz on a shorthanded breakaway.

Late in the first period the Express opened the scoring starting in the defensive zone with Christian Sanda digging out a puck then feeding Eric Linell who fired a stretch pass that only Josh Wildauer could get a stick on then he fought off a Spruce Kings defender and roofed his 10th of the season.

The penalty killing was another aspect of the Express game that was on the mark. They killed off three Prince George powerplays in the first 21 minutes of the game to carry the one goal lead into the opening minutes of the 2nd period. Prince George finished 0 for 5 on the power play.

Colby Pederson did a lot of heavy lifting for the Express to battle for pucks through the night. He made a good play along the wall in the defensive zone to bounce off the glass to himself then rush it into the Spruce Kings zone then fire a perfect pass on the tap of Haydn Delorme racing to the net for a 2-0 Express lead.

The lead stood into the third period. The Express had to contend with a Spruce Kings team that works to control the puck in the offensive zone hoping to lead to breakdowns and chances. From a defensive stand point the Express did a good job of managing the Spruce Kings attack.

With just under 6 to play the Spruce Kings finally broke through when Dylan Anhorn from the blueline found Kyle Johnson alone in front of the Express net and he roofed the puck over a sprawled Hamm to break his shutout.

As the click ticked down the Express did get some shifts in the Spruce Kings end to help tick down the clock.

Then with just over a minute to play and the extra attacker on the ice for Prince George, the Express won a defensive zone draw and rimmed around the boards to centre ice eventually getting into the Prince George end where Christian Sanda sealed the game with a empty net goal. Sanda finished with a goal and an assist.

The Express salvaged the final game of the season series against the Spruce Kings. In fact the Express picked up their first win in two years vs. Prince George. It was Valentines day 2016 the last time the Express defeated the Spruce Kings who were 12-0-1 against the Express dating back to the start of last season.

Sunday the Express will play their final road game of the season with a visit to Langley. It the first game of a home and home with the Express wrapping up the regular season Friday night when they host the Rivermen. 

EXPRESS POWER PAST EAGLES

The Express had a season high of 5 power play goals en route to a 6-0 win over the Surrey Eagles. Click here for boxscore

Brock Hamm made 41 saves to post his first shutout in an Express uniform.

It was the fourth meeting between the teams in just under three weeks. The last time the teams met the Express fell by a 4-1 score in Surrey nearly two weeks ago.

In that meeting the Eagles got off to a quick start, and the Express never really clawed their way back in it.

Wednesday it was a much better start for the Express. The power play got things going 5 minutes into the game on a wrist shot by Jonathan Sheardown for his first BCHL goal to open the scoring. Sheardown's shot completely destroyed the water bottle of Eagles goaltender Daniel Davidson. Sheardown's goal was the first time in 6 games the Express scored first.

Surrey looked for the equalizer and quickly learned that Express goaltender Brock Hamm was dialed in. His best save in the first period came off a one timer by Ryan Brushett in the slot.

Josh Wildauer tallied the second power play goal for the Express finding a loose puck in the crease and poking it home for a 2-0 Express lead. Jonathan Sheardown picked up his second point of the night with an assist on the goal. Jack Lippis had helpers on both first period power play goals.

The Eagles got the first two powerplays of the second period which would have helped their cause to get back into the game. But they struggled to generate much due to the strong play of the Express penalty killers. Jack MacNab at times did good work using his size and strength to protect the puck and kill time off the Surrey powerplays.

Then the power play continued to pile up the goals for the Express. Jordan Schulting's shot from left point was knocked down in front of the net and with both Josh Wildauer and Will Lawerence in front of the net it was the former who swiped it home for his second of the game and a 3-0 Express lead.

In the third period Surrey was trying hardest to jam pucks to the net to find a way to get a puck past Brock Hamm, but he wasn't going to be beat on Thursday. Surrey's dynamic duo of Johnny Wesley and Ty Westgard were kept in check all throughout the contest.

Then the Express pulled away from their opponent. Landon Fuller kept the puck in the Surrey zone and gave the puck to Jack MacNab who cut to the net and roofed a shot past Davidson.

Finally the power play put the finishing touches on the lopsided win. Will Lawerence converted a set up at the lip of the Eagles crease to make it 5-0. Then in the final minute Christian Sanda buried a rebound for the 5th power play goal for the Express.

December 16th, 2011 was the last time the Express scored 5 power play goals in a game. That night the Express defeated the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 8-2. Thursday's performance is still no where close to the franchise record for power play goals in a game which is 8 which was achieved on September 16, 2006 at Langley.

Jordan Schulting finished with 4 assists, that comes one day after committing to UMass Lowell. Josh Wildauder had two goals and an assist and Will Lawerence had one goal and two assists.

The Express will continue their road trip Friday night in Wenatchee. Then head to Trail Saturday night. 

WARRIORS DROP EXPRESS AT SHOWCASE

The West Kelowna Warriors improved to 3-0 all time vs. the Express at the Bauer BCHL showcase with a 7-2 win Wednesday night. Click here for boxscore

It was the second straight year and 3rd time in the last 4 seasons the Express and Warriors met at the annual event.

The setback kept the Express winless through their first 4 games of the season (0-3-1-0).

The first period saw the Express generate some of their best chances of the game. Will Lawrence was stopped in the slot on a set up from Hunter Fraser.

Joshua Wildauer opened the scoring for the Express as he was the beneficiary of some quick passes from line mates Christian Sanda and Colby Pederson who found Wildauer alone in front of the net and he scored his first BCHL goal just shy of the 8 minute mark.

Moments later Eric Linell was inches away from doubling the Express lead as he raced into the Warriors zone and rang a shot off the post from the right wing.

Warriors forward Matt Kowalski has been a human highlight reel early in this BCHL season. He added to it late in the first period as he sped into the Express zone danced around a defender then snapped a quick shot past the glove of Reid Cooper to tie the game at 1 after 20 minutes.

West Kelowna opened the second period on a power play when Sam Kozlowski was called for hooking at the 20:00 mark.

With one second left in the power play the puck came back to Warriors defenseman Stephen Kleysen at the point who snapped a shot over the glove of Reid Cooper for a 2-1 Warriors lead.

At this point the Warriors started the pull away from the Express. Willie Reid and Chase Stevenson both scored with tap ins in front of the Express net just over 5 minutes apart, that in combination of the Express going 0 for 3 on the power play in the period saw the Warriors take a 4-1 lead into the third period.

West Kelowna did an excellent job Wednesday night getting pucks and bodies to the net which led to 4 of their goals.

Max Bulawka deftly redirected a Michael Ryan point shot and Matthew Campese was able to jam the puck under Cooper on the power play to open a 6-1 Warriors lead.

Then immediately following the third period media timeout veteran Jared Marino off a won face-off in the Express zone snapped home his second of the season for a 7-1 Warriors lead.

Rookie Haydn Delorme rounded out the scoring burying the rebound of a Doug Scott point shot for his first BCHL goal at 15:24.

The Warriors outshot the Express 52-32. West Kelowna was 2 for 3 on the power play while the Express went 0 for 3.

Up next for the Express is their second game at the showcase Sunday afternoon vs. Victoria.