WILD AT EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the Express 4-2 win over Wenatchee Sunday.



Highlights produced by Eddie Gregory. 

EXPRESS DOUBLE WILD

Connor Gregga had a three point night as the Express defeated the Wenatchee Wild 4-2 to extend their home winning streak to 20 and overall winning streak to 9 games Sunday night. Click here for boxscore

Gregga got his night going snapping home his first of two goals on the night from the slot past Daniel Chenard assisted by Ethan O'Rourke and Drew Cooper just past the 7 minute mark.

Wenatchee was ravaged with injuries which forced them to only dress 10 forwards. But it didn't deter their group. They pulled even on a goal off the rush when Ethan Wolthers got a half step on the defence and sped in then dished a feed over to Sam Morton who converted the 2 on 1 with a shot past Jack Watson.

A Wild two man advantage allowed them to take their lone lead of the night when Drew Bavaro blasted a rocket of a one timer over the shoulder of Watson for a 2-1 Wild lead.

Sunday's game forced the Express to raise their pace to a high level to match the energy of the Wild. The Express speed paid dividends for the Express all night. They had a strong finish to the period but weren't unable to come out of the first tied.

The Express kept their up tempo play into the second period. It quickly resulted in a good chance for Gregga in the opening seconds of the second period.

Then the teams began to trade chances up and down the ice. Will Margel found himself on a two on one rush. Margel's shot went high over the net as he tried to beat Chenard over the glove. Seconds later Margel found himself at the side of the net tapping in a Greg Lapointe pass to tie the game at two.

For Margel he has a 8 game point streak with 3 goals and 6 assists.

Ethan O'Rourke has taken on the role of entering the line with Margel and Gregga while Massimo Rizzo is at the World Junior A Challenge. And he's making the most of the opportunity right now.

O'Rourke took a Gregga pass in the neutral zone and powered in from the left wing and holding off a Wild defenceman who had no chance after getting the puck off O'Rourke who tucked it in to give the Express a 3-2 lead. O'Rourke has 3 goals and 2 assists in the last 3 games.

Gregga picked up his third point of the night for some Express insurance early in the third period. He took a great cross ice pass from Brad Ong and was poised roofing a shot over the shoulder of Chenard for a 4-2 Express lead.

From there the Express locked it down as Jack Watson finished with 23 saves for the win.

The win caps off a perfect 8 game home stand for the BCHL's top team.

They will head to Prince George for a pair of games next weekend. The Express can match a franchise record for regular season consecutive wins at 10 set in 06-07 with a win on Friday. The all time Express record for consecutive wins is 13 that was split between the end of the 2005-06 season regular season and into the playoffs. 

2018 BCHL OVERTIME MAGIC 2ND ROUND

Video produced by Eddie Gregory.

EXPRESS ACQUIRE LIPPIS

Jack Lippis will wear #10 for Express - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Coquitlam Express completed a trade with the Wenatchee Wild acquiring forward Jack Lippis (99) in exchange for future considerations.

Lippis fills the hole at centre created when captain Alex Ambrosio committed to Lake Superior State University over the Holiday break.

The Mission Viejo California native played 19 games this season in Wenatchee and had 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points.

In 16-17, he had 5 goals and 5 assists for 10 points in 32 games with Gunnery Prep. He averaged over a point per game during the 15-16 season with the Anaheim Junior Ducks with 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 32 games in the T1EHL U16 level.

Lippis will wear #10 in his debut tonight vs. Merritt.

Welcome to the Express Jack. 

EXPRESS RUN OUT OF 3RD PERIOD MAGIC VS. WILD

Colton Kerfoot - Photo courtesy of Damon James

They tried for their third straight third period come from behind victory, but it wasn't enough Wednesday as the Express fell 4-2 to the Wenatchee Wild. Click here for boxscore

In each of the last two games for the Express they were able to dig themselves out of a third period hole to come away with the win at the end of the night.

Jake Brien & Blake Christensen - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Wenatchee played fast all night and the Express had to do their best just to keep up.

It was scoreless after the first period with the Wild outshooting the Express 10-3. The best chance for the Express didn't even register as a shot with Austin McIlMurray beating Garrett Nieto with a wrist shot that clanged off the post.

The pressure for the Wild finally broke through in the second period with Alex Bates beating Tyger Howat with a point shot through a screen following a won faceoff in the Express zone.

The fortunes for the Express didn't change much in the second period. They were outshot by a wider margin 16-4.

The speed of the Wild forced the Express to be chasing the puck most of the night. That resulted in Express penalties late in the second and early in the third. The Express penalty killers for the most part were able to get the job done. But the Wild got a break in early in the third period to extend their lead.

Tyger Howat made 40 saves - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Charlie Combs beat Tyger Howat with a shot past his glove from the point. Howat appeared to have  clear lane to see the shot but wasn't able to snag it.

Wenatchee's speed then drew a penalty shot for Matt Baker driving to the net and he was hauled down on his shot. On the free pass, Baker couldn't fool Howat with a Claude Giroux type move to keep the Express down just two for the moment.

It was at this point Barry Wolff juggled his top two lines for a second straight game. He put Mitch Newsome back up with Jackson Cressey and Austin McIlMurray. That line got their signals crossed on a dump in that led the 3-0 Wild goal.

McIlMurray dumped the puck into the Wild zone, as the puck bounced around the boards Newsome appeared to leave the puck for Cressey to pick it up coming from behind. Cressey however didn't pick it up then suddenly the Wild were on a two on one and Dakota Raabe finished it off for a 3-0 Wild lead.

Finally in the second half in the third period the Express began using their speed which led to the Wild taking penalites. Just seconds as a 5 on 3 Express advantage began Colton Kerfoot scored his 20th of the season to get the Express on the board.

Seconds later Charlie Barrow was hauled down entering the Wild zone resulting in another Express two man advantage.

Austin McIlMurray scored one second after the two man advantage ended and suddenly the Express are down 3-2 with 3:30 to play.

That goal suddenly sparked hopes of another come back. But with the resumption of 5 on 5 play the Wild went back to managing the puck in the Express zone and working the clock. The Wild broke the Express down and Mike Coyne found himself alone in front of the net and he had enough time to beat Tyger Howat with a deke to the backhand.

The Wild finished the game with 44 shots while the Express mustered a season low of just 15. They quite simply spent too much time all game long chasing the puck on the sticks of the Wild players in the Express end of the rink and generating no where near enough scoring chances of their own.

They were able to dig themselves out of third period holes the last two games, but the low percentages of teams rallying from behind entering the third period trailing caught up with them Wednesday.

This weekend the Express will have one final road trip this season with visits to Powell River, Cowichan Valley and Alberni Valley.

WILD @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of the Express 2-1 win over the Wenatchee Wild Friday.

2016-01-22 WEN @ COQ Highlights
Highlights from the January 22, 2015 BCHL Live game, Wenatchee Wild Hockey at Coquitlam Express Jr A Hockey Club brought to you by UnderDog Productions
Posted by UnderDog Productions on Saturday, January 23, 2016

Highlights courtesy of Jorge Parra and Underdog Productions. 

FENTON SHINES IN EXPRESS WIN OVER WILD

The Express will wear Matt Hutchinson's initials on their helmets for the rest of the season

It could very easily have been Lawson Fenton's best game of the season making 40 saves in a 2-1 Express win over the Wenatchee Wild. Click here for boxscore

Fenton's play kept the Express close allowing them to rally for the comeback in the third period.

It didn't take long to realize that the Express goaltender was going to have a busy night and he was on his game.

He turned aside all 17 first period shots to keep the Wild at bay. He made saves stretching out his right pad, scramble plays in his goal crease. But his best of the night was a glove save going to his left to steal a goal away from Alex Bates on a one timer on a hot pass from the left wing.

At the other end the Express were only able to muster 6 first period shots.

Brendan Harris found the lone crack in Fenton's armor early in the second period cutting into the slot and beating Fenton with a shot over his glove for his 10th of the season. For the rest of the night the Wild were shaking their head as they were unable to get another puck past the Express netminder.

In the third period the Express special teams allowed them to turn the game in their favour. It didn't start that way in the period however as they were unable to strike on a power play that carried over from the second period.

Minutes later the Express killed off a key Alex Ambrosio penalty keeping the deficit at one.

Finally the Express were able to strike on the power play, following a scramble in front of the Wild net the puck came out to Austin McIlMurray who turned and fired the puck home with Wild goaltender Garrett Nieto scrambling to get back in his net. The Express were 1 for 4 on the power play while going 2 for 2 on the penalty kill.

Then Fenton put an exclamation point on his stellar effort. In a span of about 35 seconds he made three key saves on close. All of those saves were thanks to Fenton finding a way to keep his pads flat and strong on the ice.

Jackson Cressey gave the Express their lone lead of the night finding the puck in front of Nieto and sliding it under the goaltender for his 26th goal of the season.. The Express finished with only 19 shots, but made their shots count.

The win concludes a season high 7 game home stand that saw the Express finish with a 4-3 record.

Sunday the Express will head down the road for an afternoon game with the Langley Rivermen. 

WILD @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

A quick flashback to the last time the Express faced Wenatchee in Coquitlam on Nov. 20 a 4-1 Express win.

Highlights courtesy of Jorge Parra and Underdog Productions.

FENTON BACK STOPS EXPRESS TO VICTORY OVER WILD

Blake Hayward celebrates his 1st period goal - Photo courtesy of Damon James

On the first game of parents weekend for the Express, the players put on a good show for the moms and dads in attendance taking care of Wenatchee 4-1 in Coquitlam. Click here for boxscore

Lawson Fenton making his first start in two weeks had one of his best outings of the season turning aside 37 of 38 Wild shots.

Coming a solid effort Wednesday night in Penticton, the Express were looking to build off that outing despite the 1-0 2OT setback.

Right from the start the Express showed they were ready to play.

The top line of Jackson Cressey, Colton Kerfoot and Austin McIlMurray were buzzing in the Wild end. It didn't take long for them to break through with McIlMurray sliding the puck under Chase Perry for a 1-0 Express lead just 1:03 into the game.

Defenceman Taylor Green - Photo courtesy of Damon James

That goal put the game in motion and both teams were skating at a fantastic pace providing great entertainment for those in attendance.

Midway through the first period the Express added to their lead.

Jake Brien pinched in from the right point and got down the wall then fired the puck at the net and Blake Hayward found a loose puck in the crease and poked it home for a 2-0 Express lead.

Friday's game may have been Brien's best in the BCHL to date. He moved the puck confidently and was very active from the backend for the Express. He was also very rock solid in his own end of the rink. He also made sure to get at least one of his trademark hits on the Wild coming down the wing and connecting on the hit at the Express blueline.

Up 2-0 late in the first period the Wild pressed looking for a goal to get within at least one after 20 minutes. Matt Baker was thwarted by Fenton as the puck came to him alone in front of the Express net.

Lawson Fenton earned 1st star honours - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Fenton came up with a number of key saves late in the first period to preserve the Express lead.

In the second period the quality of saves from Fenton only improved.

Fenton's best save of the night came off Mike Coyne with Fenton firing out his glove to rob Coyne who pounced on the rebound of a Bryan Yoon point shot.

That was followed in quick succession off a reach back save with his stick off Tyler Rockwell. Then another save off Joe Drabin who found himself alone in front on a Wild power play.

Coquitlam extended their lead in the second period on the power play with Taylor Green sliding the puck across to Kerfoot who went to his backhand then slid the puck under Chase Perry for Kerfoot's Express leading 12th goal of the season.

Wenatchee finally got a puck past Fenton early in the third period. Logan Milliken from the slot snapped a shot low past the glove for Fenton just shy of the three minute mark.

That goal really sparked a Wenatchee push. But each time they were turned back from the rock solid play from Fenton.

Owen Stout - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Express as a team bent in the third period as Wenatchee fired 16  shots but they never broke. They were content to relieve the Wild pressure immediately by icing the puck repeatedly. But they were never hanging on for dear life in the third period. The shots finished 38-24 in favour of the Wild. But that was more of a product of the Express sitting back and protecting their lead.

The penalty killing unit was stellar for the Express. They capped off a great night by going a perfect 6 for 6 by shutting down the Wild one final time in the third period with Owen Stout in the box shortly after the Wild got on the board.

Then Jarrell Pinchuk iced the game with just under 5 minutes to go snapping a shot past Chase Perry for his 3rd goal of the season and second against Wenatchee this season.

Colton Kerfoot picked up an assist on the goal and finished with three points with 1 goal and 2 assists. He now has 32 points on the season in 24 games which surpasses his rookie season total of 31 points in 40 games.

Jackson Cressey - Photo courtesy of Damon James

In their first two games against two of the top teams in the BCHL, the Express have been able to pick up 3 out of a possible 4 points. They're now 3-0-0-1 in their last four games. They've played two of their best games of the season to date. They've shown how they can compete against the best of the BCHL when they execute a game plan and truly play as a team.

Up next the Express will get another crack at the Penticton Vees. But the Express won't have a chance to snap the Vees streak as their run of 23 straight games came to an end with a 4-2 loss in Langley Friday.

GAME VS. WILD @ BWC HIGHLIGHTS EXPRESS EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

THE COQUITLAM EXPRESS OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA HOCKEY LEAGUE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUCE THEY WILL BE HAVING AN EXHIBITION GAME SEPTEMBER 3 2015 vs THE WENATCHEE WILD AT THE BURNABY WINTER CLUB,  4990 CANADA WAY, BURNABY B.C.  FACE OFF  at 7:11pm 

ALL BURNABY WINTER CLUB MEMBERS WILL BE ADMITTED FREE TO THE GAME IF THEY ARE WEARING THEIR HOCKEY JERSEY AND BRING A NON PARISHABLE FOOD TO THE TICKET GATE. 

ALL OTHERS WILL BE ADMITTED FOR $5.

THE WENATCHEE WILD ARE ENTERING THE BCHL FOR THEIR FIRST SEASON, AND ARE THE 17^th TEAM TO JOIN THE BCHL AND THE FIRST U.S. BASED TEAM SINCE THE BELLINGHAM ICE HAWKS WHO OPERATED FROM 1990-1995.

THE WILD WHO PLAYED FOR THE PREVIOUS SEVEN SEASONS IN THE NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE HAD A WINNING RECORD EVERY YEAR. THEY WILL BE IN THE BCHL MAINLAND DIVISION WITH THE EXPRESS.

EXPRESS HEAD COACH-GENERAL MANAGER  BARRY WOLFF SAYS, "THE REASON WE WANTED TO HAVE A GAME AT THE BWC IS TO PROMOTE OUR LEAGUE AND SHOWCASE THE TALENT LEVEL, THE EXPRESS ARE THE COMMUNITY’S TEAM. AND EVEN THOUGH WE PLAY OUR REGULAR SEASON HOME GAMES AT THE POIRIER SPORTS COMPLEX, WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO ALL SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, ALL SHOULD FEEL PART OF OUR TEAM. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO PLAY A GAME AT BWC AND THANK THE BWC FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS."

THE BCHL HAD 37 ALUMNI PLAY IN THE NHL THIS PAST SEASON

2014-15 SEASON 109 BCHL PLAYERS RECEIVED NCAA DIVISION ONE SCHOLARSHIPS

THE COQUITLAM EXPRES OPEN 2015 TRAINING CAMP AUGUST 24 AT THE POIRER SPORTS COMPLEX.

FULL 2015 EXPRESS EXHIBITION SCHEDULE

AUGUST 27   vs LANGLEY RIVERMEN    @LANGLEY SORTSPLEX    5:00pm

AUGUST 29   vs LANGLEY RIVERMEN    @ THE PORT COQUITLAM REC CENTRE   7:00pm

SEPTEMBER 1 vs CHILLIWACK CHIEFS  @ THE HOPE & DISTRICT REC CENTRE    7:00pm

SEPTEMBER 3 vs WENATCHEE WILD      @ BURANBY WINTER CLUB                        7:10pm 

SEPTEMBER 4 vs SURREY EAGLES          @ SOUTH SURREY ARENA                           7:00pm

WENATCHEE WILD JOIN BCHL AS 17TH FRANCHISE

The Wenatchee Wild will join the BCHL as its 17th franchise starting with the 2015-16 season, the team and league announced Monday at a media conference held in the central Washington city.

“The BCHL is gaining a strong franchise in the Wenatchee Wild and we value the passion and professionalism they bring to our league,” said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale. “The Wild will quickly develop rivalries with our existing franchises and I believe they will be a big draw in opposing buildings.”

The Wild had been a member the North American Hockey League (NAHL) since the 2008-09 season. They have had a winning record in each of their seven seasons of existence and this past season, they had six players on their roster committed to NCAA Div. I programs. Playing out of Wenatchee’s Town Toyota Center, the team averages about 3,000 fans at home games.

Head coach Bliss Littler, a native of Minot, N.D., is entering his 22nd year as a Junior hockey coach.

“We could not be more excited or humbled to be joining the BCHL,” said Littler. “Knowing the history and reputation of the league, be it sending players to play NCAA Division I hockey, NHL draft picks or the professionalism of the member teams and league have, we look forward to being a good league member on and off the ice.”

As a U.S.-based club, the Wild will be allowed to roster a maximum of four Canadian players. With today’s announcement, they become the first U.S.-based franchise in the BCHL since the Bellingham Ice Hawks, who operated from 1990 to 1995.