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. 

SMOKIN HOT ZUCCARINI & POWERPLAY TOO MUCH FOR EXPRESS

There were two things the Express couldn't stop Saturday afternoon which was Charlie Zuccarini and the Trail power play in an 8-3 win over the Express at the second day at the Bauer BCHL showcase.

Zuccarini made his BCHL debut memorable by scoring five times while adding an assist for six points. And Trail's power play scored on five of seven opportunities.

Zuccarini's big day started in a hurry with a pair of goals within the first five minutes of the game. His first came when he banged home the rebound of his original shot and banged it past Brayden Krogfross who made his Express debut. Then less than two minutes later came Trail's first power play goal and Zuccarini's second of the afternoon beating Krogfross with a wrist shot from the right wing.

The fast start certainly gave Trail a lift to start the contest. But slowly the Express began to pick their game up.

Corey Mackin pulled the Express within one on an Express man advantage as he swatted home the puck out of the air after Daniel Fritz's point shot rocketed off the glass.

The goal of the game came midway through the second period as Jake Lucchini with great speed entering the Express zone undressed a defenceman then quickly snapped a shot over the glove of Krogfross for a 3-1 Trail lead.

Like the night before against West Kelowna the Express had a quick response to an opposition goal.

Youngsters Owen Stout and Noah Turanski teamed up for the second Express tally as Stout's shot from the right wing was stopped but the 16 year old Turanski buried home the rebound for his first BCHL goal.

The back and forth between the clubs continued in the second period. Zuccarini capped off the hat-trick on the power play finishing off a great passing play for Trail's third power play goal of the game.

Again the Express had a response before the period was done as Daniel Fritz blasted home his first BCHL goal on the power play to make it a one goal game going to the third at 4-3.

The third period proved once and for all this game belonged to the Trail power play and Zuccarini.

Bryan Gerstenfeld and Craig Martin scored the fourth and fifth power play goals for Trail. The five power play goals is the most the Express have allowed on a game since November 28th 2009 vs. Nanaimo. The franchise is six set by Surrey in 2007.

Then Zuccarini point an exclamation point on his big game with a shorthanded goal for his fourth of the game and capped off the debut to remember in the final minute scoring on a breakaway by popping the puck in the top corner with ease.

Saturday's game was the second time a player had scored five goals in a game against the Express matching the franchise record initially set by David Ullman off the Burnaby Bulldogs November 17th 2001 during the Express inaugural season.

The showcase saw the Express get outscored 14-5 in the two games and get outshot 95-55.

Friday will be a special night in Coquitlam for the home opener to raise the 2014 Fred Page Cup championship banner and debut the new white jerseys with the black and gold trim.