CLIPPERS GET PAST EXPRESS

The Nanaimo Clippers knocked off the Express 6-4 Friday night at the Frank Crane Arena.

Simon Denis opened the scoring just 34 seconds into the game. That was followed by a goal by Garrick Perry to give the Express an early 2 goal lead.

Carson Schell replied for Nanaimo before the period was done. Cody Bremner then pulled Nanaimo even in the 2nd period on a powerplay.

Denis restored the lead for the Express blasting home his 2nd of the game from the point after a won faceoff.

Luc Oliver Blain pulled Nanaimo even shortly after Denis' goal as Blain jammed the puck under Nick Enegren.

Andrew Gladiuk gave Nanaimo their first lead in the third when his shot beat Enegren up high. Gladiuk then added his second of the game minutes later. He was 1 on 1 with Jimmy Geerin, Gladiuk's shot went off Gerrin and dribbled into the net to the left of Enegren as he was going to his right.

Colby Kulhanek playing in his first Express game scored a powerplay goal after a coast to coast rush by Brad Reid to set up Kulhanek to pull the Express back within one.

That would be as close as the Express would come as Nicholas McIntyre wrapped up the game with an empty net goal to make the final 6-4 in favour of the Clippers.

The win extended Nanaimo's unbeaten streak to 6 games.

The effort was there for Burnaby. They competed hard and played a good road game. They just didn't get the bounces.

The Express now travel to Cowichan Valley Saturday night.

WARRIORS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of Saturday's 3-2 Westside win over the Express in overtime.



Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen and Purple Penguin Productions.

NO BROADCAST TONIGHT

There will be no Burnaby broadcast of tonight's game between the Express and the Warriors.

I am away working the webcast for the Women's Under 18 Championships in Surrey for Hockey Canada.

Gord Doerkson was supposed to fill in for me on play by play duties. But he won't be able to do the broadcast tonight as his computer has crashed on him.

He will be able to to broadcast the return match between the Express and Warriors tommorow night from the Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

I will return to the Express both when the Express hit the Island next weekend starting Friday in Nanaimo.

McLELLAN TALKS PUSKAR TRADE

I spoke with Express Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Dave Mclellan after practice today about yesterday's trade that sent Jon Puskar to Quesnel and James Bettauer back to Burnaby.

Hear from Mclellan here.

Listening to Dave, it appears this might just be the tip of the ice berg when it comes to changes of the fortunes of this team doesn't turn around.

It was a rough couple of practices for the boys the last two days with back to back bag skates.

Burnaby has a home and home with Westside this weekend.

OCTOBER MUCH DIFFERENT STORY FOR EXPRESS

At the end of September with the Express coming out of the seasons opening month with a record of 5-0-0-1, I stated we would know the true colors of the Express after a much tougher month of October.

Well, after a 14 game schedule in October, the numbers on the other side of the month are not pretty. The Express went 2-11-0-1 in October. The only 2 wins coming on home ice. The Express lost all 9 games on the road in October picking up just a single point away from home in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters on October 3rd.

The Express finished October with a visit to Penticton Friday night where the Express were blanked for the 3rd time this season 8-0 by the high octane Vees.

Penticton scored 24 seconds into the game on a goal by Bo Dolan and the Vees were on their way.

Denver Manderson, who spent most of the season sitting atop of the BCHL scoring race was playing in his first career game vs. Burnaby. He put on a show with 3 points 1 goal and 2 assists. Manderson was skating on a line with Garrett Milan and Alex Szczechura. That trio combined 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points.

Taylor Peters, playing in his first game of the season with Penticton scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway and added 2 assists.

Joel Rumpel started in place of Sean Bonar between the Vees pipes posted the shutout stopping all 33 Express shots. He really stepped up in the 2nd period when the Express sent 18 shots his way.

At the other end of the ice, Harrison May was in goal for the full 60 minutes allowing 8 goals on the 46 shots he faced.

Bo Dolan who opened the scoring, also finished it by scoring the 8th goal of the game.

Penticton played without goaltender Sean Bonar and Joey Laleggia who were missing their first game while representing Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. The Vees were also without Beau Bennett who is the only non USHL player on the American roster at the WJAC.

Saturday the Express returned home to face the resurrected Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

The Dogs got off to a quick start on a goal by Mitch MacMillan set up on a 2 on 0 break by his younger brother Mark at 2:33. The goal for MacMillan was his BCHL leading 17th of the season.

Alberni Valley then added their second goal of the game on a powerplay by David Dziurzynski before the Express had even registered a shot on goal by the 7:12 mark of the first period.

Warren Muir extended Alberni Valley's lead to three on a powerplay goal in the 2nd period.

The Express cut into the Dogs lead on a shorthanded breakaway goal by Dylan Herold. Then a goal on a 5 on 3 by Matt Ridley. But that would be as close as the Express would come.

Trent Dorais put the game away by hitting the empty net in the third period.

Overall, the Express were a better team at home than on the road in October.

Burnaby was outscored a total of 49-16 in October on the road. While at home, they were 2-3 with wins over the Victoria Grizzlies and Trail Smoke Eaters. The Express outscored their opponents 16-14 on home ice in those 5 home games.

PUSKAR TRADED TO QUESNEL

Well, after a month of October that saw the Express go 2-11-0-1 including going 0-8-0-1 on the road, it's no surprise that the Express have made some changes.

Jon Puskar has been traded to the Quesnel Millionaires in exchange for the playing rights of James Bettauer and future considerations.

Puskar came to the Express this season from the Lincoln Stars of the USHL where he was teammates with Rich Manley.

The Canton Michigan native got off to a good start this season like the team did scoring 6 goals in his first 5 games. However, like many of his teamamates in October, Puskar cooled off considerably scoring just 3 goals in his last 15 games and is goal less in his last 7.

At the time of his trade, Puskar was leading the Express in scoring with 24 points.

Bettauer is 18 years old weighing in at 180lbs. He played last season with the Chilliwack Bruins of the WHL scoring 1 goal and 7 points in 68 games. In 07-08 Bettauer played 42 games and had 3 points with the Penticton Vees.

In another transaction, the Express traded Kai Ohs to the Humboldt Broncos in exchange for future considerations.

BULLDOGS @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of Alberni Valley's 4-2 win over the Express at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre Saturday night.



Highlights courtesy of Cary Derksen and Purple Penguin Productions.