EXPRESS 2015 BCHL SHOWCASE SCHEDULE

With the weather being as gorgeous as it is right
now it's hard to think about going inside a hockey rink.

But we do know the schedule for the Express at the 2015 Bauer BCHL showcase in Chilliwack.

The event has been extended to four days from three. All games will be played at the Main rink at the Prospera Centre from September 24th through the 27th. The other notable change is the showcase won't mark the start of the BCHL season which will begin earlier in September.

The Express will open the event on Thursday the 24th at 10am vs. Powell River. The Express will be the home team.

Their second game will be a road game vs. Nanaimo on Saturday the 26th at 1pm. Click here for full showcase schedule.

The full BCHL 2015-16 schedule will be released in July.

COREY MACKIN ALL 50 GOALS VIDEO

All 50 goals by Corey Mackin last season in one video.

Click here to see video with music



Another video I put together with some highlights of returning players.



Clearly I have too much time on my hands. See what happens when I don't have NHL hockey to watch.

BARRY WOLFF INTERVIEW

I caught up with Coquitlam Express Head Coach Barry Wolff to discuss his recent honour as coach of the year by the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame.

We also covered the BCHL expanding adding the Wenatchee Wild which will be in the Express' division in the Mainland.

He spoke on the trade of Chris Tai who was sent back to the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL. That deal completed the original transaction that saw the Express acquire Chris last season. The original agreement was to send Chris back to the AJ after last season.

And we discussed as much as Barry was willing to divulge publicly about his recruiting work this off-season.

WOLFF NAMED COACH OF YEAR BY COQ. HALL OF FAME

Coquitlam Express Head Coach Barry Wolff has been named the 2014 Coach of the year by the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame. Wolff will be recognized in the hall's wall of fame located in the home of the Express the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex.

Wolff was recognized for his efforts in 2014 where in his first season behind the Coquitlam Express bench he guided the team to a Fred Page Cup BCHL championship and an appearance at the Western Canada Cup in Dauphin Manitoba. 

He took over the Express prior to the 2013-14 season after the team missed the playoffs the previous season. During the regular season he guided the team to a 27-26-2-3 record which was good enough to finish in third place in the Mainland division. 

The regular season saw the club have it's ups and downs. It led the BCHL with 226 goals for while also allowing the same amount. The Express that year also led the BCHL with 19 shorthanded goals for. 

Then in the playoffs the Express took off. They won their first two series in 6 games vs. the Prince George Spruce Kings and Langley Rivermen to advance to the BCHL's double round robin in the third round. There the Express went 2-1 to advance to the Fred Page Cup final. 

In the league championship the Express kept up their winning ways by sweeping the Vernon Vipers to claim the first BCHL championship for a Coquitlam based team. It was the second championship for the Express franchise who won the Fred Page Cup as part of their RBC National championship run in 2006 when the team was based in Burnaby. 

The Express clinched the 2014 BCHL championship with a 4-3 win over the Vipers in game 4 at the Poirier Sports and Leisure complex the home of the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame. Coquitlam native Adam Rockwood scored the BCHL championship winning goal. Following the BCHL championship Wolff's Express advanced to the Western Canada Cup where they went 2-3 before being eliminated by the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL. 

Wolff's recognition by the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame reflects the impact he had on sports in Coquitlam and the positive impact he's had on people he met along the way. A well deserved honor for someone who treats everyone he's comes across with class.

For more information on this years honourees and the ceremony read Dan Olson's story from the Tri Cities Now by clicking here

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.

MACKIN TAKES TWO TOP NATIONAL AWARDS

Coquitlam Express forward Corey Mackin received two of Canadian Junior A hockey's finest honours Friday. He was named the CJHL MVP and Top Forward.

This is the second time an Express player has been recognized nationally.  The first being Kyle Turris in 2007.

Congratulations Corey.

See the full press release below from the CJHL.

CALGARY, Alberta (May 8th, 2015) – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) today announced the winners of five CJHL National Awards. The CJHL National Awards are awarded each season and recognize individual success in the 10 Junior A leagues in the CJHL. They include Most Valuable Player, Top Forward, Top Defenceman, Top Goaltender and Rookie of the Year.

The winner of the 2015 CJHL MVP Award and the 2015 CJHL Top Forward Award is Corey Mackin of the Coquitlam Express (BCHL). Corey Mackin, Coquitlam Express, BCHL (58GP, 50G - 54A - 104PTS) - Corey Mackin played 58 games and registered 50 goals, 54 Assists and 104 total points during the regular season. Mackin became the first BCHL player in five seasons to reach the 50-goal mark and led the league with nine shorthanded tallies. He took the league’s Brett Hull award as top scorer and also was voted league MVP by the coaches. Mackin was assessed just four minor penalties on the season and was a finalist for the BCHL’s most sportsmanlike player. He has one more year of Junior A eligibility and is committed to NCAA’s Ferris State University. The winner of the 2015 CJHL

Top Defenseman Award is Eric Williams of the Aurora Tigers (OJHL). Eric Williams, Aurora Tigers, OJHL (52GP, 22G - 28A - 50PTS) - Williams becomes just the third defenceman in franchise history to win the league's Top Defenceman Award. Williams led all OJHL rearguards with 22 goals on the season, which was the eighth best goal total by a defenceman in league history. The Newmarket, Ontario native tallied 17 power play goals, not only leading defenceman in that category, but also finishing second among all OJHL skaters. He added 11 power play assists and was the top blueliner with 28 power play points, also tied for second best among all players in the league. The OJHL 1st Team All-Star finished second in scoring among rearguards with 50 points, as well as with three game-winning goals, in 52 regular season games played. Williams' efforts throughout the 2014-15 season earned a second consecutive appearance at the Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge, earning a spot on Team OJHL Coffey for the 2014 event in Toronto, where he would tie for the tournament lead in scoring among defencemen with four points in three games played. Williams is slated to join the NCAA Division I, Northeastern University Huskies beginning with the 2015-16 Hockey East season. The winner of the 2015 CJHL

Top Goaltender Award is Nic Renyard of the Okotoks Oilers (AJHL). Nic Reynard, Okotoks Oilers, AJHL (43 GP, 30 W – 3 L – 8 T – 2.19 GAA – .924 S% – 5 SO) - Okotoks Oilers goaltender Nic Renyard was the 2014-2015 AJHL Most Valuable Player and Top Goaltender. The 20 year-old goaltender is wrapping up a record setting regular season for the Oilers and led all AJHL goaltenders in the areas of wins and save percentage. Renyard set a new franchise record for most shutouts and set the single season franchise record for lowest goals against average as well. The Victoria, BC goaltender joined the Oilers from the BCHL in September 2014 and kicked off the season by recording 13 games without a regulation loss (12-0-1). Throughout the season, Nic amassed two 7+ game winning streaks. Renyard was the recipient of the Viterra AJHL Player of the Game five times, and was also named as the Alberta Dodge Dealers AJHL Player of the Month in October 2014 when he posted a 8-0 record. Renyard has committed to the University of Massachusetts Minutemen of the NCAA Division I Hockey East Conference.

The winner of the 2015 CJHL Rookie of the Year Award is Cameron Morrison of the Aurora Tigers (OJHL). Cameron Morrison, Aurora Tigers, OJHL (57GP, 16G – 23A – 39PTS) - A highly recruited minor midget prospect in 2013-14, the 16-year old chose the OJHL route and NCAA option in joining his hometown Aurora Tigers for his rookie junior season. Morrison did not disappoint and the big, strong winger used his 6'3" frame to dominate the opposition at times, despite his young age, and became the youngest player (16 years, 7 months) to capture the Rookie-of-the-Year Award since Josh Shalla (16 years, 6 months) of the Bowmanville Eagles won East Division honours in 2007-08. Despite missing time due to appendicitis in early November, his 31 goals not only led the Tigers, but was the sixth best total among all OJHL players, while his 53 points placed him fourth in scoring on the club during the regular season. Morrison notched eight power play goals, third best on Aurora, as well as seven game-winning goals, which tied for second best total in the OJHL. Throughout the year, Morrison would post 13 multi-point games. Following the season, Morrison was also named an OJHL 1st Team All-Prospect and he is committed to join the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish beginning with the 2016-17 Hockey East season.

Each of the 10 leagues in the CJHL submitted a candidate for all of the CJHL National Awards. Each league then ranked their top five players from among the 10 national nominees and the five players with the highest point total moved on as finalists to the final round of voting. The winners were then selected by a second and final point-based vote cast from all 10 leagues.

INSIDE THE HOME OF DAVID JONES

The 2003 NHL draft is known for the high end talents it produced. It was also historic for the Express as the first two players from the organization were drafted by an NHL team.

Brett Hemingway was drafted in the 7th round and his teammate David Jones was selected in the 9th round. Both by the Colorado Avalanche.

Jones has carved out a nice career for himself. Now with the Calgary Flames. Here's a look at his home in Calgary with some of his Express momentos on display.