GRIZZLIES @ EXPRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Here's the highlights of the Express 4-3 overtime win last Friday vs. Victoria.

Highlights courtesy of Jorge Parra and Underdog Productions.

VEES EXTEND STREAK TO 23 DESPITE VALIANT EFFORT BY EXPRESS

For the Express heading up to Penticton if you were to list a number of items for the Express to tick off to snap the Vees 22 game winning streak they would be...

- Top notch goaltending - check

- Smart decisions with the puck - check

- Disciplined play - check

- Be ready to go for 60 minutes and possibly more - check

The Express did all those things and played their best game of the season in Penticton Wednesday but lost 1-0 in double overtime. Click here for boxscore

Wednesday's game may have been the game of the season in the BCHL this year. Tyler Howat for the Express and Anthony Brodeur for the Vees were stellar in their respective creases. 

Head Coach Barry Wolff knew entering this week that his team had three big tests with two games vs.  Penticton and one vs. Wenatchee. He pushed his troops hard at practice to be ready to go. And in their first test they rewarded their head coach with a strong game. 

The Express caught a break right from the start with Colton Poolman of the Vees being called for delay of game after he failed to leave the ice on time following the conclusion of warm up. 

That allowed the Express to settle in the game and try and put the Vees in an early hole. The Express weren't able to convert on the power play. Minutes later the Express were on the power play a second time. This time around they were a little more threatening around the Vees net but weren't able to get a puck past Brodeur. 

The Express started the game by outshooting the Vees 11-0. 

One of the Vees best chances in the first period came off the stick of Demico Hannoun who had a shorthanded breakaway and couldn't beat Howat trying to go to the backhand. (Full disclosure here) It was hard to tell from my broadcast position so far away if Howat got a piece to make a save or Hannoun missed the net. 

Scott Conway came close to opening the scoring in the first period ringing a shot off the crossbar from the left circle. Then the best chance for either team in the first period came off the stick of Tyson Jost, he had the puck at the side of a wide open Express net and I still don't know how he was unable to convert the tap in and it was scoreless after one period. 

The bounces continued to go Howat's way in the second period when Hannoun rang a shot off the post from the right wing. Owen Sillenger also ripped a shot off the red metal from the left wing. 

The Express had another solid period outshooting the Vees 13-10 and had a 27-18 advantage in shots through 40 minutes. 

The Vees really began to press in the third period looking to break the deadlock. But Howat only raised his game to match the Vees level. 

Tyson Jost had three good chances in regulation play to score. Aside from the tap in he missed, he was robbed by Howat on the power play after unleashing a one timer from the right circle only to be turned away by the black and red leather glove of Howat. Jost also had a good chance to score in the final two minutes of the third period as he used his speed to attack the Express defence and take the puck to the net. 

Blake Hayward watched for an anxious two minutes in the third period sitting on the penalty box after a solid play on the back check. Hayward came out of the box and joined Colton Kerfoot to set up a two on one. Kerfoot slid the puck across the Hayward who couldn't finish the chance as Brodeur reached back to keep the puck out. 

The Express executed their game plan to a "T" for a full 60 minutes but not a single goal was scored. So for just the second time in franchise history the Express had played 60 minutes of scoreless hockey. The only other occasion was the season opener for the Express at the first ever BCHL showcase where Brady Shaw gave the Express a 1-0 OT win over Victoria on September 12, 2013. 

But this game was historic for the Express being the first game to be scoreless going into 3 on 3 overtime after nothing was decided of 5 minutes of 4 on 4. 

After 65 minutes of scoreless hockey, it seemed like the game ended in a blink of an eye in 3 on 3. The Vees won the opening draw and Scott Conway on the opening possession attacked Jackson Cressey one on one and beat him then just trickled a shot through Howat for a heart breaking ending for the Express and extending the Vees winning streak to 23 just 16 seconds into double overtime. 

The loss for the Express was disappointing. But they showed what they can do when they're on their game. Play smart and be able to compete with the best team in the country. The Express will have another crack at the Vees Saturday night in Coquitlam. Before that they will host the Wenatchee Wild Friday.

LEONE OT HERO VS. GRIZZLIES

Taylor Green takes part in pre-game veterans night ceremony - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Luca Leone scored the double overtime winner to give the Express their second overtime win over the Victoria Grizzlies this season.

This time the result was 4-3 in favour of the Express. Click here for boxscore

Many of the same contributors for the Express in their win Wednesday at Langley also chipped in Friday night.

Leone taps in OT winner - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Alex Ambrosio picked up where he left off Wednesday where he scored into an empty net to seal the win opened the scoring Friday. His linemates Jonathan Irving and Keegan Jones worked to get the puck out of the defensive zone. Then Jones broke away with Ambrosia on a two on one and Jones laid a perfect pass across to Ambrosio who finished off his third of the season on the backhand.

That goal gave the Express some momentum which led to at least three good scoring chances only to be turned away by Matthew Galajda who kept the Express lead at just one.

Former Express Dante Hahn had a hand in pulling the Grizzlies even late in the first period when he made a pass out from behind the Express net to find Brayden Gelsinger who slid a shot under Howat to tie the game at one after the first period.

McIlMurray had two assists - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Colton Kerfoot tied the game at four for the Express Wednesday in Langley. Friday, he gave the Express a 2-1 lead when he took the puck to the net from the right wing side flipping the puck over the glove of Galajda. That made up for a breakaway opportunity Kerfoot missed earlier in the period when he again tried to lift the puck over the glove of the Victoria goaltender.

1:27 later the Express added to their lead with Jack Surowiec scoring for a second straight game ripping home a wrist shot from the slot. Linemates Kerfoot and Austin McIlmurray picked up the helpers. McIlMurray finished with two assists.

Like the first period, Victoria struck late in the second period. The puck came free to Nick Guiney and from the circle he beat Howat with a shot top shelf.

Eric Udahl throws a hit - Photo courtesy of Damon James

The Grizzlies caught a break in the third period to pull even. Keyvan Mokhtari from the corner threw the puck in front and it bounced in off Cody Van Lierop to tie the score at three.

Then the goaltenders took over to send the game to overtime. Howat shut the door as the Grizzlies had an edge in play after pulling even.

At the other end Galajda shut the Express down when tested with 13 third period shots sent his way.

So for the second straight meeting between the teams it went past 60 minutes. Charlie Barrow was the overtime hero for the Express in Victoria on October 1st.

Nothing was settled in the first overtime of 5 minutes 4 on 4.

The most important lesson for all players in 3 on 3 is puck management.

The Express capitalized on a Grizzlies mistake to set up the winner. A Victoria defenceman swept the puck around behind his own net but didn't have a partner back to support him. Luca Leone got on his horse and raced the puck to set up Kerfoot alone in front of the Victoria net, Kerfoot was patient and waited for Leone to go to the net and Kerfoot set up Leone for a tap in to give the Express the 4-3 victory. The loss snapped Victoria's winning streak at 5 games.

Tyger Howat made 34 saves - Photo courtesy of Damon James

Leone scored his second goal in as many games. Kerfoot finished with 1 goal and 2 assists while on his way to first star honors.

It was also a pretty clean game with only one power play in the game going to Victoria in the second period.

Tyger Howat finished with 34 saves for his 5th win of the season.

The two wins for the Express will go a long way to help prepare for a big test next week for a pair of games with Penticton and a visit from Wenatchee. Friday the Vees extended their winning streak to 21 straight games with a win in West Kelowna. 

SUROWIEC, BARROW AND MCILMURRAY SIGN NLI'S

For immediate release:

 The Coquitlam Express of the BCHL would like to congratulate players Jack Surowiec and Charlie Barrow both headed to Holy Cross and Austin McILMurray to Sacred Heart on officially signing their national letter of intent.

Surowiec, Barrrow and McILMurrary are all in their first seasons with the Express.

Surowiec (96), from Louisville Kentucky has two goals and six points in 21 games this season. He's been a valuable player for the Express in various roles this season. He's been a key penalty killer, won important defensive draws. And most recently he's centered the top line in the absence of captain Jackson Cressey.

Barrow (96), from Belmont Massachusetts has four goals and ten points in 21 games this season. Two of his four goals have been overtime winners this season. He's added an element of speed and puck moving ability for the Express from the blueline.

McILMurray (96), from Coral Springs Florida is third on the Express in scoring with eight goals and 19 points in 20 games. Two of his goals have been game winning goals. He's spent the entire season playing on the Express top line mostly with Colton Kerfoot and Jackson Cressey.

All 3 players will be going to school in the fall of 2016.

All well deserved and we are proud to have them as members of the Express Junior Hockey Team.

Any questions please contact Express Head Coach/General Manager Barry Wolff.

EXPRESS ALUMS FEATURED IN NCAA PLAYS OF THE WEEK

The NCAA top 5 plays of the week had some Express flavor in it with members of the 2014 Fred Page cup championship team Adam Rockwood, Gordie Defiel and Cam Marks. (Sorry Marksie I know you're on the wrong side of number 1) But we're still proud of you at UNH.

Check out the top 5 plays by clicking here.

Also want to recognize Corey Mackin who was named the WCHA rookie of the week last week with one goal and two assists while going +2.

Click here for more on Mackin

EXPRESS WIN A WILD CHARACTER BUILDER VS. RIVERMEN

Troy Robillard (left) Jackson Cressey (right) represent the Express at local remembrance day ceremonies.

First of all before we talk about hockey. let's take a moment to acknowledge both the Coquitlam Express and Langley Rivermen who took time to have members from both organizations attend local remembrance day ceremonies before the two teams met on the ice.

Captain Jackson Cressey and defenceman Troy Robbilard along with Head Coach Barry Wolff and Teresa Batista from the Express office represented the Express at local remembrance day ceremonies.

On the ice the Express prevailed in what turned out be a wild 7-5 shootout to pick up their first win in three tries vs. Langley this season. Click here for boxscore

Cressey (left) Robillard (right) lay a wreath. 

The tone was set for the Express in the opening minutes of the game. They were rock solid on an early Langley Rivermen power play. They never really allowed the Rivermen to get set up and threaten in the Express end of the rink.

That really got the Express off on the right foot.

One of the storylines coming out of this game was the amount of players who chipped in with goals who had provided limited offensive production this season for the Express.

It started with Luca Leone. He opened the scoring moments after that first penalty kill when he put himself in a position to shoot the puck and took a smart pass from Owen Stout who put it on a tee for Leone who unleashed a rocket one timer for this second goal of the season to open the scoring.

Justin Fregona has lit the Express up in the first two meetings of the season. He kept up his strong play Wednesday taking a drop pass and letting fly a quick shot just inside the post past Tyger Howat to tie the game at one.

Another player who stepped up offensively for the Express was Nic Coltura. The second year defenseman found himself on a two on one with the puck on his stick. He decided to keep it and fire a great shot top shelf on Nic Trenciansky for Coltura's first BCHL goal in his 61st career BCHL game.

The Express opened the second period with a power play. Again it was Coltura for the Express as he released a point shot that beat a screened Trenciansky for his second of the night just 17 seconds into the second period.

Entering Wednesday's game Coltura hadn't scored a goal in 60 previous games. Then within 10 minutes of game play he struck for a pair of goals.

Penalites were plentiful Wednesday afternoon. The Express were called for two in quick succession midway through the second period giving Langley a two man advantage for 1:54.

Langley quickly converted on the power play with Matthew Graham setting up Max Kaufman for a re-direct in front of the net to cut the Express lead to 3-2.

This game will be one that Nic Coltura will remember for years to come both for good and bad reasons.

The good being that he scored his first two BCHL goals in pretty nice fashion. The bad however happened late in the second period as he got tangled up with Langley forward Torrin White and crashed into the boards. Coltura immediately was banging on the ice in distress. He left the game with an upper body injury and didn't return.

The loss of one of the Express veteran defenseman left a void that the Express had a tough time recovering from moments after Coltura's injury. The Rivermen had a strong edge in play to end of the second period.

Tyger Howat had to come up with two big saves of Justin Fregona and Matthew Graham in the final minute of the second period to preserve the Express lead heading to the third period.

Now brace yourself for the third period this is where this get wild.

Just over five minutes into the third period Langley had taken they first lead of the afternoon on goals by Torrin White and Dominic Franco.

But the third period in this game is where the Express really began to show their moxy.

With the teams skating at 4 on 4 Cam Bertsch turned out of the corner with the puck and set up Colton Kerfoot who tied the game at 4.

Just three minutes later Langley took the lead again with Matthew Graham capping off a 4 point night by scoring a power play goal to go along with his three assists with a wrist shot walking in off the right wing boards.

Just 1:29 after Graham's goal the Express pulled even again on another power play goal. This time it was 6'7 defenseman Taylor Green at the side of the Rivermen net with a neat pass between his legs to set up Cam Bartsch who scored his second of the season tie even things at 5.

Right after the goal the Express found themselves right back on the power play when Trenciansky cleared the puck over the glass and was called for delay of game.

The Express took the lead back for good when Jack Surowiec buried the rebound of a Charlie Barrow point shot that his the post for a 6-5 Express lead.

To cap off the wild third period, the Express had to kill off a late penalty to Colton Kerfoot who was ejected for a hit in front of the Express bench. Kerfoot was given a game misconduct for the checking from behind minor.

Then Taylor Green dropped the gloves with Matthew Graham in the final minute.

Alex Ambrosio sealed the win for the Express scoring his second of the season into an empty net.

For an Express team that is limited in it's offensive contributors after you get past the top line, Wednesday five different players scored just their second goals of the season for the Express.

Tyger Howat was busy again for the Express making 44 saves to post his fourth win of the season.

This Express squad showed plenty of no quit Wednesday, losing a defenceman to an injury, then letting a lead slip away in the third period to only battle hard to get it back on the road can do wonders for developing the character of this Express team. Injured captain watching from the sidelines i'm sure was proud to watch his team win in the manner they did Wednesday.

Coquitlam finally returns home after playing the last 6 games on the road when they host Victoria Friday. 

EXPRESS ALUMS ON TSN AND CANADIAN TV

TSN released it's schedule for it's coverage of NCAA hockey this season.

There's a number of Express alums involved in the broadcast schedule. 

See the full list involving Express alums here. 

Date	Teams	Express alums
Thursday, Nov. 12	Northeastern at Notre Dame	Rosenthal
Friday, Nov. 20	Denver at Wisconsin	Rockwood
Friday, Nov. 27	Northeastern vs. UMass Lowell (Belfast)	Rosenthal
Saturday, Dec. 12	Boston University at Quinnipiac	B., C. Pieper, Fritz
Saturday, Dec. 19	Michigan State at Northeastern	Rosenthal
Friday, Jan. 8	Alaska at Alabama-Huntsville	B. Morley
Saturday, Jan. 16	Wisconsin at Penn State	Rockwood
Monday, Feb. 1	Harvard vs. Boston College (Beanpot)	Kerfoot
Monday, Feb. 1	Northeastern vs. Boston University (Beanpot)	Rosenthal
Friday, Feb. 5	Lake Superior State at Michigan Tech	Petan
Saturday, Feb. 6	Connecticut at Merrimack	Biega, Hennig
Monday, Feb. 8	Beanpot Championship Game	TBD
Friday, Feb. 12	Northeastern at Massachusetts	Rosenthal
Friday, Mar. 4	Penn State at Wisconsin	Rockwood
Thursday, Nov. 12	Northeastern at Notre Dame	Rosenthal
Friday, Nov. 20	Denver at Wisconsin	Rockwood
Friday, Nov. 27	Brown vs. Colgate (Belfast)	Pryzbek
Friday, Nov. 27	Northeastern vs. UMass Lowell (Belfast)	Rosenthal
Saturday, Dec. 12	Boston University at Quinnipiac	B., C. Pieper, Fritz
Saturday, Dec. 19	Michigan State at Northeastern	Rosenthal
Friday, Jan. 8	Alaska at Alabama-Huntsville	B. Morley
Saturday, Jan. 16	Wisconsin at Penn State	Rockwood
Monday, Feb. 1	Harvard vs. Boston College (Beanpot)	Kerfoot
Monday, Feb. 1	Northeastern vs. Boston University (Beanpot)	Rosenthal
Friday, Feb. 5	Lake Superior State at Michigan Tech	Bird, Defiel, Petan
Saturday, Feb. 6	Connecticut at Merrimack	Biega, Hennig
Monday, Feb. 8	Beanpot Championship Game	TBD
Friday, Feb. 12	Northeastern at Massachusetts	Rosenthal
Friday, Mar. 4	Penn State at Wisconsin	Rockwood

Click here for the full Canadian NCAA TV schedule

Click here for the full release from the BCHL