SPECIAL TEAMS DIFFERENCE IN GRIZZLIES WIN OVER EXPRESS

Reid Cooper finished with 20 saves Photo courtesy of Garrett James

A productive power play for the Victoria Grizzlies and the lack of one for the Express was the difference in a 4-2 Victoria win Sunday in the finale at the BCHL showcase for both teams.
Click here for boxscore

The Grizzlies struck twice on the power play while the Express were blanked.

The Express had a second straight strong start. They outshot the Grizzlies early on opening up a 6-1 advantage. They were physical and controlling the play below the hashmarks in the Victoria zone.

A strong shift in the Victoria zone by Aiden Wagner, Hadyn Delorme and Jake Toor teamed up to open the scoring with Toor burying his own rebound after he was set up alone in front of the net for a 1-0 Express lead.

The Express had their opportunities to expand their lead with three powerplays in the first but were unable to capitalize in their chances.

In the second period Mitch Newsome hit the post and Will Lawrence was stopped in front of the net by Shawn Parkinson on more good scoring chances for the Express to add to their lead.

Midway through the second period the Grizzlies power play used their patience to tie the game. A smart dump and puck retrieval allowed the Victoria to set up in the Express zone.

Troy Robillard - Photo courtesy of Garrett James

Then 16 year old Alex Newhook on a slap pass tipped home by Tanner Hopps tied the game at one.

This was a key point in the game that started to turn it in Victoria's favour.

Late in the period a two on one down low in the Express zone resulted in a goal by Ethan Nother giving Victoria a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Veteran Jamie Rome scored 18 seconds into the third period for a 3-1 Grizzlies lead.

That goal didn't dissuade the Express and they cut the deficit back to one after a good shift of patient puck control in the Grizzlies zone. Eventually the puck was worked to captain Alex Ambrosio who scored his first of the season on the backhand to cut the deficit to 3-2 with just under 14 minutes left.

Then the Express power play let them down again moments after the Ambrosio scored when they were unable to strike with Nico Somerville in the box.

As the final minutes ticked down the game started to open up as the Express pressed for the equalizer. Reid Cooper did all he could to keep the Express within one. His best same coming off Lucas Clark with just over 5 minutes to play.

A. Ambrosio & J. Brien - Photo courtesy of Garrett James

Seconds later Alex Ambrosio was whistled for boarding for a hit delivered in front of the Victoria bench.

The Grizzlies only needed 20 seconds on the power play to convert restoring their two goal lead. Justin Michaelian potted a loose puck in front of the net to give Victoria a 4-2 lead. 16 year old rookie Alex Newhook picked up his third assist on the tally. The Grizzlies finished 2 for 5 on the power play.

In a fitting ending to the game the Express couldn't cut the deficit in the final moments of the game on their final power play of the game. The Express finished 0 for 6 on the power play.

The effort level was there for the Express but they just couldn't take advantage of their chances. The Express outshot Victoria 28-24. The loss now sees the Express winless in their first 5 games (0-4-1) to start the season.

Up next the Express are in Salmon Arm this Friday.

WARRIORS DROP EXPRESS AT SHOWCASE

The West Kelowna Warriors improved to 3-0 all time vs. the Express at the Bauer BCHL showcase with a 7-2 win Wednesday night. Click here for boxscore

It was the second straight year and 3rd time in the last 4 seasons the Express and Warriors met at the annual event.

The setback kept the Express winless through their first 4 games of the season (0-3-1-0).

The first period saw the Express generate some of their best chances of the game. Will Lawrence was stopped in the slot on a set up from Hunter Fraser.

Joshua Wildauer opened the scoring for the Express as he was the beneficiary of some quick passes from line mates Christian Sanda and Colby Pederson who found Wildauer alone in front of the net and he scored his first BCHL goal just shy of the 8 minute mark.

Moments later Eric Linell was inches away from doubling the Express lead as he raced into the Warriors zone and rang a shot off the post from the right wing.

Warriors forward Matt Kowalski has been a human highlight reel early in this BCHL season. He added to it late in the first period as he sped into the Express zone danced around a defender then snapped a quick shot past the glove of Reid Cooper to tie the game at 1 after 20 minutes.

West Kelowna opened the second period on a power play when Sam Kozlowski was called for hooking at the 20:00 mark.

With one second left in the power play the puck came back to Warriors defenseman Stephen Kleysen at the point who snapped a shot over the glove of Reid Cooper for a 2-1 Warriors lead.

At this point the Warriors started the pull away from the Express. Willie Reid and Chase Stevenson both scored with tap ins in front of the Express net just over 5 minutes apart, that in combination of the Express going 0 for 3 on the power play in the period saw the Warriors take a 4-1 lead into the third period.

West Kelowna did an excellent job Wednesday night getting pucks and bodies to the net which led to 4 of their goals.

Max Bulawka deftly redirected a Michael Ryan point shot and Matthew Campese was able to jam the puck under Cooper on the power play to open a 6-1 Warriors lead.

Then immediately following the third period media timeout veteran Jared Marino off a won face-off in the Express zone snapped home his second of the season for a 7-1 Warriors lead.

Rookie Haydn Delorme rounded out the scoring burying the rebound of a Doug Scott point shot for his first BCHL goal at 15:24.

The Warriors outshot the Express 52-32. West Kelowna was 2 for 3 on the power play while the Express went 0 for 3.

Up next for the Express is their second game at the showcase Sunday afternoon vs. Victoria. 

EAGLES 5 EXPRESS 1

The Express are still in search of their first pre-season win through four games.

Thursday they dropped a 5-1 decision in Surrey.

Things started well for the Express with veteran Cal Babych setting up Eric Linell for a tap in to open the scoring just 1:28 into the game.

Then goaltender Nicolas Lee went to work in the Express crease. He made 14 first period saves to preserve the Express lead through 20 minutes. Most of his best work came in the opening 10 minutes of the frame shortly after the Express opened the scoring.

Mack Merriman scored his first of two on the night on the power play with a screen shot from the point to tie the game at one. Less than two minutes later Jackson Ross snapped home a shot to give Surrey a 2-1 lead.

Nicolas Lee split the goaltending duties with Robert Nawrot halfway through the game. Lee finished with 21 saves on 23 shots.

The Eagles added three in the third including Merriman's second of the night and singles from Chase Danol and Caige Sterzer to round out the scoring.

Among the players that caught my eye Jordan Schulting was playing with some happy legs skating up and down the ice. And Lucas Wong shows plenty of poise on the Express blueline.

The Eagles outshot the Express 36-24. The Express were 0 for 6 on the powerplay while Surrey went 1 for 4.

The teams will meet again in the exhibition finale for the Express Friday night in Poco. Then they will do it for real in the season opener for the Express Sunday September 10th in Surrey. 

CHIEFS 8 EXPRESS 1

The Express played their 3^rd exhibition game and fell by an 8-1 score to the RBC cup hosts the Chilliwack Chiefs in Hope.


16 year old Harrison Blaisdel got things rolling for Chilliwack by scoring the Chiefs first two goals of the game for a 2-0 Chiefs lead before the game was 13 minutes old.


By the end of the period the Chiefs had built a 4-0 lead and had a 16-5 advantage in shots.


It was only more of the same in the second period on goals from Corey Adnonovski and veteran Tommy Lee.


Reid Cooper got the start in goal for the Express and was beat for the Chiefs first 6 markers. Clay Stevenson played the second half of the game.


Bobby Young rounded out the scoring for the Chiefs in the second period for a 7-0 lead.


Blasidell capped off the hat-trick just 2:20 into the third period burying his own rebound for a shorthanded goal. If this game was any indication, Blaisdell will be a household name in the BCHL in the very near future.


Josh Wildauer broke Mathieu Caron's shutout bid with the lone goal for the Express on the powerplay.


The Chiefs outshot the Express 41-16. Chilliwack struck three times on ten powerplays. The Express were one for four.



The Express get right back in action Wednesday night with their fourth exhibition matchup in Surrey.  

RIVERMEN TAKE SECOND EXHIBITION MEETING WITH EXPRESS

A late shorthanded goal ended up being the difference in a 3-2 Langley win over the Express.

The win completed a two game home and home sweep for Langley following their 10-3 win Wednesday night.

Both teams dressed a more experienced lineup. The Express played 5 veterans Alex Ambrosio, Will Lawrence, Noah Turanski, Troy Robillard and Jake Brien. Langley dressed 7 veterans.

The Express handed the goaltending duties to Daniel Paul and Bryce Schiebel and they were the story for the Express.

Paul was only beaten once in his half of the game on a first period power play goal from Eric Butte which beat him up over his glove. That lone blemish doesn't take away from a very solid outing as he kept the Express within striking distance. Paul's best save came in the first period as he came to his left and got his pad down to deny Nik Ponak.

Alex Ambrosio pulled the Express even late in the second period. He showed his quick release unleashing a one timer from the slot on a set up from Riley Johnson.

Bryce Schiebel picked up right where Daniel Paul left off with strong play in the Express crease. He backed stopped the Express to a 1-1 after 2 periods.

Josh Bourne gave the Express their lone lead of the night just shy of the 7 minute mark when his wrist shot from the slot beat Chad Kromar.

But the lead only lasted 24 seconds as Angus Crookshank snuck a backhand short side on Schiebel to tie the game at 2.

It didn't take long for the Mainland division foes to re-establish the dislike for one another. It was a feisty affair that had the feel of regular season intensity.

Langley broke the deadlock with the Express on the power play when Crookshank's forechecking pressure forced an Express turnover that Regan Kimens capitalized on for a 3-2 Langley lead with just 1:18 to go.

Will Lawrence had the Express best chance to equalize with 30 seconds left off a won face-off. He had a clean look for a shot off the draw but hit something and couldn't beat Cromar.

The Express are back in exhibition action on August 29th in Hope vs. the Chilliwack Chiefs.

EXPRESS OPEN EXHIBITION

The Coquitlam Express dropped a 10-3 decision to the Langley Rivermen in the exhibition opener for both clubs.

It was a back and forth opening 20 minutes. The Express had 3 consecutive good shifts in the Langley zone. And just as quickly as those shifts played out, Langley then suddenly blew the game open. They struck three times in a span of 1:50 and four times in a span of 5:33 to open a 4-0 lead. Ethan Leyh scored a pair of goals.

The Express had a good response for the period was done. Charlie Wilkie, Qunny Baker and Teddy Prior scored for the Express and it was 4-3 Langley after one.

Langley added three goals in the second period. Nick Grimaldi for the Express couldn't convert on a penalty shot midway through the period.

The visitors padded their lead in the final 5 minutes to round out the scoring.

The teams will meet again Thursday night in Langley in the second half of the home and home. 

UDAHL COMMITTS TO SALVE REGINA

Photo courtesy of Garett James

Forward Erik Udahl (96) has committed to Salve Regina Seahawks (Div. III) for the fall of 2017. They're located in Newport Rhode Island and play in the NCAA Division III Commonwealth Coast conference.

Udahl, a Walpole Massachussetts native played parts of the last two seasons with the Express. In 44 career games with the Express during that time he tallied 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. He dressed in only 11 games with the Express in the 2016-17 season, but was able to chip in with 3 goals and 4 assists for 11 points. In three BCHL seasons with the Express and Langley Rivermen, Udahl scored 19 goals and 20 assists for 39 points in 92 games.

Express Head Coach and GM Barry Wolff: "We are very happy for Erik and his decision to play for Salve Regina where he will attend a great academic school. He's faced a lot of adversity over the last 16 months and a season ending injury. Through it all Erik has found a way to put it all behind him and move forward."

The Express would like to congratulate Erik on his commitment and thank him for his contributions to the Express.