CHUCKO RE-SIGNS WITH FLAMES

I know this isn't Express related, but it's certainly BCHL related and that is the Calgary Flames have signed forward Kris Chucko.

He and teammate Travis Zajac were first round draft picks out of Salmon Arm in 2004. Zajac was drafted 20th overall by New Jersey. While Chucko went 4 picks later to Calgary.

With that being the case, I guess it was a little inevitable that the two would always be tied together in how their progress was tracked en route to the NHL.

Chucko has only played in 2 NHL games without registering a point. But he finished 2nd on the Quad City Flames in goals with 28, and third in points with 51 in his 2nd professional season last year.

Compare that to Zajac, who signed a multi year contract extension with the Devils yesterday after a career best 20 goal and 62 point season. His 3rd with New Jersey.

You compare the numbers its obvious that Zajac has the edge, but you always have to keep in the back of your mind that some players take longer to develop and Chucko appears to fall into that category. This signing of Chucko by Calgary shows that they haven't given up on their 04 first round pick.

AVALANCHE SIGN YIP

Another former Express has signed his first pro contract, this time it's Brandon Yip signing an entry level deal with the Colorado Avalanche.

Yip played 2 seasons with the Express from 2003-05. He was named the team's rookie of the year in 2004 after scoring 31 goals and 69 points in 56 games. That summer he was selected in NHL draft in the 8th round by the Colorado Avalanche 239th overall.

The following season Yip put up 20 goals and 62 points in just 43 games to lead the Express in scoring.

After 2 seasons with the Express, Yip was off to Boston University. He played 4 seasons with the Terriers, and capped off his college career by helping lead his team to the NCAA Championship this past spring. He put up 45 goals and 105 points in 139 career games with BU.

“Brandon had a very strong year at Boston University and wrapped up his collegiate career by serving as a leader on a championship team,” said Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman. “He has developed very well over the past four seasons and is ready to begin his pro career.”

Yip now officially joins former Express teammate David Jones in the Avalanche organization.

See his highlight tape from Boston University below.

FLAMES SIGN SEABROOK

Last week the Calgary Flames acquired former Express Keith Seabrook in a trade with Washington.

Now the Flames have signed him to his first pro contract. No terms of the deal have been released.

Seabrook is taking part in Calgary's prospect camp this week.

He is expected to play this coming season with Calgary's AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.

EXPRESS ON FACEBOOK

Just another way to connect with Express fans and the team is now on Facebook.

Click on the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=108026977160&ref=nf

Or in the links section on the right side of the page.

SEABROOK TRADED TO FLAMES

This may explain why Keith Seabrook isn't taking part in Washington's prospects camp this week. He wasn't in their future plans. The former Express 2nd round draft pick was traded by Washington to the Calgary Flames for future considerations.

Seabrook played 2 seasons with the Express from 04-06. He was the team's rookie of the year in 04-05. The next season he was a BCHL all star en route to helping the Express win the Royal Bank Cup in 2006. In the clinching 6-0 win in game 6 of the Doyle Cup vs. Fort McMurray, Seabrook scored a hat-trick to punch the Express ticket to the Royal Bank Cup.

In 118 games in Express colors, Seabrook put up 18 goals, 44 assists for 62 points.

Then he was off to play at the University of Denver for one season. He then joined the WHL's Calgary Hitmen where he played the last 2 seasons.

This past season he put up 15 goals and 40 assists for 55 points in 64 games. He helped lead Calgary to the best record in the WHL where they eventually fell to the Kelowna Rockets in 6 games in the WHL final.

Seabrook will take part in Calgary's development camp this week. As will former Express Spencer Bennett who was drafted by Calgary this past June.

A FEW MORE BCHL PRODUCTS @ NHL PROSPECT CAMPS

As mentioned earlier,

I would provide some more names of BCHL alum participating in NHL prospect camps. Some are still on going or have been completed.

Here's a few more names I found,

NY RANGERS:
Paul Crowder (Coquitlam/Burnaby/Surrey)

PHILADELPHIA:
Micheal Lee Teslak, (Alberni Valley/Prince George/Surrey)
Josh Lunden, (Chilliwack)
Nicholas Rioux, (Prince George/Quesnel)

EDMONTON:
Riley Nash, (Salmon Arm)
Kyle Bigos, (Vernon)

ST. LOUIS:
Trevor Nill, (Penticton)

CAROLINA:
Zac Dalpe, (Penticton)

*Now I don't know anything extra, but I didn't see Keith Seabrook's name on the roster for Washington's camp. He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Caps in 2006 out of Burnaby.

CATCHING UP WITH THE COACH PART 2

It's been a few weeks since we heard from Express head coach Dave Mclellan at prospects camp in late May. Since then, the team has made a few more trades and brought in some new faces that we couldn't discuss back then.

So I went down to the rink today to get the latest on the Express. And the details about the return to the Express of a familiar face.

Hear from Coach Dave here.

Rich Manley played with the Express in the 07-08 season. He scored 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 58 games. He played last season with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. He put up 5 goals and 10 assists in 28 games.