The Express are back on the road today with a destination set in the Eastern Fraser Valley. The Coliseum is calling as Coquitlam endeavor to end the losing streak they find themselves laden with. It won’t be an easy path to victory as they face a Chilliwack Chiefs squad who are currently first in the Coastal Conference and third overall in the BCHL.
Momentum will be on the side of the home team tonight as just yesterday they fended off a feisty Langley Rivermen squad by a score of 9-5. That’s a lot of offensive firepower for Coquitlam to mind and defence hasn’t come easy for the Express in recent memory. In the early season, the contests between these two teams were hard fought and defensive minded for both teams, and Coquitlam will desperately need to rekindle that hard-nosed, blue-collar identity they relished. Chilliwack are a team who thrive on a free-flowing offence, as evidenced by their league-leading 110 goals scored so far. Whether its Eric Young or Andrew Ness in goal tonight, both will have their work cut out for them. Certainly the team in front of them will need to hold up their end of the bargain but this evening is one where a netminder can ill afford to not be sharp. If the 9-5 momentum from 24 hours prior rolls into a hot start then the cascade could be too much to overcome.
Three times Coquitlam have taken to the ice at the Coliseum this season, and it has been a successful venture for them, capturing 5 of 6 possible points. They beat the Chiefs 4-3 off a Joseph Odyniec goal within the final 15 seconds. Then during the BCHL Showcase they picked up on overtime win against the Spruce Grove Saints and finally took the Brooks Bandits to a shootout. Despite the differences in layout of our very own Train Station compared to the Coliseum, Coquitlam have shown the ability to adapt and succeed at this particular barn.
Gap control and winning the neutral zone will be massive tonight. The Chiefs are a team that can create on the rush with efficiency and should you lose your man in the neutral ice, there is a high chance they will make you pay for your transgressions. Stepping up in a timely manner to disrupt the offensive flow in the land between bluelines is imperative to drive play in your favor, which is something the Express excelled in through their three appearances on this ice.
A player to watch on the side of Chilliwack is definitely Mateo Mrsic. The Surrey, BC product has 19 goals in 24 games already this season and has been a driving force behind the league-leading scoring the Chiefs have produced. They also have an exciting newcomer in Carter Anderson. The 04 born forward already has 2 goals and 2 assists in his three games since signing. Chilliwack have been through quite a bit of change in recent memory due to players switching clubs with the NCAA eligibility ruling. Despite all of that, they have remained a team poised to win games each and every night.
On the side of the Express it is the Coquitlam debut for our most recent acquisition Jack Sullivan. The 18 year-old D-man had 22 goals and 55 assists across 65 games for Nichols School in USHS-Prep play last season. He was recently acquired in a deal with the Blackfalds Bulldogs that sent Alex Bosland to the Albertan side.
“Our staff identified Jack last season as someone we wanted. At the time he had committed to the Brooks Bandits but we kept our eye on him as someone we wanted to go after,” said Express GM and COO Tali Campbell. “He plays a good 200-foot hockey game, has the ability to chip in offensively while taking care of our end!”
The puck drops at 6PM PST tonight so be sure to tune in or come on down to the East Valley for some fantastic BCHL action.
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– Ian Wilson
