You couldn’t have asked for a more exciting hockey game to kick off the 2025 calendar year. Coquitlam and Victoria pulled out all the stops when it came to deciding a winner Friday night. Leads traded back and forth as both sides dug in for various stretches. The fans definitely got their money’s worth with the home side finally coming away victorious in the skills competition.
The opening frame went in favour of the Grizzlies with the home team striking thrice. The markers came courtesy of a powerplay tip-in by Alex Hebblethwaite, a clean up in front by Julian Cull following a faceoff breakdown and finally Stone Rolston ripping home his 6th of the season on a 2-on-1. The lone goal for the Express was tallied by Captain Coquitlam as James Shannon let a bomb go from the left faceoff dot to beat Oliver Auyeung-Ashton. Cale Colwell read a clearing attempt perfectly and jumped up to intercept before feeding a nice pass to Shannon on the opposite side of the ice.
Overall the Express did not have the jump required to keep pace in the first 20 minutes. The Grizzlies looked fast and pressed the issue with their transition play.
Coquitlam came alive in period two. They outshot the Grizzlies 19-8 across the middle frame and earned back a 3-0 run to manufacture their first lead of the game. Cale Colwell was back at it again as he whipped a pass across to Trip Pendy, who then made an equally nice feed in front to Nate Crema who tipped the puck home past Auyeung-Ashton. That goal tied Crema with Joseph Odyniec for the team lead with 13. Then at the 10:33 mark, Mason Kesselring got a nice pass from Cooper Wilson to spring out on a breakaway. No mistake was made as he snapped one home to bring the game even, becoming the third Express player to achieve a baker’s dozen this season. Then a goal that’s been a long time coming was etched on the scoresheet. Leo Eperjesi took a rebound from a blocked shot that came back to the blueline, drove hard to the left side of the offensive zone, and let it rip to beat the Victoria netminder and take the lead for the Express. His first career BCHL goal was a beauty and timely all the same.
The Grizzlies started off period three with a bit of a headscratcher. Kyle Kelsey went out to replace Oliver Auyeung-Ashton despite the Victoria goaltender having a decent game. Kelsey is certainly no slouch in his own right but it seems the team was looking for anything to shake up the energy that saw them lose the lead in the second. It worked as Victoria outshot the Express 14-6 and took the lead. Reegan Hiscock netted two goals for the home side, where the first was just a bad luck break for Coquitlam. Hiscock threw a centring feed across the goalmouth and Joseph Odyniec dove to deny the feed from its intended recipient, only to accidentally tip it home past Eric Young. Then the Victoria forward beat Young with a snapshot to the five-hole from the right faceoff circle to regain the advantage 5-4.
Carson McGinley had been looking good for the Express in his debut, but his true first impression came when the team needed it most. The Phoenix, AZ product knocked the puck away at the blueline and dashed down the ice, making a nice move to the backhand to beat Kyle Kelsey and tie the game.
This one needed a little extra as overtime fell upon the Q Centre. Both teams traded possession time and dangerous opportunities but neither could best the other. The best chance of the evening went to Sam Frandina who found himself in the slot as a rebound came directly to him, open net waiting for a goal to be deposited. His shot was blocked by a sliding defender and then Kyle Kelsey dove across with his paddle to ensure the puck wouldn’t trickle across the line.
In the shootout the Grizzlies only needed one in the opening three rounds as Chase Pirtle got a puck past Eric Young and the Express failed to beat Kelsey. Kesselring came the closest, with a nifty forehand-backhand move that got him around the goalie, but the puck unfortunately hit the post.
The hockey gods simply were not smiling on the Express Friday. Between the missed chances in OT and across regulation, this game could have been nearly 10-5 Express. Multiple posts hit and chances with wide open goals that just barely rolled off the blade of the stick. Hockey is a game of inches and sometimes the bounces just don’t go your way. Coquitlam did showcase with that second period the familiar ability to battle hard and dominate a frame, they just need to find ways to translate that to the full 60 minutes.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Garrett Frazer
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – VIC – Stone Rolston – 1G 1A
2nd – VIC – Julian Cull – 1G 1A
1st – VIC – Reegan Hiscock – 2G
– Ian Wilson
