Off the ice, Women in Sports Night was exceptional. A true celebration of the many incredible ladies that make the sporting world what it is today, recognizing the hard work and barriers broken by so many wonderful women. To all that joined us, we thank you immensely.
On the ice, it was a defensive nightmare made reality for the Express. After 40 minutes the game sat at 2-1 Eagles with Thomas Zocco nabbing the goal for Coquitlam. Ryan Evenhuis got a one-timer to go from the slot and Yuchan Kong wired home a slapshot on the powerplay for Surrey.
And then it all unraveled in the first three-and-a-half minutes of the third.
Sihwan Kim asserted his impact on the game with a beautiful rush down the wing, cutting in behind the defence and beating Andrew Ness with a backhander. Then Miles Burgin kept his point streak going steady with not one, but two goals that came off defensive breakdowns back to back. Three goals in less than 60 seconds. That would do it for Ness as Mitchell Pearce came into the contest and didn’t fair much better. One of the first shots he saw was a wicked wrist shot from Shawn Leary that beat him upstairs. Finally at the 11:07 mark, Jack Sullivan would deflect a cross-ice pass past his own goaltender.
The Express had their chances throughout the night, however they ran into a solid goaltender. Nathan Claydon had a fantastic game for the Eagles making 35 saves on 36 shots. Several times he was there to bail out the defence when Coquitlam got grade-A opportunities. Always a feel-good sight for a goalie to get a big win in their BCHL debut.
There will need to be a healthy amount of accountability taken this week for the Express. Even more important is that when the going gets tough like it did last night, you have to band together. The loss is a team loss. Frustrations are going to boil to the surface inevitably but it is how you choose to manifest it that matters. The mark of good teams is the ability to take a licking like this and keep on kicking. Coquitlam have done so before and will surely rebound again.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Thomas Zocco
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – SUR – Shawn Leary -1G 2A
2nd – SUR – Miles Burgin – 2G 1A
1st – SUR – Nathan Claydon – 35 Saves, 1st BCHL Win
– Ian Wilson
