Answering the bell is something all great teams must do when they head into foreign territory. The Chilliwack Coliseum goes a step further, planting itself in the hostile side of the spectrum when those fans get going. One easy way to shut the fans and opposing team down is to come out with the upper hand on a good ol’ fashioned donnybrook and then steal the puck twice on breakouts to get the game 2-0.
The Express were dialed in from the start Saturday night, but Luke Vardy decided his team needed a little extra spark to ignite the inferno. The Co Captain would drop the mitts with 6’8 Jack Sparkes and its been a long while since we’ve seen a fight like that in the BCHL. Reach advantage went to Sparkes but Vardy stood his ground and then some, eventually taking Sparkes to the ice after both landed some bombs with the right hand. It was all Coquitlam from then on forward. Blood in the water was smelt and the aggression turned up another notch exactly the way you need it to when on the road. The number of chances generated in the offensive zone as a result was highlighted by associate coach Jeff Wagner post game. Furthermore, he was impressed by that energy translating to the defensive end and subsequent puck management. No matter how Chilliwack tried to respond, dangerous opportunities aplenty were sent packing.
Logan Morrell and Drew Garzone got the party started in the second off the mentioned offensive zone aggression on the forecheck and backcheck. Both goals, 2:37 and 5:22 in respectively, came off steals as the Chilliwack puck carriers tried to exit the zone and had it stolen right out from under them in the slot. Pretty rushes and tic tac toe plays are nice, but goals like that are such a backbreaker for an opponent and a source of pride for the coaching staff. The toque toss goal would come near the end of the 2nd frame thanks to Dylan Kinch with under 30 seconds to play.
That was the only goal the Chiefs could muster as Coquitlam kept their game tidy in the 3rd. They disrupted chances as Chilliwack tried to muster their pressure, with Adam Manji and company sharp and answering the call when needed. Speaking of Manji, the Burnaby Brick Wall stopped 26 of 27 on his way to 2nd Star honours. Jackson Krill also got on the board late in the 3rd with another patented wicked wrister to add a tally for the powerplay crew (goal was incorrectly recorded as shorthanded). Logan Morrell then found himself in the right place at the right time as the Express defence manufactured a turnover and shot the puck down to him near the Chiefs’ blueline which he then deposited into the empty cage, putting this one soundly to bed. Coquitlam now has a few days off leading into a midweek affair with the Nanaimo Clippers, whom the Express certainly have unfinished business against.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Jack Sparkes
MARINER BREWING 3 STARS
3rd – CWHK – Dylan Kinch – 1G
2nd – COQ – Adam Manji – 26/27 Saves
1st – COQ – Logan Morrell – 2G
– Ian
