It wasn’t quite the high note on the ice the Express were searching for, but overall last night was worthy of Holiday Cheer heading into the winter break.
Score for Cancer Night was another rousing success as the community came together in support of the fight against Cancer. Former Express Captain and founder of Score for Cancer, Ryan Tattle, and Nevan Coburn from our Coquitlam HC 15U team dropped the ceremonial puck to a roaring ovation and that was just a drop in the bucket of what made the night special. Nevan battled and defeated cancer when he was a young child, undergoing rounds of chemotherapy and surgery. Now he is a standout young goaltender with an extremely bright future ahead. Talking with Tattle during the second intermission it was clear to see the pride and courage on display he has in moving this initiative forward. What started as a goal of $5000 has quickly exploded into this cause that has raised north of $150,000 to date.
The game between the whistles was similar to what we expected when these sides take to the ice as opponents. Fast paced, hard-hitting hockey had everyone on the edge of their seats for the duration of the evening. Coquitlam would strike first and take a lead to the end of the first period. Mason Kesselring threaded a nice pass through to Max Pendy who had slipped behind the defence. Pendy was patient and deposited a shot into the top left corner, waiting out Colin Winn.
That would be the only time the Express could best Winn on the evening as the veteran netminder was sensational once again. On the night he had two absolutely incredible lunging saves to deny Coquitlam with flashy glove saves on 2-on-1’s. He would add another fantastic pad denial on a cross seam feed for good measure. 26 saves on 27 shots earned him first star honours on the evening.
Alberni got goals from McCarthy Richardson, Gianni DiVita and Cole Bishop to seal the deal. The Bishop goal featured a miraculous assist from Samuel Leonard who got the feed to Bishop via a nifty toe drag deke around the defence in tight.
The Express were banged up to put it lightly last night but the coaching staff still had high expectations for it to be a “next guy up” mentality. Injuries and illness breed opportunity for players to step up in elevated minutes. The compete level was there last night, with guys finding their groove and working hard, they just couldn’t get more than one past Winn.
Shaenen Long looked good in his BCHL debut. The 2007 born forward is signed for next season with the Express and impressed in his preview look. Long skated well, moved the puck with purpose and got involved physically.
It’s now the winter break for your Express as they will return to action in 2025. January 3rd and 4th they find themselves on an Island swing visiting Victoria and Nanaimo.
Thank you for all the support through this wild first half of the season. The team and players appreciate it greatly. Safe travels this Holiday season and may you find happiness and cheer heading into the New Year.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Mitch Kneidel
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – COQ – Max Pendy – 1G
2nd – AVB – Samuel Leonard – 2A *Error on boxscore at time of publishing*
1st – AVB – Colin Winn – 26 Saves on 27 Shots
– Ian Wilson
