Women’s Sport is a force that is gaining extreme momentum. Whether it is the surge in popularity of the WNBA, the rise of the PWHL, or any manner of movement elevating ladies in sport, the world is on notice. What we cannot forget amongst this renaissance is that women have always been there. The sports community at large would not be where it is today, regardless of which sex is out on the playing field, without the contributions of countless incredible ladies. Tonight, the Express endeavor to pay homage to those wonderful women.
The festivities will feature a myriad of special guests including Sydney Harris as one of the referees. Harris made history recently as the first ever female referee to officiate an ECHL game. Colleen Geddes will be working the lines, a long time standout lines official in the BCHL. Caroline Frolic will be lending her voice to the Train Station as our special guest PA Announcer. She is a well established radio voice in Vancouver and works PA for the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. The anthem will be sung by a local Centennial Secondary Student in Tamika Roberts. And last but certainly not least Winnie Adams will be our seventh skater joining the players on the ice for the starting lineup.
On the ice it will be your Coquitlam Express and the Surrey Eagles. The last time these sides met was December 13th and 14th for a home-and-home weekend that saw a split. Surrey defended home ice at the Nest with a 5-1 final and Coquitlam bounced back at the Train Station with an 8-6 win on Teddy Bear Toss Night. Both teams have some good mojo going after each securing wins on home ice Friday night. That makes it three in a row for the Eagles and four in a row for the Express so someone’s win streak will be snapped tonight. The similarities continue as Surrey and Coquitlam sport matching 7-3 records in their last 10. Tonight’s contest will be ever prevalent in the standings with the road team sitting in second place in the conference, but only three points ahead of your Express.
Surrey plays a well-oiled type of game that doesn’t leave a ton of room for opponents to exploit mistakes. Even more dangerous is their ability to get out on the rush and execute. In that fateful 5-1 loss in December, a large chunk of the goals Surrey scored came on capitalizing when given odd-man-rush opportunities. A player to key in on defensively tonight will be Miles Burgin. He currently holds an 11-game point streak and has six points in his last three.
If there’s one man that Surrey has to watch tonight it is Carson McGinley. Six goals now in five games since joining the Express to start the New Year. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the ice is flourishing and last night he had another statement game with a big goal and then two primary assists. Perhaps the biggest play of the night was his second assist where he set up Joseph Odyniec for the game-tying goal with 25 seconds left in the third period.
Last time out the Express were able to get to Aidan Fischer but as always he will be a tough nut to crack. The North Vancouver product has a 10-3-1 record since joining Surrey and sports a 2.90 GAA and .917 SV%. With how tumultuous it has been with injuries in the crease this season, to see Fischer establish himself has been a breath of fresh air for Surrey. Coquitlam will likely counter with Andrew Ness as the tendy is on a hot streak securing four wins in a row and a 41 save performance last night.
Key for the Express tonight will be to grab a lead and then keep it. Friday night the Chilliwack Chiefs were able to battle back into the game with a 3-0 run in the third period. That kind of stumble can and will go punished if it becomes a habit. The killer instinct still needs a little fine-tuning but the fact they dug deep to tie the contest late and then sealed it in overtime is a very good sign that they can switch it back on when the time calls.
Join us tonight at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex to help celebrate the incredible women in the sporting community. With the Tri-City Express set to partake in their inaugural season of the Female Super League in the fall, this night means just a little bit extra to this entire organization.
– Ian Wilson
