The Coquitlam Express kick off the month of December with a visit to Langley to clash with the Coastal Conference-leading Rivermen! Puck drop is at 6:00pm.
To date, the Rivermen have come away victorious in three of four meetings with the Express. However, it’s the Express who won these two clubs’ last contest with a big 3-0 shutout back on November 10.
The Express are looking to snap a two-game slide while the Rivermen look to bounce back from a defeat at the hands of the Chilliwack Chiefs two nights ago. These two teams are at very different places in terms of their 2021-22 campaigns – the Rivermen sit atop the Coastal Conference, while the Express currently hold the last playoff spot and are looking to climb as their December schedule begins.
December presents a challenging schedule for the Express who continue a five-game string of road games that has them exclusively playing the top four teams in their conference. This road trip, although difficult, could prove to be a springboard for this Express team who have been trending upwards. After they complete this five-game stint, they come home to close out 2021 with a game against the Powell River Kings, who just happen to be three points ahead of the Express in standings.
Some new faces are in the lineup for the Express tonight and looking to make an immediate impact – Holden Cardinal and Luke Roberts make their Express debut this evening. Cardinal and Roberts were both acquired from the Surrey Eagles and we’ll see Cardinal on a line with Kahlil Fontana and Ryan Tattle, while Roberts will skate on a defensive pairing with Matthew Campbell.
The trio of Fontana, Cardinal, and Tattle is a particularly fascinating line and should prove to be a major headache for their opposition. This a very fast, hardworking, and skilled line that forechecks hard and now has Cardinal’s vision and playmaking abilities. Currently only sitting on three points in 12 games this season, Cardinal is undoubtedly being slept on and could easily bounce back to the product he displayed in the POD season where he chalked up two goals and a healthy 15 helpers in 18 games.
Adam Manji gets the nod for the Express tonight and looks to get himself and his team back on the winning side of the ledger.
Let’s go boys!
#AllAboard | #WeAreAllExpress
