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GOVERNORS APPROVE EXPRESS MOVE BACK TO COQUITLAM

Burnaby,B.C. — January 14, 2010 — The British Columbia Hockey League Board ofGovernors have unanimously approved the relocation application of the BurnabyExpress franchise to the City of Coquitlam for the 2010/11 season. The decisionwas made at the league?s Semi- Annual Governors meeting held in Nanaimo,B.C. on Wednesday.

 

?We?rethrilled to be returning to Coquitlam and the newly renovated Sports Centre,where we enjoyed tremendous success in our first four years of ourfranchise,? Express Governor Darcy Rota says.

 

?TheCity of Coquitlam staff, Mayor Richard Stewart, the Coquitlam Minor HockeyAssociation and the Coquitlam Adanacs Senior A Lacrosse Club, the Tri-CitiesChamber of Commerce and local hockey fans have all been very welcoming and enthusiasticabout our potential return. Our Express ownership group is excited about theopportunities for future success in Coquitlam.?

 

Thefinishing touches on the move should take place in the coming weeks as a leaseis finalized between the Express ownership and the City of Coquitlam.

 

TheExpress relocated to Burnaby at the beginning of the 2005/06 season. Despite winning a National Championship in 2006 and developing future firstround NHL draft pick Kyle Turris for two seasons, the franchise found it increasinglydifficult to operate in Burnaby because of dwindling crowds and limited accessto adjacent parking lots due to a dredging project at Burnaby Lake that beganin August of 2009.

 

?Forour five seasons in Burnaby, our ownership, staff, players and volunteers haveall worked very hard to ensure a successful relationship with the City ofBurnaby and community while playing at the Bill Copeland Sports Centre,?says Rota. ?However, it became increasingly clear that a move was in thebest interests for the team?s future.  We would like to thank allour fans in Burnaby and we hope that they will continue to support us in thecoming seasons in Coquitlam.?