Excitement was the word to describe when these teams meet, and in Game 1 it proved a very apt description. Overtime was required to decide to whom the first contest would go.
The Express took the early going to get sure of their footing before they introduced themselves to the scoresheet via the return of Co-Captain Luke Vardy. Pressure in the offensive zone caused the Bulldogs to turn the puck over on a pass around the boards. A centering feed across the zone made it through to the pride of Hammonds Plains who walked in and put it perfectly in the top corner to beat Callum Tung. Vardy has been a proven postseason performer and his 20-year-old tour appears to be no different.
The Bulldogs would battle back throughout the rest of the first, overall outshooting Coquitlam 13-9 as both teams were unsuccessful on their early powerplay opportunities.
Alberni drew even at the 14:15 mark of the first frame when Grayson Badger netted his first career BCHL playoff goal. A point shot hit a body in front of Adam Manji and fell to the left side post where Badger was waiting. A deft move was required as he pulled the puck back from below the goal line to tuck it home.
The Express really hit their stride in the second period. Overall pace and puck movement increased as they settled down in front of the raucous road crowd. The Alberni Valley Multiplex is no easy barn to play in. That building was roaring all evening long and the energy was welling up for all involved.
David Brandes hoisted a puck down ice that landed on an Express stick in the final five minutes of the second frame. The resultant play ended up right back on his twig for a drive down the middle of the zone. Initially it was stopped but not to be denied was Drew Garzone parked right on the front doorstep to bang home the rebound. The 2023-2024 team MVP didn’t take long to find his second career BCHL playoff goal.
The defending conference champs were now trailing 2-1 heading into the third period and they still had plenty left in the tank to make this Game 1 worth everyone’s hard earned dollar. Zeke Nicholson found a goal Adam Manji would certainly like back when he slapped a rolling puck from the left wing just inside the blueline and it soared into the opposite top corner. Then Lucas Buzziol cashed in on an unfortunate bounce in front of the Coquitlam goal. A shot in tight was deflected and went right to Buzziol waiting at the left side post.
Cue the Express powerplay. Down one heading into the final five minutes of the game Drew Garzone took a drive down the left wing and shot towards the goal. Tung paddled away the initial opportunity but then hacked at his own rebound and snuck it past the Port Moody product to tie the game.
The Bulldogs answered almost immediately as just over a minute later Matt Kursonis ripped home a wrist shot off a drop feed setup at the top of the right faceoff circle. Ultimately setting up the Express to pull out ol’ faithful for the end of the game.
Coquitlam has been no stranger to finding 6-on-5 success this season. It even dates back to last year in the playoffs when they scored two goals in the final two minutes in Game 5 of round 1 against Chilliwack. They would need that success to find them again.
And it did.
With under a minute to go traffic piled up in front of the goal and Jackson Krill loaded up for a big shot from the right side of the zone. With three bodies blocking the view of Callum Tung there was little opportunity to see it go in and the game was again tied.
More than 60 minutes is what the hockey gods ordered for the opener to what should be a fantastic series. And just over 75 total is what this one needed.
The pace didn’t take a backseat despite the fatigue surely building up in the bodies of all involved. Bless the vocal cords of the fans because they certainly never stopped. It all came down to an extended shift in the Coquitlam zone for the Bulldogs. Multiple clearing attempts were knocked down or blocked at the blueline and the shots piled up. Finally one broke through as Grayson Badger was stationed in front of Manji and solved him with a tip off yet another point shot.
The ceiling came off the Dog Pound and Alberni escaped with a Game 1 victory.
Stick taps to Tung and Manji who still both had over 30 saves on the night and fought hard on several plays to stymie the momentum of the other squad. Noah Dziver also picked up where he left off prior to injury with the primary assist on Luke Vardy’s opener and provided a general hard-nosed game all night long.
Expect much more of the same tonight in Game 2 as the Multiplex gets set to welcome possibly an even rowdier crowd that Coquitlam will look to silence.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Grayson Badger
MARINER BREWING 3 STARS
3rd – COQ – Drew Garzone – 2 Goals
2nd – AVB – Lucas Buzziol – 1 Goal 1 Assist
1st – AVB – Zeke Nicholson – 1 Goal 1 Assist
– Ian Wilson
