The Express fought hard to the end but ultimately the battered and bruised lineup just didn’t have enough left in the tank. It is a tough pill to swallow when you know that at full strength the situation could have been so much different. If you were described a theoretical playoff series, where one team was at full strength, and the other was missing three 20-goal scorers for portions of the round, two top-four defenders, and another important depth piece, what would you describe the chances of the latter team? The Express defied the odds with a tightly-contested series and just came up short in the end. There is plenty to be proud of for this group, and the young players that will return showed signs of a bright future.
Twenty minutes went by in Game 6 and neither team found the back of the goal. Coquitlam had some big chances they just couldn’t capitalize upon and the Grizzlies went 0-2 on the powerplay. The shots reflected the even field through the opening period as this one appeared like it was destined for a similar fate to all the prior close contests.
Victoria found their offensive footing in the second when Chase Pirtle scored back-to-back tip-ins off Charles Cote point shots. The first of the two was rather impressive as Cote held the blueline three times in a row before he got the shot through that eventually broke the deadlock. Then Reegan Hiscock scored his second of the series when Seamus Latta drove behind the goal and feathered a beautiful centering pass through the Express defence. The Grizzlies outshot the Express 23-8 in the middle frame and the damage was too great to overcome.
Tom Molson added their third of the opening round at the 7:06 mark of the third and gave the Grizzlies what seemed an insurmountable advantage. Carson McGinley provided Coquitlam a dash of hope as he rushed down the wing on the powerplay and got a sharp angle shot to beat Oliver Auyeung-Ashton.
That was the only offence the Express would muster as Tobias Pitka added an empty netter to finish off the game for good.
Credit to the Grizzlies, they played an excellent series and got big goals at important moments. With so many close games that went down to the wire, it definitely leaves a few “what ifs” hanging in the air. They now await the Chilliwack – Prince George series conclusion to determine their next opponent.
For the Express, it was a somber end to the evening but the standing ovation from the fans was wonderful to witness. They realized the heart and soul on display and showed their appreciation. The 20’s were selected as the Energy player and three stars for one last lap around the rink in their final Junior games.
Now the preparation begins for an exciting 2025-2026 campaign where the Express will be celebrating their 25th anniversary. We are so excited for what is in store and of course, thank you for sharing in this incredible season with us.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Andrew Ness
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – COQ – Sam Frandina
2nd – COQ – Andrej Kovacevic
1st – COQ – James Shannon
– Ian Wilson
