What a night it was for the Express at Hap Parker. Several key facets of their game were re-found and they channeled it all into a solid performance from up and down the lineup. Defence? Check. Goaltending? Check. Offence? You betcha. Coquitlam have the building blocks for a solid path forward if they play the way they did this evening.
We’ve discussed at length how defence was something Coquitlam had gotten away from in recent memory. A founding principal of their early season identity had taken a bit of a hiatus, only to come roaring back to the scene tonight. Powell River were held to 23 shots, which very few were of the high danger variety. Guys were sacrificing the body and getting in front of players and pucks alike to deter the Kings counterattack. This was an Express team tonight that got the message that outscoring their problems was not the recipe for success they needed.
Backstopping the defensive effort was none other than Eric Young. The pride of Mill Bay, BC notched his first career BCHL shutout and had some sensational saves on the way to it. The biggest came on a turnover in the defensive zone that gave Max Jelavic a great shot from the slot. Young got the glove on it and held on for safe keeping. Not too much flare with the flash of the leather, but that’s Young’s style. Go to work, get the job done and share the spoils with your teammates.
Offensively it was a case of scoring only what was necessary tonight. In a game that went scoreless into the third period that was a timely accomplishment. Nick Wellenreiter grabbed the game’s opening marker on the powerplay with an all too familiar connection. Wellenreiter carried the puck around the right wing and behind the goal before snapping a pass to the waiting Zocco in the slot as the defence shifted their attention.
The insurance marker came courtesy of Nick Wellenreiter’s vision once again. From the right circle he found new teammate Jack Bakker at the back post with a tape to tape pass. The new acquisition did excellent to get open undetected at the near side back door and was rewarded with his first as a member of your Express.
This was a feel-good win all around for the Express as they ticked off all the boxes in a game that solidified sole control of second place in the Coastal Conference. Jeff Wagner finally got his wish: Coquitlam went into the trenches and played solid defence in a low scoring hockey game and came out victorious. They scored first and didn’t look back as they kept finding ways to attack once they smelled blood in the water. And even early on when Vincent Lamberti was looking nigh unbeatable, they didn’t hang their heads in frustration. The Express did what makes them successful, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
Coquitlam are back at it again tomorrow night against the Kings. 7pm PST is the scheduled opening faceoff from Hap Parker Memorial Arena as the Express look to sweep the doubleheader.
FORTIS BC ENERGY PLAYER – Brendan Giles
MARINER BREWING THREE STARS
3rd – COQ – Thomas Zocco – Game Winning Goal
2nd – COQ – Eric Young – 1st Career BCHL Shutout
1st – PR – Vincent Lamberti – 35 Saves on 37 Shots
– Ian Wilson
