A few more fans might have been inclined to pick up lineup sheets for the Coquitlam Express prior to the team’s BC Hockey League home opener on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Only a handful of players from the squad that finished fifth in the Coastal West division last season and then lost its first round playoff series in six games to the fourth-place Victoria Grizzlies remain.
But Express head coach Jeff Wagner said the addition of several veterans who feel they still have something to prove makes for an enthusiastic, motivated group.
“The guys that we’ve added, they kind of have a fire in their belly,” said Wagner, who’s entering his second full season as bench boss of the Express. “There’s a lot of guys in that room that really want to win.”
The lineup revamp also meant a busy training camp for captain Cooper Wilson, who’s been charged with integrating the newcomers into the Express’ systems on the ice and culture off it.
“We play a style that some of these guys have never played before,” Wagner said. “So we just talk about the details and habits they need to do in order to be successful.”
The results through the preseason were encouraging, as Coquitlam won three of its four games.
Wagner said second-year defenseman Liam Loughery appears ready to elevate his game after his promising rookie season with the Express was cut short by an injury.
“He’s mature beyond his years,” Wagner said of Loughery, who’s from Pitt Meadows. “He’ll be a guy that we’re leaning on heavily.”
Newcomers bolster defense
Bolstering the blue line corps will be BCHL newcomers Tyler Russell, who played 27 games with the Wenatchee Wild in the Western Hockey League last season, and 18-year-old James Odyniec, the younger brother of former Express forward Joseph Odyniec.
As well, Wagner said he expects Will Distad, who scored 23 points in 27 games in his final season at White Bear Lake High School in Minnesota, to have an immediate impact in his first season of junior hockey.
“Despite our veteran presence, we really like our young guys as well,” Wagner said. “It’s a really nice blend.”
Veterans lead offense
Up front, familiar names include Nate Crema, who’s back for his third season with the Express after scoring 28 points in 45 games last year, and Carson McGinley, who contributed 17 points in 25 games after starting the season with the Vernon Vipers and then the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
They’ll be supported by veteran acquisitions like Cole Bishop, who joins the Express after two seasons with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, and Port Moody’s Luke Pfoh, who’s played for the Langley Rivermen, Cranbrook Buck and Merritt Centennials.
Christian Maro spent the previous two season with the Powell River Kings, where he scored 54 points in 80 games, while Justin Ivanusic spent time with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants and Calgary Hitmen before playing last season with Camrose and Drayton Valley in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
One rookie forward who’s likely to attract a lot of attention is Cole Bieksa.
The 18-year-old son of beloved Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman and current Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster, Kevin Bieksa, signed with the Express last February but spent much of training camp with the WHL’s Giants. He helped lead his Fairmont Prep program in Southern California to the national final last season, scoring 73 points in 55 games.
Goalie position wide open
The departure of starting goaltender Andrew Ness for Wilfred Laurier University has left that position wide open.
Ness blossomed in the Express net after he was acquired last November from the Penticton Vees, where he’d been playing a secondary role.
Wagner said he’s hoping former Trail Smoke Eaters’ backup Ryan Parker will follow a similar developmental trajectory.
Parker won 12 of the 20 games he played last season, including one shutout, and posted a .910 save percentage.
“He was part of probably one of the best goalie tandems in the league,” said Wagner of Parker. “He’s calm and he plays the puck really well so that helps our transition game.”
Also seeking time in the crease are returnees Logan Kennedy and Mitch Pearce.
Kennedy played in three games for Coquitlam last season, losing twice and allowing 11 goals, while Pearce allowed seven goals in his two appearances.
Wagner said he’s confident both will continue to progress under Parker’s mentorship.
Wagner said despite the high turnover of players, he’s setting high expectations for this milestone season.
“We’ve created a non-negotiable standard for our players to abide by,” he said. “The guys who are willing to compete and do what it takes to win are the guys you’ll see here at the end of the year.”
Express tame Grizzlies
Three goals in the third period powered the Express past the Victoria Grizzlies, 4-3, in Saturday’s season opener for both teams.
Trailing 3-1 midway through the final frame, a power play goal by Christian Maro at 12:42 sparked the late comeback.
Nolan Dupont tied it 3:09 later, then Nolan Flynn scored the game-winner with 2:45 remaining in regulation time.
Maro added an assist to lead all Coquitlam scorers.
Justin Ivanusec scored the other goal for the Express, 4:21 into the first period.
Ryan Parker stopped 27 of the 30 shots he faced in the Express net, one of them a penalty shot by Victoria’s Max Silver.
Coquitlam fired 42 shots at Grizzlies’ goalie Carter Capton.
The Express host the Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday, Sept. 26. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
Express honours quarter-century team
As part of Coquitlam’s 25th anniversary season, the team unveiled its Quarter Century Team of distinguished alumni as voted by fans.
Forward:
- Kyle Turris
- Mark Soares
- Tyler McNeely
- Alex Kerfoot
- Corey Mackin
- David Jones
- Tyler Kopf
- Brett Hemingway
- Massimo Rizzo
- Brandon Yip
- Andrew Ladd
- Ryan Tattle
Defense:
- Brad Hunt
- Keith Seabrook
- Matthew Campbell
- Marc Biega
- Noah De la Durantaye
- Alan Mazur
Goal:
- Clay Stevenson
- Mark Dekanich
MARIO BARTEL 