Belief and creativity will be key if the Coquitlam Express are to have success against the Prince George Spruce Kings, in their opening-round series of the BC Hockey League playoffs that begins Friday in Prince George, says the team’s coach.
Jason Fortier believes his charges have an abundance of both.
He said the seeds were planted a year ago when he was able to squeak the Express into the post-season as the final qualifier after taking the reigns of the team halfway through an otherwise moribund campaign.
“The kids were excited to change their history,” Fortier said. “They wanted to create something new.”
They did just that. Coquitlam finished this season with 13 more wins, 27 more points, and climbed to third place in the Mainland division.
Fortier said while the team’s belief in itself may have been bowed at various points during the 58-game regular season, it never broke. They snapped an eight-game losing streak that started on Jan. 25 by winning three of their last four games.
In fact, Coquitlam’s last victory, a 7-0 pasting of the Surrey Eagles last Friday at South Surrey Arena, may have been the perfect launch into the team’s best-of-seven series against the Spruce Kings, Fortier said. The seven goals were the most the Express had scored since they netted eight against Alberni Valley on Jan. 13.
“It’s always good to finish strong,” Fortier said. “We had battled some adversity, and now we’re in good spirits.”
To turn that winning feeling into actual wins, Fortier said the Express will look to their creativity and speed to overcome the Spruce Kings’ discipline and physicality.
“Not many teams can match their work ethic,” Fortier said of the Spruce Kings, who finished the season with 22 points more than the Express, and just a point shy of the league-leading Chilliwack Chiefs.
Though Coquitlam lost six of their eight games against the Spruce Kings in the regular season, Fortier points out one of those setbacks was in overtime, another in a shootout. He said his team will have to work to break down Prince George’s rigid system that has been drilled into their players by constant repetition.
“We’re still the underdog,” Fortier said. “If we believe, then we can beat any team in the league.”
The series opens in Prince George Friday and Saturday, then returns to Coquitlam for games three and four on Monday and Tuesday, 7:15 p.m. at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex. Game five, if necessary, is scheduled for next Friday in Prince George.
Express hand out team awards
The Express handed out its annual team awards at the team’s end of season banquet on Sunday. The winners are:
• Josh Bruce, most popular player;
• Chase Danol; community involvement award;
• Drew Cooper, most improved player;
• Regan Kimens, most three-star selections;
• Troy Robillard and Jack Cameron, unsung heroes;
• Pito Walton and Jordan Schulting, outstanding defencemen;
• Regan Kimens, top forward;
• Alex DiPaolo and Connor Gregga, top rookies;
• Josh Wildauer, most valuable player;
• Christian Sanda and Robillar, hard hat award;
• Kolby Matthews, hero award.
