The Coquitlam Express scored the first six goals and cruised to a 6-3 win over the Langley Rivermen in their BC Hockey League exhibition game Tuesday at the George Preston Arena.
Dante Berrettoni scored twice for the visitors in the first period, while Ray Hamlin and Emmett McHardy added singles.
The Express then expanded its advantage to 6-0 when Ryder McIntosh scored twice early in the second period.
Hayden Yahn got Langley onto the scoreboard 12:11 into the middle frame and less than two minutes later Vitaly Levyy closed Coquitlam’s advantage to 6-2.
A goal by Owen Kim got Langley to within three goals 3:34 into the third period, but that’s as close as the Rivermen got.
Adam Manji stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced in Coquitlam’s net, while his teammates fired 40 shots at Langley keepers Brodie Haylock and Taje Gill, who split the game’s duties almost evenly.
The game was the first meeting between Coquitlam and Langley since the Express swept the Rivermen from the first round 2020 BCHL playoffs just before they were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic as Langley did not participate in the league’s pod season last spring.
Coquitlam hosts the Merritt Centennials in its first pre-season game at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex tonight at 7 p.m. Spectators must produce their B.C. vaccine card and wear a mask throughout the game.
