Coquitlam Express got the start they wanted last season, just not the finish.
After jumping out to seven wins in their first 12 games, the Express slammed into an eight-game losing wall in November, racked up nine regular-season overtime losses and got crushed in four straight first-round playoff games by the Surrey Eagles.
To top all, their final game drew only 563 fans to the smartly renovated Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex -- nowhere near the 1,000 minimum home attendance figure Express general manager Darcy Rota was counting on at the start of the team's first season back in Coquitlam after having spent the previous five seasons in Burnaby.
Certainly, this season will be different.
It better be.
Last season, the Express averaged 778 fans to rank 12th in that category among the 16 BCHL teams. On the plus side, their home-game attendance was up a league-best 236 from the previous season, when they played in front of sparse crowds at Bill Copeland Arena.
"That's a good question," Rota said, when asked about the many empty seats despite the shift back to Coquitlam, where the Express spent four seasons before skipping to Burnaby. "With the new [Poirier] rink and everything, we were hoping it would be better. We've been active [in the off-season] in the way of community events and such... people know we're back now and here to stay."
A prolific product on the ice goes along way in selling tickets, Rota conceded. The Express finished seventh in the eight-team Coastal Conference last season with a 22-28-1-9 record, good for 54 points and just three more than the last-place Cowichan Valley Capitals. The 3.12 goals for per game they averaged over the 60-game regular season campaign was second worst in the conference, and their 4.22 goals against mark was tied for most woeful with the Capitals.
"Offensively, we have some new forwards we've brought in who look capable of putting up some pretty good numbers in this league," Rota said. "Our goaltending looks solid, too, and the back end may take a little bit longer to develop but that's usually the case. Overall, I think we'll be better, for sure."
While the Express lost key point producers Destry Straight and Massimo Lamacchia, they hope returning forwards Alex Petan, Malcolm McKinney and Justin Georgeson will carry the scoring load. (On a side note, Petan and training camp hopeful Mitchell Fyffe scooted up the gruelling Grouse Grind in a team-best 32 minutes during an Express team-bonding excursion over the Labour Day long weekend earlier this month.)
Khaleed Devji, who appeared in 50 games in his rookie campaign last season, is back and is expected to garner most of the team's netminding time ahead of fellow-incumbent Billy McGladrey. Also, ex-Salmon Arm Silverbacks defenceman Clinton Atkinson, who was acquired in the Brad Reid trade and is a 20-year-old with major-junior experience, is being looked upon to be an offensive-minded blueline leader.
"Our ultimate goal is to win the Royal Bank Cup but we have to make the playoffs first," said Express second-year head coach and director of hockey operations Jon Calvano. "Our goaltending is the same, and with a year experience, we expect Khaleed to be able to carry the load. We've improved our size, strength and aggressiveness on defence. Our overall skill level has improved, too."
ICING: The Express open the regular season next Friday versus the Penticton Vees at the Poirier facility, 7 p.m.
