Coquitlam Express posted a pair of key victories but star forward Alex Petan was the biggest winner last weekend.
Petan rifled in three goals in the Express's 6-3 victory Friday over the Langley Rivermen, then scored a dynamite, top-shelf marker Sunday in his team's 4-3 upset of the Powell River Kings.
The results at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex boosted Coquitlam's win streak to three games and culminated in Petan, 19, signing a scholarship offer from Michigan Tech University.
"He has been a workhorse for us," Express assistant coach Grant Kerr relayed via the team's website. "His diligence is his off-season workouts has paid huge dividends as he's stronger and playing with more confidence."
Against Langley, Petan's third goal proved the winner and gave the Express a 4-3 margin heading into the third period, where Malcolm McKinney and Coda Engbar netted powerplay goals less than two minutes apart to seal the win.
After totalling 33 points in 50 games with the Express last season, Petan already has 12 points, including seven goals, in seven outings thus far this campaign. Brady Shaw also struck net for the winners. The Express outshot the Rivermen by a lopsided 42-21 count.
Versus Powell River, Shaw's shorthanded tally 7:30 into the third period proved the winner as Coquitlam managed only 20 shots on the Kings' cage while surrendering 30 on their own. The 6-2 Kings visit 4-3 Coquitlam again Friday, 7 p.m.
ICING: Attendance for Friday night's game against 2-5 Langley was 732,while it dipped to 605 for Sunday's matinee affair versus Powell River.
