Austin McIlmurray may be a new face in the Coquitlam Express dressing room, but fans are quickly learning why the club was so eager to acquire the 19-year-old American.
The Coral Springs, Fla., native scored two goals in front of the home crowd on Saturday night, helping his team hang on for a 3-3 tie against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
Two assists on Thursday night in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Victoria Grizzlies has given McIlmurray 10 points in nine games this season, making him one of the more reliable scorers with the club, behind captain Jackson Cressey with 16 points and Colton Kerfoot with 11 points.
The Express scored by committee during their overtime victory Thursday, starting a weekend set of games that would see the club win one, lose one and tie one.
Cressey, Kerfoot, Jake Brien, Charlie Barrow and Erik Udahl all picked up singles in the victory, while Kerfoot and Cressey both had two helpers in the win.
But the club could not maintain the momentum going into Friday’s game against the Nanaimo Clippers, who scored two power play goals in the second and two more in the third to win the game 4-2.
Saturday’s game against Cowichan was a back-and-forth affair, but when the Express failed to score in the third and overtime periods, the game finished as a 3-3 tie.
The team was scheduled to play Tuesday night after The Tri-City News’ deadline and will be back in town for a home game at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex on Friday against Power River. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
