Thanks largely to the Colorado Kid, the Coquitlam Express rattled off three straight road wins last weekend to stay in the thick of the BCHL's Coastal Conference race.
Goalie Cole Huggins, a native of Englewood, Colo., blocked 137 of 141 shots as the Express beat the Power River Kings 5-3 Friday, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 4-0 Saturday and the Nanaimo Clippers 5-3 Sunday in a trio of tilts on Vancouver Island.
A training camp cast-off of the Langley Rivermen, the Express called Huggins at his U.S. home and offered him the opportunity to be a netminding tandem with incumbent Khaleed Devji. It looks as though Devji may have to re-earn his starter's spot now.
On Monday, Huggins was deservedly named the BCHL's player of the week.
"He was fantastic for us," raved Express GM Darcy Rota. "All the kids played hard and [head coach] Jon [Calvano] is rolling over four lines nicely. It's good to see."
The results improved the Express to 11-8-1-2 in sixth spot in the broom-closet tight conference -- only four points back of the first-place Surrey Eagles.
The return of top gun Alex Kerfoot from his all-star showing for Canada West at the World Jr. 'A' Challenge in Langley has also been a boost for the Express, as has the recent trade acquisition of Taylor Bourne, who tallied three goals and three assists over the three-game stint.
Against Powell River, the Express overcame an early 2-0 deficit by rifling in the game's next four goals, all on the powerplay, including ones by Kerfoot and Bourne.
In Port Alberni, Alex Petan assisted on all four Express goals and Huggins made 36 saves to snag the shutout.
In Nanaimo, the Express jumped to a 4-1 first-period lead and hung on to make it a three-game Island sweep.
ICING: The Express have a home-and-home series with Langley as part of the BCHL's 50th anniversary weekend celebration, starting Friday at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex, 7 p.m.
