It likely wasn’t the way the Coquitlam Express intended to start the new year.
The BC Hockey League (BCHL) team lost its first game since the calendar turned, 7-0 to the Nanaimo Clippers, Sunday (Jan. 2) at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
The visitors scored once in the first period, three times in the second and then added three more in the third. The Clippers also outshot the hosts, 46-20.
Afterward, Express general manager Tali Campbell said, “Tonight was ugly. We need to be better.”
The loss kept Coquitlam in last place in the BCHL’s Coastal division, tied with the Cowichan Valley Capitals, although the latter has played four more games. The teams are five points behind the seventh-place Powell River Kings.
In its quest for improvement, the Express announced two trades over the holiday break.
On Dec. 29, it acquired 19-year-old centre Mateo Dixon from the Clippers in exchange for defenceman Alek Sekunda and future considerations, and on Saturday it dealt future considerations to the Penticton Vees for 19-year-old forward Trevor O’Brien.
Dixon played only two games for Nanaimo after joining the BCHL team from the Jersey Hitmen of the National Collegiate Development Conference where he scored nine goals and added 18 assists in 23 games. He had a goal in his two appearances for the Clippers.
O’Brien, a native of Hingham, Mass., had two goals and four assists in his 18 games with the Vees.
The Express play two more home games this weekend.
On Friday (Jan. 7), the Wenatchee Wild visit Poirier at 7 p.m. and Saturday (Jan . 8) the Victoria Grizzlies are in town for another 7 p.m. start.
