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Coquitlam Express upset in video game simulation

Quest for team's third Fred Page Cup championship stopped twice.
virtual hockey
Coquitlam Express forward Ethan O'Rourke scores in the BC Hockey League team's virtual playoff series loss to the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

The Coquitlam Express won’t win its third BC Hockey League championship.

In reality or fantasy.

Not only were the league’s regular season champions denied the opportunity of hoisting the Fred Page Cup when the season was cancelled March 13 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Thursday, the team was ousted from the post-season by the Cowichan Valley Capitals in a video game simulation played on EASports NHL2020.

The Capitals, which finished second in the Island division, defeated the Express, four games to three in the best-of-seven series to claim the Coastal Conference title. They advance to the championship round against the winner of the Interior division final between the Vernon Vipers and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

The Express, which set franchise records for points and wins in the regular season, were controlled by goaltender Joe Howe. He was acquired by the team from the Victoria Grizzlies late in the season when Coquitlam’s star showstopper, Clay Stevenson, had to end his campaign early because of an obscure NCAA rule that would have cost him a year of eligibility at Dartmouth College if he played after his 21st birthday on March 3.

Cowichan Valley was helmed by defenceman Nolan Barrett, who finished the regular season with two goals and eight assists in 53 games.

The simulation was developed by the former communications director for the Express, Jacob Lazare. who rated players from all eight teams still competing when the season was cancelled. Those ratings are used by the game’s artificial intelligence to complement the actual gameplay from its handheld controllers.

Lazare then whittles the series down to a two-minute highlight reel, complete with commentary by the teams’ broadcasters.

The Express previously won the Fred Page Cup in 2006, when the franchise was based in Burnaby, and again in 2014.

Tuesday, the team announced it had also parted ways with head coach and general manager Jason Fortier after they weren’t able to come to an agreement on a new contract.

Since taking over behind the bench in November, 2017, Fortier guided the team to 87 wins, 51 losses and 11 ties.

See how the Coquitlam Express lost its quest for the Fred Page Cup.