Coquitlam Express

{{Infobox hockey team

| team = Coquitlam Express

| colour = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:black 5px solid; border-bottom:gold 5px solid;

| colour text = black

| logo = Coquitlam Express Junior Hockey Club logo.png

| logosize = 175px

| city = Coquitlam, British Columbia

| league = BCHL

| division = Coastal

| founded = 2001

| arena = Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex

| colours = Black, gold, white
{{Color box|black}} {{Color box|gold}} {{Color box|white}}

| GM = Tali Campbell

| coach = Jeff Wagner - Asst (Brett Sonne & Kyle Johnson)

| website = [https://www.coquitlamexpress.ca Official Website] – Tickets available [https://express.ticketsnap.ca/ here]

| name1 = Coquitlam Express

| dates1 = 2001–2005

| name2 = Burnaby Express

| dates2 = 2005–2010

| name3 = Coquitlam Express

| dates3 = 2010–present

| general_manager = Tali Campbell}}

Image:Main arena at the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex.jpg]]

The Coquitlam Express are a Junior ice hockey team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). They play their home games at the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex.

Although the team had played in the neighbouring city of Burnaby for the previous five years, on 14 January 2010 it was announced that the BCHL Board of Governors unanimously approved the relocation of the franchise back to Coquitlam for the 2010–11 season.BCHL: [http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&page=41592&stype=11 Express return to Coquitlam receives go-ahead by BCHL Governors] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718085017/http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&page=41592&stype=11 |date=July 18, 2011 }} 14 January 2010Tri-City News: [http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/sports/81550952.html BCHL Express returning to Coquitlam from Burnaby]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 14 January 2010Canada.com: [http://www2.canada.com/coquitlamnow/news/sports/story.html?id=cef01522-9c9d-49b6-82c7-46eaff160a94 BCHL OK's Express' ticket to Coquitlam]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 15 January 2010

History

The Coquitlam Express began play as a new franchise in the BCHL for the 2001–02 hockey season, and played in the city for four seasons at the Coquitlam Sports Centre. Due to unsatisfactory conditions at the Sports Centre, specifically a reduction of parking due to the construction of a new aquatic complex next door, the team relocated to Burnaby for the 2005–06 season.

Burnaby originally had a junior "A" team by the name of the Burnaby Bulldogs, which played in that city for four seasons (1998–2001). That team relocated to the city of Port Alberni, on Vancouver Island for the start of the 2002–03 season and was renamed the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

The 2005–06 season saw the Express win the league championship (Fred Page Cup) and the Mowat Cup by defeating the Langley Hornets in four games, the Chilliwack Chiefs in 5 games, the Victoria Salsa in 5 games, and the Penticton Vees in six games. The team then defeated the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in six games for the Doyle Cup and entered the National Championship as Pacific Region winners.

The Express won the Royal Bank Cup 2006 (National Championship) by defeating the Yorkton Terries by a score of 8–2. In the Semi-Final against the Fort William Northstars, they scored the tying goal with 12 seconds left in the third period then went on to win 3–2 in overtime.

During the round-robin they had a record of 3–1, which seeded them 2nd in the Tournament, behind the hometown hosts Streetsville Derbys.

In 2006–07 the Express were highly touted as a top team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League,{{by whom|date=March 2019}} with players like Kyle Turris and Tyler McNeely. In the first round of the BCHL playoffs, the team beat the Langley Chiefs in seven games before losing to the eventual BCHL league champions Nanaimo Clippers in seven games during the second round.

The 2007 off-season saw a coaching change from Rick Lanz, a scout for the Colorado Avalanche, to Dave McLellan. The team was not very well-supported since the move from Coquitlam and struggled in attendance for the third straight year.

By 17 October 2009, the Burnaby Express were averaging just 548 fans per game, which was the second lowest attendance of the 17 teams in the BCHL at the time. This was half the attendance the team averaged in their final season in Coquitlam (1,091 fans per game).BCHL: [http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_attendance.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413 Current Attendance] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216213046/http://bchl.bc.ca/leagues/bchl_attendance.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413 |date=2009-02-16 }} Retrieved on 17 October 2009BCAHA: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060217204744/http://www.bcaha.org/docs/2004-2005AnnualReport-FINAL2005-06-01.pdf 2004-05 Annual Report] Retrieved on 1 March 2009 With the team in last place in the Coastal Conference, on 16 January 2010 the Express announced the firing of coach Dave McLellan. General manager Darcy Rota took over during the interim, with Bill Zaharia and Tyler Kuntz named as assistants for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.Tri-City News: [http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/sports/82113247.html Express axe coach McLellan before they hit Coquitlam]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} 19 January 2010 On 13 April 2010, the Express named Jon Calvano as their next head coach.Coquitlam Express: [http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4119&leagueID=12575&page=44087 Jon Calvano Named Coquitlam Express Head Coach] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728144726/http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4119&leagueID=12575&page=44087 |date=2011-07-28 }} 13 April 2010

The 2010–11 season marked the Express' return to Coquitlam. They played their first game back at the newly renovated and renamed Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex on 24 September 2010, where they defeated the Surrey Eagles 4–2. Coquitlam made the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, losing in the first round to the Eagles in four games. The following year, they would again be eliminated in the first round, this time to the Powell River Kings in six games. Following the 2011–12 season, the Express named Jon Calvano as general manager on top of his existing coaching duties.

The 2012–13 season saw a great start for the Express until the team lost players to multiple injuries within a short period, including New Jersey Devils draftee Alexander Kerfoot. The team struggled for most of the latter half of the season and failed to reach the postseason for the third time in five years. Calvano was fired at the end of the season.Coquitlam Expressions [http://www.expressvoice.blogspot.ca/2013/03/head-coach-and-gm-change.html HEAD COACH AND GM CHANGE] 21 March 2013

Barry Wolff became the team's next head coach on 22 April 2013Coquitlam Express [http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4119&leagueID=12575&page=69868 EXPRESS NAME NEW HEAD COACH] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181138/http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4119&leagueID=12575&page=69868 |date=2014-04-16 }} 22 April 2013 and in the following season led the Express to their second Fred Page Cup championship, and their first and only appearance in the Western Canada Cup, where they finished fourth following a 5–3 loss in the semifinal to the AJHL's Spruce Grove Saints. Wolff was named the 2014 coach of the year by the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame and the team earned team of the year honours.{{Cite web|title = Express Head Coach, Barry Wolff Named 2014 Coach of the Year|url = http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4119&leagueID=12575|website = www.coquitlamexpress.ca|access-date = 2015-06-08|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130902054116/http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=4119&leagueID=12575|archive-date = 2013-09-02}}

The team achieved mixed success for the next couple of seasons, finishing fourth in the mainland division and eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. The 2016–17 season again had the Express sustain many player injuries, resulting in a franchise worst 11–44–2–1 (25 points) record and finishing last in nearly every statistic. The following season continued the trend and after recording only three wins and eight points in the first half of the season, Wolff was fired and replaced with former OJHL's Toronto Patriots head coach Jason Fortier.{{Cite web|title = COACHING CHANGE FOR THE EXPRESS|url = http://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/coaching-change-for-the-express|website = www.coquitlamexpress.ca|access-date = 2017-11-27}} The team turned around under Fortier until the 2019–20 season where the Express posted a franchise-best 47–9–1–1 (96 points) and won the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy for the first time as regular season champions. Their performance over the regular season was enough to earn Fortier Coach of the Year honors for the 2019–20 season. Unfortunately, after winning their first round matchup with the Langley Rivermen, Hockey Canada cancelled the remainder of the Junior A season nationally due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, ending their run for a third league title.{{Cite web|title = CJHL Announces Official Cancellation For the Remainder of 2019-20 Season| url = https://www.cjhlhockey.com/en/cjhl-announces-official-cancellation-for-remainder-of-2019-20-season | website = cjhlhockey.com |date=2020-03-31}}

Fortier would leave the team in the off-season, with Dan Cioffi, coach of the BCMML's Valley West Giants, named as his replacement.{{cite web|title = Express Name Dam Cioffi As Next Head Coach|url = https://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/express-name-dan-cioffi-next-head-coach|website = www.coquitlamexpress.ca|date = 2020-04-15}} He, however, would resign after the league's extended pre-season was paused by the Provincial Health Officer. {{cite web|title = Dan Cioffi Steps Down As Head Coach|url = https://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/dan-cioffi-steps-down-as-head-coach | website = www.coquitlamexpress.ca|date = 2021-03-06}} Adam Nugent-Hopkins, older brother of Edmonton Oiler Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, took his place for the rest of the season alongside new GM Tali Campbell.{{cite web|title = Adam Nugent-Hopkins Named Interim Coach| url = https://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/adam-nugent-hopkins-named-interim-coach | website = www.coquitlamexpress.ca | date = 2021-03-07}} He would coach the team to a 6-11-3 record in a 20 game pod season played against the Surrey Eagles and Powell River Kings.

Brandon Shaw, previously assistant coach of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, would be named head coach for the team's first full season since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web| url=https://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/express-hire-brandon-shaw-as-new-head-coach-assistant-gm |title = Express Hire Brandon Shaw as new Head Coach and Assistant GM | date= 2021-05-12}}

After a rough start, he would rally the team to a 22-26-6 record to bring the team back up to 7th in the Coastal Conference. The Express would be eliminated by the Chiefs in the first round but not without taking the series to a full seven games. Shaw would move up to become an assistant coach with the OHL's Niagara Icedogs, leaving the team to find their fourth head coach in three seasons. Not only was it announced that Vees assistant coach Patrick Sexton would become the new bench boss for the 2022-23 season,{{cite web|title= Express Hire Patrick Sexton As Head Coach |url= https://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/express-hire-patrick-sexton-as-head-coach| website= www.coquitlamexpress.com | accessdate= 2022-08-20 | date= 2022-08-04}} but on 17 August 2022 it was announced that a newly-retired Kyle Turris would be returning to the Express as a special advisor to GM Campbell and as a player development coach.{{cite web|title= Turris Retires, Rejoins BCHL Team As Advisor, Coach |url= https://www.tsn.ca/kyle-turris-retirement-edmonton-oilers-ottawa-senators-nashville-predators-arizona-coyotes-1.1838225 |website= www.tsn.ca |accessdate= 2022-08-20 |date= 2022-08-17}} Sexton would remain as head coach through to the end of the 2023-24 regular season, where he was replaced with Jeff Wagner for the duration of the team's playoff run following a poor record in the second half of the season.{{cite web |url= https://x.com/BCHLExpress/status/1774894666854641772?s=20 |title= Coquitlam Express (@BCHLExpress) / X |publisher= Coquitlam Express |accessdate= 2024-04-04}} The team would bounce back but would lose in the first round to Alberni Valley in a closely fought seven-game series.

During a game against the Langley Rivermen on 2 November 2022, the Express set a new all-time attendance record of 2209 fans at the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex.{{cite web| url=https://www.facebook.com/CqtlmExpress/posts/pfbid0dSLe8sDXxMgwN4hyawdTNWs4Qs5dYwcJKkLipKtzQJB8kKLdzNTPJuoAtCsReXcUl |title = New Train Station Attendance Record | date= 2022-11-02}}{{cite web| url=https://www.coquitlamexpress.ca/stats/game-center/11452 |title = Langley Rivermen vs. Coquitlam Express | date= 2022-11-02}}

Season-by-season record

= Coquitlam Express, 2001-2005 =

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, PTS = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

class="wikitable"
style="min-width:55em; font-weight:bold;text-align:right; background:#ddd;"\| ! style=width:4em \|Season	style=width:2.2em \| GP	style=width:2.2em \|W	style=width:2.2em \| L	style=width:2.2em \| T	style=width:2.2em \| OTL	style=width:2.2em \| PTS	style=width:2.2em \| GF	style=width:2.2em \| GA	style=width:10em \|Finish	style=width:18em \|Playoffs
align=right \| 2001–02	60	20	32	—	8	230	305	48	align=left\| 4th, Mainland	align=left\| Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Chiefs)
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2002–03	60	24	29	1	6	228	270	55	align=left\| 4th, Mainland	align=left\| Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Chiefs)
align=right \| 2003–04	60	32	26	1	1	254	212	66	align=left\| 3rd, Mainland	align=left\| Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Chiefs)
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2004–05	60	25	31	1	3	211	258	54	align=left\| 3rd, Mainland	align=left\| Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Chiefs)

= Burnaby Express, 2005-2010 =

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, PTS = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

class="wikitable"
style="min-width:55em; font-weight:bold;text-align:right; background:#ddd;"\| ! style=width:4em \|Season	style=width:2.2em \| GP	style=width:2.2em \|W	style=width:2.2em \| L	style=width:2.2em \| T	style=width:2.2em \| OTL	style=width:2.2em \| PTS	style=width:2.2em \| GF	style=width:2.2em \| GA	style=width:10em \|Finish	style=width:18em \|Playoffs
align=right \| 2005–06	60	34	20	1	5	231	202	74	align=left\| 2nd, Mainland	align=left\| Fred Page Cup Champions Doyle Cup Champions Royal Bank Cup Champions
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2006–07	60	34	25	0	1	260	198	69	align=left\| 4th, Coastal	align=left\| Lost Conf. Semifinals, 3–4 (Clippers)
align=right \| 2007–08	60	33	24	0	3	218	219	69	align=left\| 4th, Coastal	align=left\| Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 2–3 (Grizzlies)
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2008–09	60	18	35	1	6	170	245	43	align=left\| 4th, Mainland	align=left\| did not qualify
align=right \| 2009–10	60	18	36	0	6	175	256	42	align=left\| 8th, Coastal	align=left\| did not qualify

= Coquitlam Express, 2010-present =

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, PTS = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

class="wikitable"
style="min-width:55em; font-weight:bold;text-align:right; background:#ddd;"\| ! style=width:4em \|Season	style=width:2.2em \| GP	style=width:2.2em \|W	style=width:2.2em \| L	style=width:2.2em \| T	style=width:2.2em \| OTL	style=width:2.2em \| PTS	style=width:2.2em \| GF	style=width:2.2em \| GA	style=width:10em \|Finish	style=width:18em \|Playoffs
align=right \| 2010–11	60	22	28	1	9	218	253	54	align=left\| 7th, Coastal	align=left\| Lost Conf. Quarterfinals, 0–4 (Eagles)
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2011–12	60	36	19	3	2	245	204	77	align=left\| 4th, Coastal	align=left\| Lost Conf. Semifinals, 2–4 (Kings)
align=right \| 2012–13	56	24	31	1	0	161	210	49	align=left\| 5th, Mainland	align=left\| did not qualify
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2013–14	58	27	26	2	3	226	226	59	align=left\| 3rd, Mainland	align=left\| Fred Page Cup Champions 4th in Western Canada Cup
align=right \| 2014–15	58	25	28	1	4	218	238	55	align=left\| 4th, Mainland	align=left\| Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–4 (Chiefs)
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2015–16	58	22	29	1	6	185	247	51	align=left\| 4th, Mainland 14th, BCHL	align=left\| Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–4 (Chiefs)
align=right \| 2016–17	58	11	44	2	1	121	305	25	align=left\| 6th, Mainland 17th, BCHL	align=left\| did not qualify
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2017–18	58	15	38	4	1	138	210	34	align=left\| 5th of 5, Mainland 16th of 17, BCHL	align=left\| Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–4 (Vees){{efn\|cross-over to Interior Division playoff as wildcard}}
align=right \| 2018–19	58	28	24	—	6	209	198	62	align=left\| 3rd of 5, Mainland 9th of 17, BCHL	align=left\| Lost First Round, 1–4 (Spruce Kings)
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2019–20	58	47	9	0	2	227	127	96	align=left\| 1st of 5, Mainland 1st of 17, BCHL	align=left\| Won First Round, 4–0 (Rivermen) Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
align=right \| 2020–21	20	6	11	0	3	64	93	15	align=left\| 3rd of 3, Coquitlam 14th of 16, BCHL	align=left\| Not contested
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2021–22	54	22	26	—	6	177	221	50	align=left\| 7th of 9, Coastal 14th of 18, BCHL	align=left\| Lost First Round, 3–4 (Chiefs)
align=right \| 2022–23	54	28	19	—	7	191	186	63	align=left\| 4th of 9, Coastal 6th of 18, BCHL	align=left\| Lost first round, 1-4 (Chiefs)
style="background:#eee;" align=right \| 2023–24	54	21	29	—	4	146	196	46	align=left\| 6th of 9, Coastal 12th of 17, BCHL	align=left\| Lost first round, 3-4 (Bulldogs)
align=right \| 2024–25	54	28	19	5	2	183	192	63	align=left\| 5th of 10, Coastal 10th of 21, BCHL	align=left\| Lost Div Quarterfinals 2-4 (Grizzlies)