The general manager of the Coquitlam Express is hoping the acquisition of a veteran goalie will relieve some of the workload on the team’s stalwart starter, Eric Young.
Tali Campbell said 20-year-old netminder Andrew Ness is on his way to Coquitlam.
Ness was part of the best goaltending tandem in the BC Hockey League (BCHL) last season, earning the Wally Forslund Trophy for the lowest goals against average with Penticton Vees’ creasemate Will Ingemann.
Ness had allowed an average of 2.2 goals in 25 games for the Vees, and posted a save percentage of .915. He played five games for the Vees this season with a .914 save percentage before being released in early November.
Ness then landed with the Elmira Aviators of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) where he had a win and two losses in three games, and a 3.38 goals against average.
Ness is committed to play for Bemidji State University in the NCAA next season.
Campbell said Ness is a proven competitor whose experience will bolster Coquitlam’s back end.
“His experience and skill will be a great addition to our team.”
The Express has leaned heavily on Young to carry the team’s goaltending load after the departure of veteran starter Adam Manji at the end of last season.
Young has played in all but one of Coquitlam’s 22 games so far this season. He has 12 wins, six losses and one shutout after playing in just four games in his rookie season. He has a 3.07 goals against average and a .898 save percentage.
“Full credit to Young, not many goalies can perform at the level he achieves with the workload he has shouldered,” said Campbell in a news release.
But Young is coming off a pair of tough weekend losses — 5-1 to the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday, Nov. 23, and 6-4 to the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday, Nov. 22. He allowed nine of the 11 goals, with the other two scored into empty nets.
The Express will try to reverse its two-game slide when the team hosts the Vernon Vipers Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
BCHL says it's still a premier destination despite NCAA rule change
The chair of the BCHL’s board of governors said the league remains the premier option for young players looking to leverage their skill on the ice into a scholarship to an NCAA program.
“Our high standards of education, along with our track record of providing elite on-ice development, means that we will continue to produce college-bound athletes for years to come,” said Richard Murphy in a statement Nov. 22 following a meeting of the board to discuss a recent change to the NCAA eligibility rules that will allow players from the Canadian Hockey League to attain scholarships to Div I programs beginning Aug. 1, 2025.
Previously, players from the Western, Ontario and Quebec Maritime Junior hockey leagues weren’t eligible for NCAA scholarships because they’re considered professionals. That meant players seeking to continue their education while playing hockey in the United States often opted to develop in Tier II leagues like the BCHL, Alberta Junior Hockey League and Ontario Junior Hockey League.
ICYMI we published an FAQ this morning, answering some common questions about how the NCAA eligibility rule change affects the BCHL.https://t.co/wD1yXZZH2z pic.twitter.com/HnOAYBOfGn
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) November 22, 2024
Since the rule change was announced Nov. 7, there have been several reports of players leaving BCHL teams to join CHL teams that had drafted them, including a number departing the Chilliwack Chiefs.
But BCHL commissioner Steven Cocker said the defections are minimal.
“The fact is, only a small percentage of players have left our league due to this change,” he said in a statement.
“Our teams are bringing in high skilled athletes from other leagues to take their place.”
But that process is complicated by the BCHL’s move in 2023 to operate independently of Hockey Canada which means its players aren’t able to compete in sanctioned events like a national championship, the World Junior Challenge or the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships.
Cocker said the BCHL’s lack of a draft does give players a choice where they want to continue their development, though.
“The BCHL has always supported players choice,” he said.
“We will always be in favour of athletes doing what they think is best for their development.”
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