"My time in Coquitlam has been very special."
That's from now former Express bench boss Brandon Shaw, who's leaving the local junior 'A' franchise to accept an assistant coach's position with the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
The promotion means the 27-year-old will return to his home province and be closer to family and friends, while also coaching at Canada's highest level of junior hockey.
But it leaves the Express without a head coach for the time-being and a search for their fifth in six seasons is set to begin, says general manager Tali Campbell.
"This is a bittersweet moment," he explained in a news release today (July 18).
"I knew the moment we hired Brandon we wouldn't have him long as his dedication to his career is like no other person I have ever met. He works incredibly hard and I know I speak for players, staff and ownership. We are going to miss him."
Shaw spent just the one season with Coquitlam, and it consisted of several memorable moments on and off the ice.
Under Shaw, the Express finished 22-26-1-5 from the 2021-22 campaign, but that included 10 wins in their last 12 games to reach the playoffs.
The black and gold nearly advanced to the second round and took the number two-seeded Chilliwack Chiefs to seven games, but lost in the deciding match to officially end the late season momentum.
"The organization is building towards a championship and I believe the great community of Coquitlam will see a Fred Page Cup very soon," said Shaw.
"The Express are in great hands with the leadership in place. This is a special group and I look forward to cheering and watching the team win a championship in the near future!"
Shaw was hired by the Express in May last year — two months after Adam Nugent-Hopkins finished the 2020-21 pod season as the team's interim bench boss.
Dan Cioffi was hired in April 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the rest of the 2019-20 BCHL playoffs, but stepped down in early March of 2021 to pursue a new opportunity.
Jason Fortier was Coquitlam's last tenured head coach after completing three seasons from 2017 to 2020.
There are no other staffing changes to Coquitlam's hockey operations amid Shaw's departure.
Campbell adds Shaw is set to stay with the team until a new coach is hired and the transition is complete.
