The annual midday game for the Coquitlam Express in front of a couple thousand school kids was anything but an afternoon delight.
The Express lost 4-2 to the Surrey Eagles Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex. It’s the fifth loss in as many school day games in which students from around Coquitlam are invited to fill the arena and cheer on the home team.
Express assistant coach Kyle Johnson acknowledged the boisterous atmosphere created by the 2,400 young fans is fun for the players — perhaps a bit too much, though.
“I think our guys really enjoyed it,” he said. “Maybe at times we were trying a bit too hard.”
Thank you to Banting Middle School for having us out yesterday for our Sussex Insurance Adopt - A - School Program!
— Coquitlam Express (@BCHLExpress) October 30, 2024
We are also excited to welcome them to the game today! pic.twitter.com/wgXsb068SY
Coquitlam got the crowd on its feet early when Nick Wellenreiter opened the scoring 7:44 into the first period, beating Eagles goaltender Maddox Osaka on a breakaway. It was his second goal of the season.
Surrey tied it up less than seven minutes later, then went ahead with the only goal of the second period.
Joseph Odyniec put the home team back on even terms 1:52 into the third period, but Brady Kudrick’s goal with less than seven minutes left in regulation restored the Eagles’ advantage. He then sealed the deal scoring into an empty net late in the frame.
The win was just the seventh in 14 games for Surrey, the defending BC Hockey League (BCHL) champions.
The Express’ record slipped to nine wins, four losses and a shootout loss (9-4-0-1). The team remains atop the Coastal Conference standings with 19 points, one ahead of the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Eric Young faced 25 shots in Coquitlam’s net while his teammates fired 32 shots at Osaka, who registered his first win in three starts.
The Express host the Nanaimo Clippers on Friday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m. at Poirier.
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