The Coquitlam Express is expanding.
The BC Hockey League team is adding a new U18 team, Coquitlam HC, that will play in the 13-team Junior Prospects Hockey League (JPHL). The academy-based league operates in British Columbia and Alberta.
Coquitlam HC is owned by Express owner Fayaz Manji and will be managed by Express general manager Tali Campbell. Players will train at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex and attend school at Centennial Secondary, just down the street.
Campbell said the new team will allow the Express to further develop young players from the Lower Mainland and affiliate some of them to the BCHL.
"Our players through the Coquitlam HC U18 will be permitted to affiliate with any BCHL team," Campbell said in a press release. "We will make sure we work with all BCHL teams to try and find affiliations for our players."
BCHL teams are allowed to affiliate a maximum of eight players, serving as a kind of reserve squad that can be called up to play for the parent team when its roster is depleted by injuries.
Up until last Thursday (June 1), most affiliate players played in leagues like the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) or the BC Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) that are sanctioned by Hockey Canada.
But the BCHL is now operating independent of Hockey Canada's umbrella, necessitating teams find other parking spots for their affiliate players.
Campbell said it makes sense for the Express to have those players close at hand, as well as to create an environment that can attract future talent.
"We want to make sure we are working with our homegrown, local talent and providing them every opportunity to success."
The BCHL's detachment from Hockey Canada has also resulted in several moves across the league as teams look to secure roster commitments from players around the world. Previously, they weren't allowed to recruit U18 players from outside the province.
Other roster rules include:
- BCHL teams must maintain a maximum of 25 active roster spots, of which at least five must be for players born in British Columbia or at least developed in the province’s youth leagues for a minimum three of the previous five years.
- Canadian-based teams require at least 13 Canadian players, while U.S.-based teams must have at least that number from the USA.
- Each team will be able to have as many as two players from outside North America
- A minimum of three players on BCHL rosters must be under the age of 18, and no more than six 20-year-old are allowed
In response to the new rules, several BCHL teams quickly announced commitments by players from as far away as Sweden and Norway.
Campbell said he’ll be sizing up possible recruits at the team’s spring identification camp that wraps up this week in Abbotsford, as well as at top summer tournaments in Las Vegas and Florida.
He and owner Manji are also scheduled to attend a tournament in Sweden.
Express look to fill seats and bellies
It's not yet summer, but the Express is already working on filling seats for next season, as well as bellies.
The team has partnered with SHARE Family and Community Services to offer fans who donate at least $100 to the organization a free child's season ticket.
A donation of $200 earns a senior's season ticket and a $300 contribution is rewarded with an adult's season ticket.
SHARE provides programs and services to vulnerable populations in the Tri-Cities, including a food bank, rent bank, drop-in programs for children as well as housing and legal advocacy.
The special offer runs through the month of June.
Ex-Express announcer cut loose by Vancouver Giants
Meanwhile, the Vancouver Giants have given the chop to former Express play-by-play man Eddie Gregory, who called games for the BCHL team since its inception before moving up to the Western Hockey League (WHL) at the beginning of last season.
"It was great having Eddie as the voice of the Vancouver Giants organization this past season and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours," said vice president Peter Toigo in a statement on the Langley-based team's website.
Gregory is being replaced by Nathan Cantor, who spent two seasons with the WHL's Regina Pats following a couple of years with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the BCHL.
