EXPRESS MIXLR BROADCAST

Monday, July 18, 2011

EXPRESS 11-12 SCHEDULE RELEASED


Today the BCHL released its schedule for its 50th season which begins Friday September 23rd.

Click on the link below for the full Express 11-12 schedule:

http://www.bchl.ca/leagues/print_schedule.cfm?leagueID=2393&clientID=1413&teamID=305107

That night the Express will kick off their 11th season in the league with a marquee matchup opening the season at home vs. the Penticton Vees. Jon Calvano's squad which includes top recruit Alex Kerfoot will face off against a Vees team that will feature 3 players that were selected in the first 100 players chosen in the NHL draft last month in Minnesota.

This season the BCHL is going back to a half interlocking schedule the same way it was structured in the 08-09 season with the Express playing 52 of their 60 games vs. Coastal Conference clubs with just one game played against the 8 Interior conference teams. (4 home, 4 road)

Here's how the schedule breaks down with some highlights and or anomalies.

The Express will play their playoff opponent from last season the Surrey Eagles 7 times.(3 home, 4 road) Of those 7 games, the teams will play 4 straight head to head meetings December 3-10 (2 home, 2 road). That December 10th matchup will be the final game between the two clubs during the regular season.

Coquitlam will see the new look Langley Rivermen 8 times (4 home, 4 road). Just before the Express play Surrey 4 straight times, they will play Langley 3 straight times between November 25 - December 2. (1 road, 2 home)

The three time defending Coastal Conference champion Powell River Kings will face the Express 8 times. (4 home, 4 road) The Express will play one double header in Powell River on Saturday February 11th and Sunday the 12th.

The schedule vs. the 4 teams on Vancouver Island breaks down like this, 7 games vs. Alberni Valley (4 home, 3 road), 7 games vs. Victoria (3 home, 4 road), 7 games vs. Nanaimo (3 home, 4 road), and 8 games vs. Cowichan Valley (4 home, 4 road).

9 times this season the Express will play 3 games in 3 nights. Plus they will play 4 games in 5 nights on the second to last weekend of the season March 2-4 and March 6 @ Victoria.

Here's a simple numerical breakdown of the schedule:

30 home, 30 away.
52 games vs. Coastal Conference, 8 vs. Interior Conference.
8 games vs. Langley, Powell River, and Cowichan Valley.
7 games vs. Surrey, Alberni Valley, Victoria, and Cowichan Valley.
9 times this season the Express will play 3 games in 3 nights.

8 Interior conference games:

Home:

Sept. 23 vs. Penticton
Sept. 30 vs. Salmon Arm
Feb. 17 vs. Merritt
Mar. 9 vs. Chilliwack

Road:

Oct. 20 @ Prince George
Oct. 21 @ Westside
Jan. 13 @ Trail
Jan. 14 @ Vernon

Marquee matchups:

September 23 home opener vs. Penticton Vees.

Surrey Eagles: Home Oct. 28, Dec. 3 & 9. Road Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 4 & 10.

Langley Rivermen: Home Oct. 7, Nov. 4 & 25, Mar. 2. Road Nov. 26, Dec. 2, Jan. 21, Mar. 3.

Powell River Kings: Home Oct. 9 & 14, Dec. 29, Jan. 7. Road Nov. 18, Feb. 2, 11, 12.

Chilliwack Chiefs: Home Fri. Mar. 9. *Final game of the regular season.

Vernon Vipers: Road Sat. Jan. 14.

There are a trio of mid week one off games for the Express on Vancouver Island Wednesday Nov. 2 @ Cowichan Valley, Wednesday December 14 @ Nanaimo and Tuesday March 6 @ Victoria.

The longest home stand of the year is 6 games from December 16-January 8. That home stand is part of a run that will see the Express play 7 of 8 games at home dating back to December 11th vs. Cowichan Valley. And 7 of the Express final 9 games of the season will be played on home ice.

The longest run of road games is 5 games from January 28th-February 4th. Those 5 straight games is the only porition of the schedule that will see the Express play more than 3 consecutive games on the road.

That road trip is also part of the most difficult portion of the schedule that sees the Express play 11 of 14 games on the road for a full month from January 13th-February 12th

No comments: