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Friday, January 11, 2013

EXPRESS JANUARY 10TH TRADES

The Coquitlam Express were very busy Thursday leading up to the BCHL trade deadline which officially came at 8PM.

The Express made a number of moves that saw three significant pieces of their roster moved on to other clubs.

And the Express brought in 4 players that can help them now along with a number of future considerations that can help them going forward for the rest of this season and beyond.

Here's what went down yesterday.

The Express traded 20 year old veteran and leading scorer John Siemer to the Penticton Vees in exchange for future considerations. The Glendora California native was second among BCHL scorers at the time of the trade with 20 goals and 49 points in 37 games this season.

The dazzling forward with some of the best hands I've ever seen in the BCHL scored 48 goals and 60 assists for 108 points in 87 career games spanning two seasons with the Express. Earlier this season he secured a scholarship to Northern Michigan University for next season.

Captain Mitch Nardi was traded to the West Kelowna Warriors in exchange for future considerations. Nardi was given the captaincy prior to this season assuming the role from graduating forward Alex Petan.

The Hamilton Ontario native spent two seasons with the Express. He scored 19 goals and 50 assists for 69 points in 91 career games with the Express. It was a struggle for Mitch to find his offensive touch this season scoring just 5 goals and 20 assists for 25 points in 35 games.

Prior to the season Nardi secured a scholarship to Lake Superior University for next season.

And the Express traded forward Phil Zielonka to the Chilliwack Chiefs in exchange for defenceman Ben Isreal (94), forward Garrett Forster (95) and future considerations.

Zielonka joined the Express mid-season from the Omaha Lancers of the USHL in October. After getting his feet wet in the BCHL and not registering a point in his first game with Express, Zielonka went on a tear scoring 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points in 24 games. In those 24 games he dressed for the Express, Zielonka didn't register a point in only two of those contests. For a player that didn't spend a lot of time in an Express uniform, his impact will always be remembered. He will be attending Harvard University next fall.

Defenceman Ben Israel is in his first season in the BCHL. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native scored 2 goals and 11 assists for 13 points in 30 games with the Chilliwack Chiefs this season. He's listed at 5'10, 180 pounds.

Forward Garrett Forster is in his second season in the BCHL. This season the Delta, BC native had 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points in Chilliwack. Last season he registered 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 53 games.

20 year old forward Lars Hepso was acquired by the Express from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in exchange for future considerations. The 6 foot Penticton native has 11 goals and 8 assists for 19 points in 34 games this season with Alberni Valley. In September, Hepso earned a BCHL player of the week honor. He's a 3 year veteran of the BCHL with 34 goals and 30 assists for 64 points in 138 career games all with Alberni Valley.

The Express have also added 19 year old forward Adam Rossignol. The 6 foot 184 pound Surrey native has  175 career games of WHL experience with the Kootenay Ice, Swift Current Broncos and Regina Pats. This season in Regina he had 9 goals and 5 assists for 14 points in 44 games.

The Express would like to thank Mitch, Phil and John for their contributions to the Express. And wish them the best of luck with their new clubs this year and next year in college and beyond.

And they would like to welcome Ben, Garrett, Lars and Adam to the club. 

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