Last night, February 22, 2025, the Blackfalds Bulldogs defeated the Coquitlam Express 3-2 in overtime in a British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) game at the Eagle Builders Centre in Blackfalds, Alberta. Marked the return of former Bulldog David Brandes. Alex Bosland was also acquired from the Coquitlam Express earlier this season for Jack Sullivan, So although its the first ever game between the clubs there is somewhat of a connection besides just being in the same league.
Joey Melo opened up the scoring for the Bulldogs at 3:48 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to former Express D man Alex Bosland and Luke Norcorss.– Bosland was key to getting the Bulldogs rolling as he knocked down a clearing play along the boards and sent a pass into the slot to a waiting Joey Melo. The Captain got enough on a one-timer to steer it home past a sliding Logan Kennedy.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-3 for Coquitlam. As bad as that looks the play was not lopsided. The Bulldogs for some reason do not shoot that often or they miss the net. Its like some times they try to make every goal and shot a ESPN of the night highlight reel goal, when all they really need to do is just shoot the puck.
Luke Norcross made it a 2-0 game at 16:27 of the second frame with the assists on the goal going to Joey Melo and Brayden Smith.
20 year old Washington, D.C native and UConn commit Joseph Odyniec got the Express on the board when a puck bounced off his leg and snuck in. The assists went to Hanover, New Hampshire native Sam Frandina and former Bulldog David Brandes.–Coquitlam finally got on the board when Sam Frandina made a nice move at the Blueline and then threw the puck towards a cutting Joseph Odyniec. The biscuit would bounce off Odyniec’s skate and into the goal to cut the lead to one.
Shots on goal in the second period were tied at 12 each
Merrimack College commit Thomas Zocco made it a 2-0 game at 2:16 of the third period with the assists on the Express goal going to Sam Frandina and David Brandes.– David Brandes answered the bell and got some revenge on his former team with a wicked rush down the wing finished off with a centring feed from behind the goal. Thomas Zocco was in the right place and shot it past a screened Kapustin to tie the game.
Shots on goal in the third period was 8-7 for Coquitlam
Nicholas DiPaolo scored the overtime winner at 7:10 of ot to win the game. The assists on the goal went to Jason Davenport and Joey Melo.–7:10 into the extra frame, Nick DiPaolo sent the fans into a frenzy. A cycle play in the Express end of the ice resulted in DiPaolo having a quick path to the goal on the left wing. He snapped one off Kennedy that snuck through off the top of his pads.
Shots on goal in Overtime was 4-2 for Coquitlam
Kirill Kapustin was amazing making 35 saves on the 37 shots that he faced for the win for the Bulldogs. On the other end for the Express 18 year old Toronto native Logan Kennedy played great also making 21 saves on the 24 shots that he faced.
Three Stars of the game were 1) Nicholas DiPaolo 2) Joey Melo 3) Luke Norcross
I am not taking anything away from any of those 3 guys that earned stars as they all played really great. Maybe there is a unwritten rule where a guy can only win it a certain amount of times or a goalie can only have it so much but we all know who the first star of that game was. And no one else, even how good they played was even close.🙄🤔
Attendance in Blackfalds was 694
Bulldogs next game is Friday February 28th in Sherwood Park against the Crusaders
The Bulldogs for I think the first time never posted their line up online before the game.
