Coquitlam Express duo heading to BCHL all-star tournament 

The Coquitlam Express are sending two forwards to the BCHL’s second annual all-star tournament and skill competition next month in Penticton. 

Cole Melady, who is tied for the team-lead in points with 24, will join Jake Manfre on the league’s coastal conference roster, following the results of a seven-day fan vote that ended on Dec. 8.

The selection comes one year after Express fans voted forward Mateo Dixon — who went on to win the league’s fastest skater award — to one of five final spots on the coastal conference all-star team least year. 

“We’ve been fortunate, our fan base comes out when we ask them to come out,” said Tali Campbell, general manager of the Coquitlam Express. 

Manfre, a Smithtown, New York native, is tied for the team-lead in points and sits in the top-five in rookie scoring. The Princeton University commit has also scored a team-high 13 goals, the eighth most in the BCHL as of Dec. 12, and Campbell said he was a no-brainer selection to the festivities in Penticton.

“He was a leader right away, that’s why we named him an assistant captain in the first week of mini-camp,” he said. “And then, obviously, he’s been able to produce with 24 points in 23 games.”  

Last year, Manfre recorded 10 points in his first 16 BCHL games, but an injury in November forced him to get surgery and miss the remainder of the season. The injury was later infected after surgery, delaying his return to the ice until the summer, Campbell said. 

Manfre’s hot start is a testament to the work ethic he displayed while he was out of the lineup, Campbell said. 

“Being away from the game on the ice for six-plus months, you never know, at this age, what they’re are going to return like,” said Campbell, adding that Manfre joined the team during the team’s playoff run last spring, even though he wasn’t cleared to play. 

“It was a continuous thing, if you’re not strong willed, don’t have the mental preparation like he did, a lot of times people would just throw the towel in.” 

The Express are hoping to build off last year’s success in the all-star festivities. 

Coupled with Dixon’s fastest skater award, forward Mirko Buttazzoni — who recorded 47 points in 53 games for the Express last year, before moving to the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the fall — was named the tournament’s most valuable player. 

“Having both Melady and Manfre represent the Express at the all-star game is always fun,” Campbell said. 

“We have high expectations for our two guys as well going in.” 

On Tuesday morning, the BCHL also announced the rosters for the 2024 Top Prospects Game, held on the same weekend as the all-star tournament and skill competition, as voted on by head coaches and general managers from all 17 BCHL franchises. 

Players on the NHL’s central scouting list received automatic invites to the game, while those who had been already drafted — or were born in 2003 and were no longer draft eligible — were not considered for the event. 

No players on the Express were named to that roster. 

The 2024 all-star tournament and skills contest is scheduled for Jan. 20 at the Penticton Outdoor Rink.