Gordie Defiel is no stranger to the RBC Cup.
He played in it last year as the goalie for the Minnesota Wilderness and his team was eliminated in semifinal overtime by the Brooks Bandits, who went on to win the Canadian junior A hockey championship the following day.
Now as a 20-year-old with a full season behind him in the B.C. Hockey League, Defiel is four wins away from going back to the national tournament. He's backstopped the Coquitlam Express all the way to the Fred Page Cup league championship final against the Vernon Vipers, a best-of-seven series that starts tonight in Vernon.
"We scored the most goals in the league this year and defensively we gave up a lot of goals, but the difference for us is we're getting unbelievably great goatending from Gordie Defiel," said Express president Darcy Rota. "If he continues to play the way he has been playing -- and I know Vernon has a great goaltender too [Austin Smith]. It should be a great series."
Defiel was acquired in a trade from Brooks early in the season and has played every minute of the playoffs for the Express, building 10-5 record with a 2.65 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.
"He really raised his level come playoff time," said Coquitlam head coach Barry Wolff.
The Express clinched their spot in the final with a 4-3 overtime round-robin playoff win over the Victoria Grizzlies a week ago in Victoria. Defiel made 58 saves as the Grizzlies outshot the Express 61-47. Express captain Ryan Rosenthal scored the equalizer, his 12th of the playoffs, with just one minute left in regulation time. Marc Biega notched the winner 6:51 into OT.
Rota says Rosentham, a native of New Jersey and Northeastern University recruit, reminds him of Glenn Anderson for his power forward ability to drive wide with the puck and make mincemeat out of opposing defencemen.
"Ryan Rosenthal has been a tower of strength as a forward and he's getting NHL teams talking to me about him to the point where I think he'll get a chance to skate an an NHL camp," said Rota, a Prince George minor hockey product who played 11 years in the NHL for Chicago, Atlanta and Vancouver. "He's been a warrior for us. He can play anywhere up front and he's a threat shorthanded."
Rosenthal left the University of Vermont after six games last season and was heading back to a junior team in New Jersey when Wolff made a successful pitch to acquire his rights. He finished ninth in BCHL scoring with 65 points, including 34 goals and has been equally productive in the playoffs on a line with Adam Rockwood and Corey Mackin.
Wolff also swung key deals to cut down the goals against, picking up defencemen Mark Whitely and JD Cotroneo in cash deals at the trade deadline. Wolff's hockey connections and his ability to win over his players were key in rebuilding a team that missed the playoffs last season.
"Barry lives and breathes hockey and the players love playing for him," said Rota. "He's a likable guy and just a treat to have around."
Wolff joined the Express this season after coaching Fernie in the KIJHL. He's a former coach of the Williams Lake Mustangs and Quesnel Millionaires who won the BCHL coach of the year award in 1998 with the Mills. He was also an associate coach in Langley, Chillliwack and Surrey, where he helped the Eagles win the Royal Bank Cup in 2005.
"It's awesome being in the final again," said Wolff. "All year you wait for this and if you're lucky enough to be there it's pretty special. We've been fortunate in most of the playoff games and have got the bounces and hopefully that continues for us."
The Express won its only BCHL championship in 2006 when the franchise was based in Burnaby, defeating Penticton in a six-game series. The Vipers were Fred Page Cup champions most recently in 2011, completing a four-game sweep of Powell River.
The two BCHL finalists each finished third in their respective divisions. Coquitlam (27-26-2-3) finished behind Langley and Prince George in the Mainland Division, while Vernon (30-18-4-6) ended up third in the Interior, just eight points behind first-place Penticton.
The Express lost its first playoff game in Prince George but won the next three in the best-of-seven series and ended the Spruce Kings' season in Game 6 with a 2-1 win in Coquitlam. The Express defeated Langley in a six-game series, then went 2-1 in a three-team round-robin playoff for the division champions. Coquitlam beat Victoria twice and lost once to Vernon.
Led by forwards Colton Sparrow and Brett Mulcahy, the Vipers knocked off West Kelowna 4-2 in the first round, then defeated Penticton 4-3. In the round-robin, Vernon beat Victoria 5-4 and locked up a berth in the final with a 6-1 win over Coquitlam. The Express and Vipers split the two-game regular season series, each winning one at home.
"We're probably a little quicker than Vernon and we need to use our speed and capitalize on our chances," said Wolff. "They're big and strong and we can't get into a pushing match with them."
The RBC Cup tournament will be played in Vernon, May 10-16.
