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In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2023-24 season, we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league for the upcoming season, including scouting reports from the coaches.
This year, we will go in reverse order of how the teams finished last season, starting with the two clubs that missed the playoffs and ending with the two league finalists. Next up is the Coquitlam Express.
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The 2022-23 Coquitlam Express closed out their regular season nine games over .500 with 63 points, which was good enough for fourth place in the Coastal Conference.
The Express matched up with their longtime Mainland rivals the Chilliwack Chiefs in the first round and were defeated in five games.
Coquitlam’s general manager Tali Campbell has been busy recruiting new players and adding to the roster through trades during the offseason. We catch up with him to get the scoop on the new faces in the Express dressing room.
New recruits
Dan Harkimo (2004, F)
Hometown: Sipoo, Finland- Previous team: South Kent School (18U AAA)
Harkimo put up great numbers at South Kent School in both the 16U and 18U programs. Last year, at the 18U level, he scored 29 goals in 58 games, while adding 22 assists for 51 points.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“With this being the first time our league has been able to go out and get European players, we had a long list of guys we were looking at and Dan was one that jumped to the top of our list. He has pro ability. He already has experience playing in North America, which should help him with the transition to the BCHL. We already have Dan penciled in near the top of our lineup as someone we’ll rely on to produce offence.”
Sam Frandina (2004, D)
Hometown: Hanover, N.H.- Previous team: Chippewa Steel (NAHL)
- College commitment: St. Lawrence University
Frandina played for Chippewa in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) last year, as well as the Madison Capitols of the US Hockey League (USHL). He produced offensively at both levels, putting up seven points in 19 games in the USHL and 17 points in 26 games in the NAHL.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“We were looking to round out our back end with a bit more experience. Sam is a tough guy and he isn’t afraid to get in the corners and battle. He works his tail off every single shift. That’s what we saw from him all the way through, whether it was his time in the NAHL or the USHL. He wore a letter in the NAHL as well, which was big for us as we try to build a good character team. He’s someone who is dedicated to his craft.”
Ethan Simcoe (2006, G)
Hometown: Lac du Bonnet, Man.- Previous team: RINK Hockey Academy Winnipeg (CSSHL U18)
In 21 games last year at the U18 level, Simcoe posted a sparkling .930 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average with three shutouts, while starting the season at 16 years old.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“We rely heavily on our goaltending department in Ron Veit and Jeff Smith. Everything we’ve heard, from first watching him, to our interview with him, to following up with more of his games, everyone agreed that Ethan was going to be an incredible goalie one day and even has the potential to play pro. This year, he’s going to come in and learn from our starting goalie Adam Manji, who has three years experience in the BCHL, but we’ll look for him to be our starter the following year. For us, it’s more about a trajectory and a long-term plan for Ethan.”
Noah Dziver (2005, F)
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.- Previous team: South Alberta Hockey Academy Prep (CSSHL U18)
Dziver was a top-three scorer on his team last year with 41 points in 32 games. His 21 goals on the season was second most among teammates.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“He’s an incredibly mature kid for a 2005-born player. He’s a farm kid. He’s working on that farm every single morning, so he’s got that work ethic inside him. He can also shoot the puck. His hockey IQ is incredible. We feel like he’ll fit our lineup perfectly as a guy our coaching staff can rely on game in and game out.”
Logan Morrell (2003, F)
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.- Previous team: Omaha Lancers (USHL)
- College commitment: Michigan Tech University
Morrell is a two-year veteran of the USHL and split his time last year with the Omaha Lancers and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. He was limited to just 30 games last season because of an injury and had five goals and two assists.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“Logan is someone who has a lot of experience. He stands 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and he’s a wrecking ball. We think he’s going to do well with our style of play, especially in a small barn like ours. When we looked at our roster and tried to identify why we were eliminated in five games last year, one of the big things we always came back to was a lack of size. That’s where we think Logan will help, along with his experience.”
James Shannon (2004, F)
Hometown: New York, N.Y.- Previous team: Brunswick School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: Quinnipiac University
Shannon was captain of this team the last two years at Brunswick School. He piled up 70 points in 62 combined games the past two seasons.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“We identified him early on last season. We had a lot of conversations with him. He’s an incredibly smart kid. You don’t always see him on the ice, but he’s a sneaky guy who is always in the right spot at the right time. He’s also got great character. When I called around his school, whether it was teachers or equipment staff, they all had great things to say about James.”
Kasper Walther-Sneve (2004, F)
Hometown: Oslo, Norway- Previous team: Vålerenga (Norway U20)
Walther-Sneve’s 41 points in 29 games tied for the Vålerenga team lead, while his 18 goals were most among teammates. He also has international experience representing Norway.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“Kasper was another player who jumped to the top of our list once we were open to recruiting European players. He may only be 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, but he’s a powerful, strong human being. Every game we watched, it was like we were watching a guy who is always getting better every time he stepped on the ice. That really excited us. I think he can be a leader in the BCHL in terms of points and where his game can get to with the style of hockey that we play.”
Joseph Odyniec (2004, F)
Hometown: Washington, D.C.- Previous team: Avon Old Farms School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: University of Connecticut
Odyniec had the second-most goals for Avon Old Farms last year with 18 in 28 games and his 37 points were third on the team. He also played 24 games for the Buffalo Regals 18U program and put up 19 points.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“Joesph came highly recommended by a few scouts from the U.S. I got to watch him compete at the U.S. Nationals and he was one of the best players in the entire tournament. At 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, he’s a powerhouse. He’s a hungry kid who just wants to get the puck and create something with it. I love the energy and physical presence he brings on the ice. When he’s out there, everyone knows he’s on the ice.”
Kye Benoche (2005, F)
Hometown: Campbell River, B.C.- Previous team: Campbell River Storm (VIJHL)
Benoche played Junior B for Campbell River the past two seasons. In 2022-23, he was the team’s second-leading goal scorer with 21 and their third-highest point producer with 47 in 46 regular-season games. He was also a clutch playoff performer for the Storm, notching 12 points in 10 postseason contests. Benoche has already played two BCHL games as an affiliate for the Express last year and scored his first goal in the league March 1 against the Surrey Eagles.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“I really love Kye’s work ethic. He’s a guy that continues to battle every single day on and off the ice. His trajectory could be very high. He’s already talking to a few Ivy League schools. He’s going to be a depth piece that adds to our lineup this year and, as a younger player, will have an opportunity to grow his role in the coming years. I think he’s sneaky good and sneaky talented.”
Cale Colwell (2006, F)
Hometown: Langley, B.C.- Previous team: Fraser Valley Thunderbirds (BCEHL U18)
Colwell spent the past four years in the Thunderbirds system, playing for both the U15 and U18 clubs. In 2022-23, he scored 19 goals and added 11 assists for 30 points in 30 games. He also brings some BCHL experience, having played 10 games as an affiliate last year with the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“He’s a big kid and he does all the small things right. The small details of his game are what is going to make him a great BCHL player and an NCAA Division I player as well. We were excited to add Cale after his showing at our identification camp. He’s already taken some massive steps forward. I can’t wait to watch him put on an Express uniform and see what type of success he can have early on.”
Ben Snyderman (2004, D)
Hometown: Glencoe, Ill.- Previous team: Lake Forest Academy (USHS-Prep)
In 2022-23, Snyderman had 10 goals, 25 assists and 35 points for Lake Forest across all competition.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“Ben has flown under the radar a little bit. He is a fast-moving defenceman and is incredibly smart. We’ll likely see him going to Yale or Harvard one day with how smart he is and how determined of an academic he is. He’s got a bit of a smaller frame, but has worked hard in the offseason to really build himself up. I think his game will transition well to the BCHL and he’ll spend the next two years with us, then go on to an Ivy League school of his choosing.”
Acquired via trade
Jackson Krill (2004, F)
Hometown: Port Moody, B.C.- Previous team: Merritt Centennials (BCHL)
- College commitment: University of Vermont
Krill had a breakout year last season in Merritt. After splitting time between the Centennials and the Trail Smoke Eaters his first two years, he emerged as a top-end scorer in 2022-23, finishing the year with 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points in 49 games and was Merritt’s representative at the BCHL’s All-Star Weekend.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“With him being a local kid from Port Moody, that was important to us as we build our roster. We want local kids. We want kids to aspire to play for the Express. It was a no-brainer for us to add him. We feel like he can come in to Coquitlam and do great things. I see him as someone who can be a point-per-game player before he heads off to university. He’s big. He uses his body properly. He’s incredibly smart. He has a wicked wrist shot. The fact that he’s a local kid is just a cherry on top for us.”
Tanner Attew (2003, D)
Hometown: South Surrey, B.C.- Previous team: Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
Attew brings a wealth of BCHL experience to the Express after playing the past three seasons in the league. Following his rookie season with the Victoria Grizzlies, he spent the previous two with the Rivermen and registered a 27-point campaign in 44 games in 2021-22 and then a 20-point year in 40 games last season.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“I got to see a lot of Tanner last year playing all those games against the Rivermen. He’s a bigger defenceman who is incredibly strong. I think he’s one of the strongest defencemen in our league. He also knows how to move the puck and make a play. Since we acquired him, he’s been a big part of leading our group in terms of fitness testing in the offseason. We were a young team last year, so one of the biggest things we wanted to do was add some experience.”
Michael Adamek (2004, D)
Hometown: Victoria, B.C.- Previous team: Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL)
Adamek is entering his third BCHL season, having split time between the Victoria Grizzlies and Prince George Spruce Kings. Last year, he was limited to just 28 games because of injury, but the year prior, he had 10 points in 45 games for Victoria.
Campbell’s scouting report:
“Although he’s an undersized defenceman, he doesn’t play that way. He plays with some bite to his game, which we love. No matter how big the opponent is, Michaeal is going to challenge him. That’s the type of defenceman we like. Size is great, but when you can play with that bite and that edge, it makes up for that.”
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Photo credits: Dan Hickling/USHL (Frandina), CSSHL (Simcoe, Dziver), Dan Hickling (Shannon, Odyniec), Garrett James Photography (Krill, Attew, Adamek)
