Blaine Energy

Last updated
Northwest Express
City Spooner, Wisconsin
League USPHL
DivisionMidwest West
Founded2011
Home arenaSpooner Civic Center
Colors Blue, black, and White
   
Owner(s)Joe Dibble
General managerJon Jonasson
Head coachNic Leibold
Franchise history
2011–2015Maple Grove Energy
2015–2017Blaine Energy
2020–2024Minnesota Moose
2024–currentNorthwest Express

The Northwest Express are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League (Premier Division). The team plays their home games at the Spooner Civic Center located in Spooner, Wisconsin.

Contents

History

Founded in 2011, the Maple Grove Energy replaced the recently folded Minnesota Wildcats in Maple Grove. [1] During the 2015 off-season the Energy relocated to Blaine, Minnesota, and changed their name accordingly.

Prior to the 2015–16 season, the Energy were members of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL). At the conclusion of the 2014–15 season the majority of the MnJHL members joined the United States Premier Hockey League by creating the USPHL-Midwest Division and the MnJHL ceased operations. After one season, the USPHL-Midwest was split into the Elite and USP3 Divisions with the Energy added to the Elite Division for 2016–17.

In February 2017, owner Cal Ballard announced that he had given up management operations of the Energy to the Dibble Group (an management group headed by the Janesville Jets head coach in the North American Hockey League) in October 2016. His reasons were due to the changing landscape of Tier III junior hockey and the difficulties of fielding a team. He assumed the Energy would be ceasing operations at the end of the season. [2]

May 31, 2024 the USPHL - Premier announced that the Minnesota Moose would be relocating to Spooner, Wisconsin and rebranding to the Northwest Express.

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Maple Grove Energy
2011–12481443131143848th, MnJHLDid not qualify
2012–135025223531912074th, MnJHL-MNLost Division Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Steele County Blades
2013–144631132641792222nd, MnJHL-MNWon Division Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Edina Lakers
Lost Division Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Hudson Crusaders
2014–154216242341872466th of 8, Minn. Div.
10th of 14, MnJHL		Lost Division Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Hudson Crusaders
Blaine Energy
2015–1648838218993039th of 9, West Conf.
16th of 17, USPHL-Midwest 		Did not qualify
2016–1744537212673197th of 8, Midwest Div.
24th of 27, USPHL-Elite 		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Dells Ducks
Minnesota Moose
2020–21443761752541042nd of 9, Midwest West
3rd of 61, USPHL-Premier 		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Rum River Mallards
Won Div. Semifinals 2-1 Hudson Havoc
1-2 Pool D eliminated
2021–224423174501831334th of 8, Midwest West
31st of 64, USPHL-Premier 		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Steele County Blades
Lost Div. Semifinals 0-2 Minnesota Blue Ox
2022–234428151571861353rd of 9, Midwest West
26th of 70, USPHL-Premier 		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Steele County Blades
Won Div. Semifinals 2-1 Minnesota Squatch
2023–244423183491431185th of 9, Midwest West
33rd of 61, USPHL-Premier 		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Minnesota Blue Ox
Lost Div. Semifinals 0-2 Minnesota Squatch
Northwest Express
2024–25??th of 9, Midwest West
??th of 61, USPHL-Premier

Alumni

The franchise has produced some alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division III, and ACHA college programs.[ citation needed ]

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References

  1. ↑ "New Junior Hockey Team Coming to Maple Grove". Maple Grove Patch. June 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ "February 24, 2017 Blaine Energy Facebook post". Facebook. February 24, 2017.
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