Express Hockey Club

Last updated
Express Hockey Club
City Walpole, Massachusetts
League Eastern Hockey League
EHL Premier
EWHC
DivisionEast
Founded2005
Home arenaCadillac Ice Arena
ColorsRed, white, black
   
Owner(s)Rob Barletta
Chrissy Barletta
Head coachNic Cota (EHL)
Franchise history
2005–2022Walpole Express
2022–presentExpress Hockey Club
Championships
Playoff championships AJHL: 2010, 2011, 2012

The Express Hockey Club is a junior, youth, and girls hockey organization based in Walpole, Massachusetts. They have had more than 150 commitments since the 2013-14 season, including multiple to the Division One level. The teams play their home games at the Cadillac Ice Arena, located just 2 miles from Gillette Stadium. As of 2022 they have changed their name to Express Hockey Club

Contents

Junior teams

Most notably, the Express field teams in the Tier III junior Eastern Hockey League (EHL) (formerly the Atlantic Junior Hockey League) and the EHL's Premier Division.

The EHL team is currently coached by Nic Cota. The EHL teams were previously coached by former professional player and Huntsville Havoc captain Jon Lounsbury, Olympian and NHL alumni Mark Kumpel, former professional player and current Air Force Academy assistant coach Josh Holmstrom, and Cody Campbell who moved on to coach the North American Hockey League's Minot Minotauros. [1]

The Express AJHL team captured three consecutive President's Cup Championships (2010, 2011, and 2012), the AJHL Regular Season Championship two of those years (2011 and 2012), and the 2010 AJHL North Division Championship. The now EHL-19U Elite team (formerly in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League until 2015) has also won the 2009 MJHL Regular Season Championship and 2011 MJHL Francis Division Championship under general manager and coach Tony Dalessio.

In 2022 the Walpole Express announced that they would be rebranding to the Express Hockey Club to better represent the wide reaching area they serve.


Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLTOTLPtsGFGARegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Atlantic Junior Hockey League
2005–06421031012113322710th of 11, AJHLDid not qualify
2006–0744222101451851653rd of 6, North
7th of 12, AJHL
2007–0845261801531631294th of 6, North
6th of 11, AJHL
2008–094225120555136913rd of 6, North
5th of 12, AJHL
2009–10423440472180731st of 6, North
2nd of 12, AJHL
League Champions
2010–11443830379187671st of 6, North
1st of 12, AJHL
League Champions
2011–12443851077162651st of 12, AJHLLeague Champions
2012–134429114062163942nd of 12, AJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. New Jersey Rockets
Eastern Hockey League
2013–1444132272351101506th of 6, Central Div.
15th of 17, EHL
Lost Round 1, 0–2 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers
2014–15442996641541211st of 5, Boston Div.
5th of 19, EHL
Won Round 1, 2–0 vs. Vermont Lumberjacks
Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Connecticut Oilers
2015–164120138481161074th of 9, North Conf.
9th of 18, EHL-Premier
Won First Round, 2–0 vs. Boston Junior Rangers
Won Second Round, 2–0 vs. Boston Bandits
Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers
2016–174824204521441473rd of 5, Boston Div.
5th of 9, North Conf.
9th of 17, EHL-Premier
Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones
2017–185036113752071232nd of 4, Boston Div.
3rd of 8, North Conf.
5th of 16, EHL
Won First Round, 2–0 vs. New England Wolves
Lost Second Round, 0–2 vs. Boston Junior Rangers
2018–194518207431431604th of 5, South Div.
7th of 10, New England Conf.
12th of 18, EHL
Did not qualify
2019–204628135611471105th of 11, New England Conf.
7th of 19, EHL
Lost Play-in Game, 3–5 vs. Seacoast Spartans
2020–21382610254131982nd of 7, Central Div.
4th of 17, EHL
Won First Round, 2–0 vs.Valley Jr. Warriors
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Western Mass Chiefs
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Boston Jr. Rangers
2021–224627172561301152nd of 5, Central Div.
6th of 17, EHL
Won Div. Semifinal, 2–1 vs.East Coast Wizards
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Boston Jr. Rangers
Frozen Four - 1-1 Pool A Round Robin
(Won 2-0 Avalanche) & (Lost 0-2 New England Wolves)
Won Semifinal Gm 3-1 Worcester Jr Railers
Lost Championship Gm 0-2 New Jersey 87's
Express Hockey Club
2022–23463015161126971st of 5, East Div.
3rd of 19, EHL
Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 East Coast Wizards
Lost Div. Finals, 1-2 Boston Jr. Rangers
2023–244634101170155951st of 6, East Div.
3rd of 23, EHL
Won Div. Semifinal, 2=1 Seahawks Hockey Club
Lost Div Finals, 1-2 Boston Jr. Rangers

Youth teams

The Express field numerous half and full-season youth teams ranging from U14 through U18. The program is led by Ottawa Senators Scout, Todd Stirling.

Alumni

The Walpole Express have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of, NCAA Division I, Division III college and professional programs. [2]

PlayerTeamLevel
Max MacKay Wheeling Nailers, Bridgeport Sound Tigers ECHL, American Hockey League (AHL)
Matt Harrington Mississippi Riverkings, Cape Cod Bluefins SPHL, Federal Hockey League
Ben Oskroba Peoria Rivermen, Northeastern University SPHL, D-I
Georgiy Gurianov HC CSKA Moscow KHL
Jake BrightbillSacred Heart UniversityD-I
Zach AndrewsUMass BostonD-I
Chris ComproskyUMass BostonD-I
Derek KumpHoly CrossD-I
Erick VosHoly CrossD-I
Charles LaChanceAICD-I
Steve CharestUtica CollegeD-III
Lou MalvasiUtica CollegeD-III
Cody ArmstrongTuftsD-III
Matt VenoitPenn StateD-I
Brian GreeneCastleton StateD-III
Cal MellUnion CollegeD-I
Matt RyanStonehill CollegeD-II
Brad ArvanitisUmass AmherstD-I
Mike WiseAssumption CollegeD-II
Charlie PageStonehill CollegeD-II
Max BurumSt Anselm CollegeD-II
Sam JohnsonSaint Michaels CollegeD-II

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References

  1. "Minotauros announce coaching change". North American Hockey League. September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  2. "Walpole Express Alumni List".