Express Hockey Club

Express Hockey Club
CityWalpole, Massachusetts
LeagueEastern 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 championshipsAJHL: 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

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

Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Regular Season Finish Playoffs
Atlantic Junior Hockey League
2005–06 42 10 31 0 1 21 133 227 10th of 11, AJHL Did not qualify
2006–07 44 22 21 0 1 45 185 165 3rd of 6, North
7th of 12, AJHL
2007–08 45 26 18 0 1 53 163 129 4th of 6, North
6th of 11, AJHL
2008–09 42 25 12 0 5 55 136 91 3rd of 6, North
5th of 12, AJHL
2009–10 42 34 4 0 4 72 180 73 1st of 6, North
2nd of 12, AJHL		 League Champions
2010–11 44 38 3 0 3 79 187 67 1st of 6, North
1st of 12, AJHL		 League Champions
2011–12 44 38 5 1 0 77 162 65 1st of 12, AJHL League Champions
2012–13 44 29 11 4 0 62 163 94 2nd of 12, AJHL Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. New Jersey Rockets
Eastern Hockey League
2013–14 44 13 22 7 2 35 110 150 6th of 6, Central Div.
15th of 17, EHL		 Lost Round 1, 0–2 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers
2014–15 44 29 9 — 6 64 154 121 1st of 5, Boston Div.
5th of 19, EHL		 Won Round 1, 2–0 vs. Vermont Lumberjacks
Lost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Connecticut Oilers
2015–16 41 20 13 — 8 48 116 107 4th 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
2016–17 48 24 20 — 4 52 144 147 3rd of 5, Boston Div.
5th of 9, North Conf.
9th of 17, EHL-Premier		 Lost First Round, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones
2017–18 50 36 11 — 3 75 207 123 2nd 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
2018–19 45 18 20 — 7 43 143 160 4th of 5, South Div.
7th of 10, New England Conf.
12th of 18, EHL		 Did not qualify
2019–20 46 28 13 — 5 61 147 110 5th of 11, New England Conf.
7th of 19, EHL		 Lost Play-in Game, 3–5 vs. Seacoast Spartans
2020–21 38 26 10 — 2 54 131 98 2nd 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
2021–22 46 27 17 — 2 56 130 115 2nd 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
2022–23 46 30 15 — 1 61 126 97 1st of 5, East Div.
3rd of 19, EHL		 Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 East Coast Wizards
Lost Div. Finals, 1-2 Boston Jr. Rangers
2023–24 46 34 10 1 1 70 155 95 1st 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]

Player Team Level
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 Brightbill Sacred Heart University D-I
Zach Andrews UMass Boston D-I
Chris Comprosky UMass Boston D-I
Derek Kump Holy Cross D-I
Erick Vos Holy Cross D-I
Charles LaChance AIC D-I
Steve Charest Utica College D-III
Lou Malvasi Utica College D-III
Cody Armstrong Tufts D-III
Matt Venoit Penn State D-I
Brian Greene Castleton State D-III
Cal Mell Union College D-I
Matt Ryan Stonehill College D-II
Brad Arvanitis Umass Amherst D-I
Mike Wise Assumption College D-II
Charlie Page Stonehill College D-II
Max Burum St Anselm College D-II
Sam Johnson Saint Michaels College D-II

References

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