Tryout camp is in the books. The camp all-star game was played Sunday morning with the white team beating the red team. As I type this, all 40 players on the all-star rosters, plus a few other guys that didn't play Sunday, are sitting down with Coach Cullen and Coach Fink for the exit-interviews. 20-25 of those guys will get the good news that they made the Express roster for this year's team, and the rest will have to chase the dream somewhere else. I believe the guys will report to Owatonna over Labor Day weekend, to start getting ready for the season.
Final Camp Observations:
- I chatted throughout the weekend with the family of one of the players who ended up making the team. They were very complimentary about the whole process. Multiple times they mentioned how friendly everybody was in Owatonna, and were quite impressed with how well-run the camp was.
- Several of the players mentioned that they appreciated having exit-interviews, instead of just posting a list on the wall. This showed these guys that this is a first-class organization, and should pay off down the line, as kids will want to play here.
- Everybody from the players to the referees to the scouts to the parents to the volunteers, were talking about how well-run this camp was. Many of the players and parents had been to other NAHL camps, and none of them had compared to this camp. I heard from parents that other camps had no referees, not enough coaches, and not much organization.
- Two of the scouts in attendance told me that the Express camp had the most speed on the ice of any of the NAHL camps they had been to.
- The ice was good all weekend, no problems with humidity.
Now I am not a professional hockey scout, but from what I saw this weekend, we are going to have a truly exciting team this fall. There is a handful of experienced NAHL guys, but mostly young guys fresh out of high school or AAA programs. This still is an expansion team, and the guys hadn't played together until this weekend, so it might take a little while for things to gel (remember year #1?). However I think this is going to be a team that should easily make the playoffs and contend for the Central Division championship. Cullen's first 2 Express teams had rocky starts, but got better and better as the season went along, and then peaked during the playoffs. I would expect something similar to that this time around.
I will start doing profiles of the guys that made the team over the next 5 weeks, and then it's down to business. To the guys that made the team, thanks for giving your best this weekend, and welcome to Owatonna.
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26 comments:
BK - Thanks for the blog. I'm not from Minnesota, but it's great to here how the town pulls together for the team. This franchise has a chance to "set the bar" so to speak. I have spoken to many scouts and I have heard nothing but good things about Coach Cullen and Fink. Although I was unable to attend the camp, I had some very knowledgeable sources who were there and they too were impressed with not only the talent level but with how organized the camp was run this weekend. A BIG thanks to all the volunteers behind the scenes! Looks like the makings for another exciting year for the EXPRESS!!!
I did not think much about how the camp was run, this is number #4 for me and nothing was a standout.
Coaches are same old same old. The talent? was normal and average. Dont understand all the "hype". It was ok. Just a camp, not the NHL.
Volunteers are the same where ever they are, just good people willing to help. Without them people need to be paid to do their job.
Not impressed with lack of rosters as all the kids should have been acknowledged with they put their feet on the ice.
As a said, #4 here for me and same old same old.
We all know it is not a NHL camp but these people work very hard as volunteers to help and spend lots and lots of time helping the organization! If you have some ideas about what can be improved please share! I am sure they are always willing to listen!!!
Did you pay attention to the post about how volunteers are good people in the 2nd blog blogger #3?I for one saw that positive note!
Volunteers are indeed great folks that earn my respect and yes, if we did not have them, then we would have to pay to have someone work in those spots and that is not fruitful. Thought the game was ok today. Ice was bad maybe thats why the speed was slow.
Go express..
Thanks anonymous #1, I am having a blast doing this blog.
Anonymous #2 Thanks for chiming in with your opinion. Even though I don't agree with eveything you said, I hope you continue to contribute to the conversation.
I will just point out that volunteers are not the same everywhere they are. The off-ice officials and game night operations staff for the Express have received countless compliments from the league, referees, and ref supervisors. They are known as one of the best off-ice official crews in the NAHL.
I don't know where you were looking, but I never had a problem finding a roster.
What are volunteer officials? The sin bin?
Last season the guy was great!
Also, the volunteers experienced thru the years are second to none.
What a wild weekend. Really hope the new team will be up to par. Coach Fink is a little concerned but they will work hard with the team and he is hopeful the team will gel and hit 500.
From my point of view, the draft and/or tenders who did not show up and do not want to play here can just go their own way. MN is the best state for hockey and our team will be number 1. Its their loss. Our fine town rocks! Good bye and good luck.
Ian
How many NAHL vets signed? We need at least 12 to be in the running.
The Express will have some good young talent. Defenseman Anthony Orange captained the Team Illinois AAA Midget Majors who took 2nd place at the US Nationals. Also heard that two other Team Illinois players Fiala (D) and Bornozos (F) will also join the team. Great additions. Look for them to make and impact on the ice!
What 2 scouts were there? I must have missed them.
This team will be very young. It will give the kids a chance to grow together on the ice. Pat is worried cause he is under tons of pressure to perform this year and hopes the fans will be patient. I understand and can deal with it.
I am truly puzzled as to why the important draft pix were not here. Regardless if they are on the USHL protect list. Are they gone for good? Why did the coaches have to threaten guys if they attended USHL camps they were out? Dosent the ownership clan have some power over Pats crazy policy??
No wonder Patty boy is worried.
There is a reason central coaches were happy when Romaniski took over the team and it had nothing to do with Romaniski.
Wonder if Roy will have to drive to Owatonna for trips to Alex like he had to in year 1+2?
Pat does let these kids try-out for USHL 3 kids that made the team I heard are heading to try-out with Waterloo and Fargo!! Pat has changed in that aspect and it is good. As far as the kids on USHL rosters I would assume they will be coming if they don't make the USHL roster after they get down to 23 players. Lets not worry to much and lets see the roster at the first regular season game, i am sure all you negative people should be surprised!
Hamline, St Olaf, and several Junior B scouts were there. The Hamline coach was really excited about signing Brian Arrigoni. He said that Arrigoni will be centering their 2nd line this year as a true freshman.
Wow! Great for Aragoni!!!!
Its so nice that we had scouts from major colleges come and watch the tryouts..It makes us proud!
Sometimes I think Dr. Evil is back in town when I see posts like the one above mine.
I agree. I think it is great for Arrigoni. Hamline is a great school and its hockey program has gone from worst to first in the MIAC in the last four years under Scott Bell. Most of these kids aren't going to play D1 and to get financial help to attend a great MIAC school (through "academic" scholarships), get a fantastic education and still get to play hockey at a high level is huge. Several of the players over the last few years have added an incredible amount of talent to the D3 program (o-town's Joel is one of them) and they have a lot to be proud of. The MIAC playoffs were extremely well attended and many from O town went to watch Joel, Alex Coles and others in the playoffs. Anonymous above needs a reality check and some humble pie.
The theory thrown out is that the top 2 lines on a D3 team could be a 3rd or 4th line on a D1 team. I thought with some more Junior seasoning that Arrigoni could've played D1, maybe his size is a detriment to scouts on the D1 level.
Faribogopherguy
87 aged out.
Turned down D1 spot previously when in USHL.
D1, 3rd or 4th line or healthy scratch and no financial aid or D3, 1st or 2nd line with a decent financial package and a fantastic education with alumni who help out recent grads. Hmmm. It is a tough choice but I have to believe there are a lot of parents out there that encourage option #2 after one year of juniors.
i am happy for the players who are moving on to college and get to play hockey there.
i am happy we have major college scouts looking at our new team already.
lets go express. we are #1 and will win all our games.
Does anyone know if Jake Sloat made the team?? I think what Omaha did to him was disgraceful. He's a great kid, a gritty player and deserves to play at a top level club.
What I know about Jake Sloat: He was drafted by the Express, and did not attend tryout camp. On the roster that I have, which I believe is dead-on, I don't have Sloat on the team. I hope I am wrong on this one though, as I would love to him on the Express. It would be possible that he just couldn't make it to camp for whatever reason, but made the team anyway. Do you know something, and feel like sharing??
"Rumor" has it that he tried out for the Green Bay Gamblers and got cut. Further speculation is that he may play for Andrew Sherman of the Colorado Rampage U18AAA team because they have just joined the MWEHL.
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