Saturday Update, Including 2 Player Announcements

It all begins in a couple of days!! Here's a few nuggets of information for a long holiday weekend:

-Express Player Profile - Alex Niestrom - 6'2"/195 - Forward

Played high school hockey at Hartland-Arrowhead in Wisconsin. His junior year (05/06) he was an honorable mention all-state selection. He also won the Hobey Baker Character Award that season. He has spent the last 2 seasons playing for Culver Academy in Illinois, and the Phoenix Force Midget program.

My take: He's a big, physical forward who should be a nice piece of the Express puzzle. I don't know much more about the guy, but I do know he is in Owatonna. We'll find out what kind of player he is in 13 days at the first exhibition game, and in 18 days when the showcase starts.


-Express Player Profile - Carson Curran - Defenseman

**This is the profile I posted back in June**
Attended Flint Powers Catholic High School in Flint, Michigan. 4 year player on varsity hockey team. Was All-State as a junior and senior. Scored 14 goals/ 38 assists, and was a +41 on a team that lost in overtime of the state championship game. Was named to the All-Division Dream Team by the hockey coaches association. Played on Team Michigan at the Chicago Showcase. Was 2nd team All-Conference defensive lineman on a very good Flint Powers football team his junior year, but gave up football to concentrate on hockey his senior year. Also played lacrosse at FPCHS.

My take: He's a big, offensive-minded defenseman. Prides himself for playing a physical game, and loves to hit. But he's also smart about it, in that he only had 20 PIM his senior year. He admits "Hockey is my life" and "I want to play hockey for the rest of my life." Sounds like a great draft pick by the Express, and a potential fan favorite.



-Here is a summary of what has been released in regards to the Express roster:

G - Adam Buegler
D - Troy Puente
D - Nick Carson
D - Carson Curran
F - Josh Daley
F - John Kruse
F - Troy McDonald
F - Alex Niestrom

Now nothing is official until I actually see these guys in an Express jersey, but I have seen a few of this group in Owatonna already, and the rest are pretty safe bets to arrive this weekend. I would think the entire roster would be made public this next week, but we'll have to wait and see. I'll probably reveal a couple of more guys tomorrow, so keep reading.

--BK