Express Player Profiles - Percy & Thorson

-Express Player Profile - Nate Percy - Jersey #8 - Forward - 5'9"/165lbs

1989 birth year from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Played his high school hockey at Rosemount HS. 2006/07 - scored 16 goals and 22 assists. 2007/08 - scored 19 goals and 24 assists. He was teammates and linemates with Express teammate Dylan Porter last year for the Irish. Played in the 2007 Fall Elite League, and the Great 8 Tournament.


-Express Player profile - Cory Thorson - Jersey # 16 - Forward - 6'1"/190lbs

1990 birth year from Crystal, Minnesota. Played his high school hockey for Robbinsdale Armstrong HS. 2007/08 - Led the Classic Lake Conference in scoring with 31 goals and 31 assists. Was Honorable Mention All-State, and played in the Fall Elite League and Great 8 Tournaments. Was listed on the NHL Central Scouting Player to Watch List for 2008. Was drafted by the Fargo Force in the 18th round of the USHL Entry Draft.


My take: I don't know much about Percy. He had a goal against Fairbanks in the Saturday game last weekend, and has looked okay from what little I've seen him play thus far.

I really like Thorson and think he could be one of the shining stars for the Express this year. We saw a lot of scoring the last 3 years from the guy wearing jersey #16 for the Express (CJ Willms), and that trend should continue this year with Thorson. He's a different kind of player than CJ was though, and reminds me more of former Express player and current North Iowa Outlaw, Brandon Brodhag. Keep an eye out for this guy, he will be fun to watch.


- That's the last of the player profiles, at least of the guys we know for sure are on the roster. As new guys arrive during the season, I'll continue to profile them. Once the Express hit the ice Wednesday in Blaine, then the rostered guys are officially property of the Express. We'll find out if the 2 new guys from last weekend made the team, and what their names are.

--BK