The 58 game regular season starts today versus the Mahoning Valley Phantoms. Face-off time is 3:15pm at the SuperRink in Blaine.
This will be a tough test for the Express. The Phantoms have 11 guys back from last year's team that finished runner-up at the Robertson Cup, including both goalies, 3 defensemen, and 6 forwards. They also picked up a former Wichita Falls Wildcat, a former Fargo-Moorhead Jet, and a former Des Moines Buc. By the way the former Fargo Jet is Jordy Trottier, a name most Express fans will recognize as he played many times in Owatonna. The rest of their roster is primarily guys from AAA/Midget Major programs. There are no Minnesota kids on their roster.
What I hope to see from the Express in today's game:
- The Express played much better overall last Saturday than they did last Friday. I want to see them take another step in the right direction today. Take what you learned against Fairbanks, and improve on it against the Phantoms.
- Work through the first game jitters quick. Get settled into the speed of the game faster than we did against Fairbanks.
- No stupid penalties. The Express cannot afford to spend alot of time on penalty kill. So play smart.
- More cohesiveness with the line combinations. Start playing off of their teammates. In high school, a lot of guys can dominate individually, that won't work in the NAHL.
Big Kahuna's Prediction: Mahoning Valley Phantoms 4 - Owatonna Express 2
Even with a solid effort today, I just don't think we have the firepower to stay with the Phantoms today. We are an expansion team with all new players, and we haven't proved anything yet, while the Phantoms are a veteran team, that should probably win the North Division this year. I'm hoping to be proved wrong. Go get 'em guys.
Predictions for the other games today:
Fairbanks over Springfield
Topeka over Alpena
St Louis over Traverse City
Motor City over Wenatchee
USNDTP U17 - over Bismarck
Alexandria over Alaska
Kenai River over Albert Lea
North Iowa over Marquette
USNDTP U18 over Wichita Falls
See you at the rink
--BK
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2 comments:
BK,
I'm impressed. 9 out of 10 on your picks and Traverse City only pulled it out with 1:18 left to go in the game. Care to share any stock picks?
Pete - My gut said go with Traverse City, but my brain said go with the defending champ St. Louis....I chose wrong.
As far as stock tips, given what has happened this week, I would say your best place your money is under the mattress.
Now I am far from an expert, but wouldn't this be a good time to get into real estate?? If you were liquid enough: Buy a bunch of these foreclosed houses, and turn them into rental properties, as there seems to always be a shortage of rentals available in the area. When the real estate market inevitably rebounds, sell them off for a huge profit. It's just that easy right??
--BK
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