Today is the day we have been waiting for, the first day of practice. Now that things have officially started it should start to get a little busier around here. A week from Friday is the first exhibition game, so we won't have to wait much longer to see what the guys look like on the ice.
Today's player announcements were all draft picks of the Express at the NAHL Draft in May, and you can find the original profiles in the June archive. These 4 guys will have a huge impact on the success of the Express this season. All 4 are young guys with no prior junior experience, but all have major talent upside. 2 of them are on USHL affiliate rosters, 1 is coming from a great AAA program, and the 4th guy might be the best overall athlete on the roster.
- Express Player Profile - Dylan Porter - 5'9"/170lbs - Forward
Attended Rosemount High School. Scored 17 goals and 28 assists his senior year as captain of the Irish hockey team. Played in the 2007 Elite league, and for Section 3 in the Great 8 tournament. Is also a very good baseball player. Was a centerfielder and captain of the Irish team that qualified for the state tournament. He was also featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press as a member of their All-State Baseball Team.
- Express Player Profile - Cam Stowers - Forward
****The following profile was submitted by an anonymous reader****
Cam Stowers (6'2", 200lbs) is a 1990 birthyear originally from Houston, TX, but played the last 3 years with Russell Stover AAA Midget program in Kansas City. Also played with Little Caesars in Detroit his Bantam year. He is a power forward with a good forecheck when he uses it. Very good playmaker who can also score. Selected to play in USA Hockey Select 15s, 16s and 17s camp. Was last player cut at Cedar Rapids camp last summer and actually made the Texas Tornado roster last year as a 17 yr. old but chose to return to RS under Coach Pat Ferschweiler and Jason Herter. Suffered injury to knee and was sidelined for most of second half of last season. Helped lead his team to a 3rd place finish at USA Hockey U18 Nat'ls the year before. Was a future draft pick of expansion Fargo Force last fall. Had a very good showing at initial Fargo camp in June and was invited back to their second camp.
- Express Player Profile - Tim Smith - 5'11"/190lbs - Defenseman
Drafted by the Express in the 1st round of the 2008 NAHL Entry Draft out of traditional powerhouse Superior HS in Superior, Wisconsin. Was first team all-state selection in 2007 (Teddy Falk was also on that list) & 2008. Finalist for 2008 Wisconsin Mr. Hockey. Member of the "Outstate" Minnesota team that beat Shattuck on the way to winning the prestigious Nike/Bauer National Invitation Tournament. Drafted by the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede in the 8th round of the 2007 draft, but decided to finish his high school career at Superior. Is listed on the NHL's Central Scouting "Players to Watch" for the 2008 NHL Draft. Is on Sioux Falls affiliate list entering the 2008/09 season.
My take: This guy is an absolute stud. With some help from Coach Cullen, he is a definite division 1 prospect despite being a little undersized at 5'11". Scored 14 goals and 13 assists his senior year playing on a very good team in high school that didn't shy away from competition, beating Duluth Marshall, Cloquet, and Hermantown amongst others.
- Express Player Profile - Zach Vierling - 5'9"/165lbs - Forward
2nd round draft pick of the Express out of Coon Rapids HS in Minnesota. Led the Northwest Suburban Conference in scoring with 63 points in 23 games his senior year, centering the top line at CR. Was named All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State in 2008. Awarded the 2008 Hobey Baker High School Character Award (Pete Kalan's son Ryan also won this award). Played in the Great 8 for section 5. 16th round pick of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL). Is currently on Cedar Rapids' affiliate list entering the 2008/09 season.
My take: As with a lot of kids going to juniors, he needs to bulk up some. Appears to be a finesse type of player with good puck-handling skills and a scoring touch. Played in the RoughRiders tryout camp all-star game.
Here is what we know of the roster as of today:
G - Adam Buegler
D - Troy Puente
D - Nick Carson
D - Carson Curran
D - Anthony Orange
D- Marian Fiala
D - Tim Smith
F - Josh Daley
F - John Kruse
F - Troy McDonald
F - Alex Niestrom
F- Chris Bournazos
F - Cam Stowers
F - Zach Vierling
F - Dylan Porter
I will repeat myself for the 100th time here: Remember, this might not be 100% accurate. Nothing is official until we see them in uniform. This was the roster I ascertained back in July at the close of tryout camp, and changes could have been made since then. Not to mention that I have only 23 guys on my roster, one of which will be playing in the USHL this season, and I'm sure our roster will be at the maximum 25 guys. Hopefully, the complete roster will be published this week, and all the speculation and guessing can end.
I have 7 more guys that haven't been revealed. They consist of 1 goalie, 1 defenseman, and 5 forwards, and I will probably post them tomorrow.
--BK
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2 comments:
The team should just post the roster already and then be done with it. I already know everyone on it, and so do several other people.
If the website is not updated and friendly, marketing our team will be hard. The paper is limited.
Albert Lea is working hard on their end to grab residents more than half way to us.
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