The Time Has Come

The time has come. From here on out, if you wish to post a comment on the blog, you will need to be a registered user. It only takes a minute to get registered, so please take the time to do so. Once you get registered and have a user name, please send me that username to my email address (owatonnaexpress@yahoo.com), and include your real name. I promise you complete privacy, and won't reveal any information to anyone. As the blog has grown in popularity, the amount of comments has grown exponentially. It has come to the point where it's getting too hard to differentiate the good information from the bad information, and lately that has led to me rejecting alot of comments because I just don't know if they are accurate. If I know the source of the comments, there will be some accountablility in play. This doesn't mean you can't still keep your anonymity, as I will be the only one that knows who you are. Besides, since most of you know who I am, it's only fair that I know who you are. By the way, if you see me at the rink, feel free to introduce yourself, and let me know what you think of the blog.

In summary, here's what you need to do:

1. Register with blogspot as a user. Some of you already are, so you can skip this step.
2. Send me an email (owatonnaexpress@yahoo.com) that includes your registered username and your real name. If you want to, please include other information i.e. I am a billet parent, I am a biological parent, I am a volunteer, I am a donor, etc..
3. Continue to enjoy the blog by reading and commenting.

When I first started the blog, I never expected it to grow into what it has become. I was surprised when 15-20 people were reading it ever day. Now that there are several hundred people visiting everyday, some changes are in order. I really wanted to make this an open forum for discussion about our favorite junior hockey team, and that won't change. Please continue to read and enjoy the blog.


From the Express Coaches Show Monday night:

- Coach Cullen said (paraphrasing here) that the first 2 periods of last Saturday's game against North Iowa were the best 2 periods of hockey the Express have played all year, they were getting quality chances but couldn't get anything past Callaghan the Outlaw goalie.

- On the Central Division race Cullen said "We're right there" and (paraphrasing again) that nobody scares him, but you have to bring it every night or you can get beat.

- Player interviews were with Cory Thorson and Zach Vierling. The common theme with these 2 guys tonight, and every player that has been interviewed so far, is how happy they are to be playing here. Thorson said he "loves it here", "loves the physicality" of the NAHL game, and that "things are starting to click".

- Coach Cullen filled us in on the injury to Express forward John Kruse. He has a broken bone in his wrist that wasn't detected on the first x-ray, and played the first 10 games that way. Upon a second x-ray the break was discovered, and John had surgery this morning to fix it. He will be out around 2 months, and Cullen hopes to have him back after Christmas or in early January.


Next up for the Express is a home and home series with the Albert Lea Thunder this weekend, Friday night in Albert Lea, and Saturday night in Owatonna. Albert Lea is fresh off their first victory of the season, and will be looking to start a win streak against the Express. The Express are playing their best hockey of the season, and can put some more distance between themselves and the Thunder for the ever important 4th playoff spot. Happy hour starts at 6:00pm, and don't forget your buckets and other noisemakers. It is also "Skate with the Express" night so bring your skates and take a lap or two with your favorite Express players.

Power rankings will be posted tomorrow.

--Big Kahuna