I'm Back....

... I'm back in the saddle again. Thanks to Aerosmith for providing the title of my blogpost for today.

The holidays are over, and the Express are back on the ice. While I would have loved a 3 game sweep last weekend, I'll take the 4 points they did get. It very easily could have been a disastrous weekend with 3 losses. The New Year's Eve game with Bismarck was a tough game, but the guys bounced back with a nice performance on Friday. Albert Lea played tough Saturday night, forcing overtime, but Captain KangaCarew drove the dagger in the Thunder's heart 1 minute into extra time. So, 4 point weekend and back above .500% for the good guys.

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Express forward Josh Daley had a great opportunity over break, doing a commercial for the Pittsburgh Penguins at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. Josh served as Evgeny Malkin's stand-in, and the sweater, helmet and breezers are actually Malkin's. Congratulations Josh!

- Former Express defenseman Robby Spalding was waived by the Odessa Jackalopes of the CHL last week. He played in 11 games for the Jacks.

- Former Express forward Marco Ruggeri decided not to return to the Motor City Machine after the holiday break, and will enroll in college. He had served as captain of the Machine since former captain Andy Inderieden left the team earlier in the season.

- It was nice to see Grant Fahnhorst get a goal in the Albert Lea game Saturday night. Way to go Fahnzie!

- Forward John Kruse looks close to returning to the ice. The cast and brace are off, and hopefully he can pick up where he left off early in the season. On the other hand, forward Chris Darnell will be out for an extended period of time with a leg injury. I believe he was having surgery this week, and hopes to back by the end of the season.

Next up for the Express is a pair of games this weekend. The Albert Lea Thunder come to Owatonna Friday night, and then the Express hit the road for a Saturday night tilt with the Alexandria Blizzard. The Thunder have to be a little miffed after the overtime loss to the Express on Saturday, and you can be sure there will be some fireworks. The Blizzard split a pair of games with North Iowa last weekend, and are only 2 points out of first place in the Central Division. Game on!!

See you at the rink.

--Big Kahuna