As I was driving back from the metro today, I was thinking of potential topics for today's blogpost. Nothing was really standing out, and that got me wondering why it was so quiet out there in NAHL-land right now. The draft is one week from Wednesday, and we don't even know who is in the league and who isn't. I was about to start a writing a "no news is potentially bad news" column when I started trolling through vast regions of the interwebs, and it looks like silly season might be picking up.
- The Janesville, Wisconsin team is a definite go. The NAHL approved their membership for the 2009/10 season. No announcement was made as to which division they will play in, but it would make sense to put them in the North as a replacement for the USNTDP and Mahoning Valley. Janesville is just south of Madison on I-90, a trip of 285 miles/4.5 hours from Owatonna.
- Still no word on the Dawson Creek (British Columbia) team.
- Hearing rumblings that the North Division might be losing one more team this off-season. More on this when I can get some more information.
- Former North Iowa Outlaws head coach Jeff Crouse is not happy with the way his employment was ended by the Outlaw organization. Read the article here: http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/05/12/sports/local/doc4a0903da47b85381288020.txt
If new teams aren't in by the draft, it doesn't necessarily mean they won't still join the league. There have been some teams that have entered the league without participating in the draft (I think the Alexandria Blizzard did that). However, it's more likely than not that all the teams that will play in the NAHL this winter will take part in the draft next Wednesday. So expect some more news in the near future.
With what I know right now, this is what I would guess the divisions will look like:
Central: Owatonna, Bismarck, Alexandria, Albert Lea, North Iowa
North: Traverse City, Alpena, Marquette, Janesville, Motor City
West: Kenai River, Alaska, Wenatchee, Fairbanks, (Dawson Creek would go here)
South: Topeka, Texas, Wichita Falls, St Louis, Springfield
See you at the rink.
--BK
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A blog devoted to the North American Hockey League's Owatonna Express Junior "A" Hockey team. While it will primarily focus on the Express, the Central Division, and the NAHL in general, discussion on the blog will also include other pertinent items related to "The State of Hockey".
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3 comments:
Dawson Creek might be a year or two out yet.
Noticed that Cory Thorson was chosen by the Indiana Ice in the USHL during their draft. Hope he decides to stay with us as he should be a big part of the team next season.
I see that Cory Thorson was the 76th pick in the USHL draft today by the Indiana Ice. That is great for Cory but a huge hit for us. I hope we see Cory in the Express jersey again.
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