Coach Fink Leaving for the USHL

Owatonna Express Assistant Coach Eric Fink has taken a position as assistant coach of the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Read the story here: http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3863181

I have to admit I was a little blind-sided by this announcement. I figured that eventually Eric would move on to a different coaching position somewhere, I just didn't figure it would be this summer, or this late in the offseason. Coaches come and coaches go, as that is the nature of junior hockey. This is a step up the proverbial corporate ladder for him, and I wish him well.

It remains to be seen what effect this will have on the Express down the road. It was good for the program to have such an experienced guy as the assistant coach. A lot of what he did was behind the scenes, with recruiting and whatnot, and Coach Cullen will have to find a guy that can help find those diamonds in the rough. That being said, make no mistake, this is Coach Cullen's team, and he will have things well under control.

Total speculation on my part here: I would guess Coach Cullen knew this was a possibility, and had already thought up his short list of replacements. Will we see the new assistant coach this weekend at the main tryout camp?? My guess is yes, we will.

See you at the rink.

--BK