Walpole Express
| Walpole Express | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Walpole, Massachusetts |
| League |
Eastern Hockey League EHL Premier NEWJHL |
| Conference | North |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Home arena | Rodman Arena |
| Colors | Red, White, Black |
| Owner(s) | Rob Barletta |
| Head coach | Jon Lounsbury (EHL) Cos Polino (Premier) Danielle Doherty (NEWJHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2005–present | Walpole Express |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | AJHL: 2010, 2011, 2012 |
The Walpole Express is a junior, midget, youth, and girls hockey organization based in Walpole, Massachusetts. The teams play their home games at the Rodman Arena formally known as the Iorio Arena, located just 2 miles from Gillette Stadium.
Most notably, the Express field Tier III junior teams in the Eastern Hockey League (EHL) (formerly the Atlantic Junior Hockey League) and the EHL's Premier Division. In 2014, the organization added a women's junior team which participates in the New England Women's Junior Hockey League (NEWJHL).
The EHL team is coached by former professional player and Huntsville Havoc captain Jon Lounsbury, who took over the coaching duties from Olympian and NHL alumni Mark Kumpel when he accepted the position of director of hockey operations for the Eastern Hockey League. The Express associate coaches are former Buffalo Sabres skating coach Matt Rogers and Northeast Goaltending Development director Clayton Adams.
The NEWJHL team is coached by former Boston Blades professional defenseman Anya Battaglino, who was also a member of the Boston University Terriers women's team.
The Express AJHL team captured three consecutive President's Cup Championships (2010, 2011, and 2012), the AJHL Regular Season Championship two of those years (2011 and 2012), and the 2010 AJHL North Division Championship. The now EHL-19U Elite team (formerly in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League until 2015) has also won the 2009 MJHL Regular Season Championship and 2011 MJHL Francis Division Championship under general manager and coach Tony Dalessio.
The Express field numerous Tier I and Tier II National Bound Midget teams ranging from U14 through U18. In addition to the midget teams, spring and fall Select teams are also entered into various area tournaments. The Midget and Select programs are run by longtime Northeast Elite Hockey director, Rob Reilly.
The Express girls teams provide an opportunity for girls from Walpole and surrounding towns to learn and excel at the game of hockey in a positive, fun and competitive environment which stresses teamwork and sportsmanship. The organization promotes player development for all players. There are nine all-girls teams including the U16/19 level, U14 level, U12 level, U10 level, and U8 level. The season runs roughly from early September through mid-March. The U16/19 teams are half-season teams, who end their season at Thanksgiving so the players can play on their high school hockey teams.
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