The Express Hockey Club is a junior, youth, and girls hockey organization based in Walpole, Massachusetts. They have had more than 150 commitments since the 2013-14 season, including multiple to the Division One level. The teams play their home games at the Cadillac Ice Arena, located just 2 miles from Gillette Stadium. As of 2022 they have changed their name to Express Hockey Club
Junior teams
Most notably, the Express field teams in the Tier III junior Eastern Hockey League (EHL) (formerly the Atlantic Junior Hockey League) and the EHL's Premier Division.
The EHL team is currently coached by Nic Cota. The EHL teams were previously coached by former professional player and Huntsville Havoc captain Jon Lounsbury, Olympian and NHL alumni Mark Kumpel, former professional player and current Air Force Academy assistant coach Josh Holmstrom, and Cody Campbell who moved on to coach the North American Hockey League's Minot Minotauros.
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.
In 2022 the Walpole Express announced that they would be rebranding to the Express Hockey Club to better represent the wide reaching area they serve.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Regular season finish PlayoffsAtlantic Junior Hockey League 2005–06 42 10 31 0 1 21 133 227 10th of 11, AJHLDid not qualify 2006–07 44 22 21 0 1 45 185 165 3rd of 6, North7th of 12, AJHL 2007–08 45 26 18 0 1 53 163 129 4th of 6, North6th of 11, AJHL 2008–09 42 25 12 0 5 55 136 91 3rd of 6, North5th of 12, AJHL 2009–10 42 34 4 0 4 72 180 73 1st of 6, North2nd of 12, AJHLLeague champions 2010–11 44 38 3 0 3 79 187 67 1st of 6, North1st of 12, AJHLLeague champions 2011–12 44 38 5 1 0 77 162 65 1st of 12, AJHLLeague champions 2012–13 44 29 11 4 0 62 163 94 2nd of 12, AJHLLost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. New Jersey RocketsEastern Hockey League 2013–14 44 13 22 7 2 35 110 150 6th of 6, Central Div.15th of 17, EHLLost Round 1, 0–2 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers 2014–15 44 29 9 — 6 64 154 121 1st of 5, Boston Div.5th of 19, EHLWon Round 1, 2–0 vs. Vermont LumberjacksLost Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Connecticut Oilers 2015–16 41 20 13 — 8 48 116 107 4th of 9, North Conf.9th of 18, EHL-PremierWon First Round, 2–0 vs. Boston Junior RangersWon Second Round, 2–0 vs. Boston BanditsLost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Philadelphia Little Flyers 2016–17 48 24 20 — 4 52 144 147 3rd of 5, Boston Div.5th of 9, North Conf.9th of 17, EHL-PremierLost First Round, 0–2 vs. Northern Cyclones 2017–18 50 36 11 — 3 75 207 123 2nd of 4, Boston Div.3rd of 8, North Conf.5th of 16, EHLWon First Round, 2–0 vs. New England WolvesLost Second Round, 0–2 vs. Boston Junior Rangers 2018–19 45 18 20 — 7 43 143 160 4th of 5, South Div.7th of 10, New England Conf.12th of 18, EHLDid not qualify 2019–20 46 28 13 — 5 61 147 110 5th of 11, New England Conf.7th of 19, EHLLost Play-in Game, 3–5 vs. Seacoast Spartans 2020–21 38 26 10 — 2 54 131 98 2nd of 7, Central Div.4th of 17, EHLWon First Round, 2–0 vs.Valley Jr. WarriorsWon Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Western Mass ChiefsLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Boston Jr. Rangers 2021–22 46 27 17 — 2 56 130 115 2nd of 5, Central Div.6th of 17, EHLWon Div. Semifinal, 2–1 vs.East Coast WizardsWon Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Boston Jr. RangersFrozen Four - 1-1 Pool A Round Robin(Won 2-0 Avalanche) & (Lost 0-2 New England Wolves)Won Semifinal Gm 3-1 Worcester Jr RailersLost Championship Gm 0-2 New Jersey 87'sExpress Hockey Club 2022–23 46 30 15 — 1 61 126 97 1st of 5, East Div.3rd of 19, EHLWon Div. Semifinal, 2–0 East Coast WizardsLost Div. Finals, 1-2 Boston Jr. Rangers 2023–24 46 34 10 1 1 70 155 95 1st of 6, East Div.3rd of 23, EHLWon Div. Semifinal, 2=1 Seahawks Hockey ClubLost Div Finals, 1-2 Boston Jr. Rangers 2024–25 46 36 3 4 3 79 156 73 1st of 6, East Div.2nd of 21, EHLWon Div. Semifinal, 2-0 Boston Junior EaglesWon Div Finals, 2-0 Seahawks Hockey ClubLost NE Regional 1-2 New Hampshire Avalanche 2025–26 50 34 12 3 1 72 197 141 2nd of 6, East Div.5th of 20, EHLWon Div. Semifinal 2-0 Bridgewater BanditsLost Div Finals 1-2 Seahawks Hockey Club
Youth teams The Express field numerous half and full-season youth teams ranging from U14 through U18. The program is led by Ottawa Senators Scout, Todd Stirling.
Alumni The Walpole Express have produced a number of alumni playing in higher levels of, NCAA Division I, Division III college and professional programs.
Player Team Level Max MacKay Wheeling Nailers, Bridgeport Sound Tigers ECHL, American Hockey League (AHL) Matt Harrington Mississippi Riverkings, Cape Cod Bluefins SPHL, Federal Hockey League Ben Oskroba Peoria Rivermen, Northeastern University SPHL, D-I Georgiy Gurianov HC CSKA Moscow KHL Jake Brightbill Sacred Heart University D-I Zach Andrews UMass Boston D-III Chris Comprosky UMass Boston D-I Derek Kump Holy Cross D-I Erick Vos Holy Cross D-I Charles LaChance AIC D-I Steve Charest Utica College D-III Lou Malvasi Utica College D-III Cody Armstrong Tufts D-III Matt Venoit Penn State D-I Brian Greene Castleton State D-IIICal MellUnion CollegeD-IMatt RyanStonehill CollegeD-IIBrad ArvanitisUmass AmherstD-IMike WiseAssumption College D-IICharlie PageStonehill CollegeD-IIMax BurumSt Anselm CollegeD-IISam JohnsonSaint Michaels College D-II
References
External links Official Walpole Express Website Eastern Hockey League