The Northwest Express are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team playing in the United States Premier Hockey League (Premier Division). The team plays their home games at the Spooner Civic Center located in Spooner, Wisconsin.
| Northwest Express | |
|---|---|
| City | Spooner, Wisconsin |
| League | USPHL |
| Division | Midwest West |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Home arena | Spooner Civic Center |
| Colors | Blue, black, and White |
| Owner(s) | Joe Dibble |
| General manager | Jon Jonasson |
| Head coach | Nic Leibold |
| Franchise history | |
| 2011–2015 | Maple Grove Energy |
| 2015–2017 | Blaine Energy |
| 2020–2024 | Minnesota Moose |
| 2024–current | Northwest Express |
History
editFounded in 2011, the Maple Grove Energy replaced the recently folded Minnesota Wildcats in Maple Grove.[1] During the 2015 off-season the Energy relocated to Blaine, Minnesota, and changed their name accordingly.
Prior to the 2015–16 season, the Energy were members of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL). At the conclusion of the 2014–15 season the majority of the MnJHL members joined the United States Premier Hockey League by creating the USPHL-Midwest Division and the MnJHL ceased operations. After one season, the USPHL-Midwest was split into the Elite and USP3 Divisions with the Energy added to the Elite Division for 2016–17.
In February 2017, owner Cal Ballard announced that he had given up management operations of the Energy to the Dibble Group (an management group headed by the Janesville Jets head coach in the North American Hockey League) in October 2016. His reasons were due to the changing landscape of Tier III junior hockey and the difficulties of fielding a team. He assumed the Energy would be ceasing operations at the end of the season.[2]
May 31, 2024 the USPHL - Premier announced that the Minnesota Moose would be relocating to Spooner, Wisconsin and rebranding to the Northwest Express.
Season-by-season records
edit| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Grove Energy | ||||||||||
| 2011–12 | 48 | 1 | 44 | 3 | 13 | 114 | 384 | 8th, MnJHL | Did not qualify | |
| 2012–13 | 50 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 53 | 191 | 207 | 4th, MnJHL-MN | Lost Division Quarterfinals, 1–2 vs. Steele County Blades | |
| 2013–14 | 46 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 64 | 179 | 222 | 2nd, MnJHL-MN | Won Division Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Edina Lakers Lost Division Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Hudson Crusaders | |
| 2014–15 | 42 | 16 | 24 | 2 | 34 | 187 | 246 | 6th of 8, Minn. Div. 10th of 14, MnJHL |
Lost Division Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Hudson Crusaders | |
| Blaine Energy | ||||||||||
| 2015–16 | 48 | 8 | 38 | 2 | 18 | 99 | 303 | 9th of 9, West Conf. 16th of 17, USPHL-Midwest |
Did not qualify | |
| 2016–17 | 44 | 5 | 37 | 2 | 12 | 67 | 319 | 7th of 8, Midwest Div. 24th of 27, USPHL-Elite |
Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Dells Ducks | |
| Minnesota Moose | ||||||||||
| 2020–21 | 44 | 37 | 6 | 1 | 75 | 254 | 104 | 2nd of 9, Midwest West 3rd of 61, USPHL-Premier |
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Rum River Mallards Won Div. Semifinals 2-1 Hudson Havoc 1-2 Pool D eliminated | |
| 2021–22 | 44 | 23 | 17 | 4 | 50 | 183 | 133 | 4th of 8, Midwest West 31st of 64, USPHL-Premier |
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Steele County Blades Lost Div. Semifinals 0-2 Minnesota Blue Ox | |
| 2022–23 | 44 | 28 | 15 | 1 | 57 | 186 | 135 | 3rd of 9, Midwest West 26th of 70, USPHL-Premier |
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Steele County Blades Won Div. Semifinals 2-1 Minnesota Squatch | |
| 2023–24 | 44 | 23 | 18 | 3 | 49 | 143 | 118 | 5th of 9, Midwest West 33rd of 61, USPHL-Premier |
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2-0 vs. Minnesota Blue Ox Lost Div. Semifinals 0-2 Minnesota Squatch | |
| Northwest Express | ||||||||||
| 2024–25 | ??th of 9, Midwest West ??th of 61, USPHL-Premier |
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Alumni
editThe franchise has produced some alumni playing in higher levels of junior hockey, NCAA Division III, and ACHA college programs.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "New Junior Hockey Team Coming to Maple Grove". Maple Grove Patch. June 20, 2011.
- ^ "February 24, 2017 Blaine Energy Facebook post". Facebook. February 24, 2017.