(San Mateo, CA) -- The Walpole Express recently signed Montreal native Mario Morrissette as the organization’s Western regional scout. Currently head coach of the California Cougars Midget 16U AAA squad, Morrisette has a strong bond with the Express organization having moved a number of his own players up from the Cougars. Among former Cougar players to join the Express are Justin Fragoza, Joobin Mozaffarimehr, Mico Solorzano and Jason Methot.

“We are excited to have Mario aboard and look forward to continuing our strong relationship,” said Express General Manager Tony Dalessio. “He knows the western hockey landscape inside and out, and has had a lot of success developing his players into true competitors. We feel he will continue to send promising talent our way.”

Morrissette’s Cougars in 2002-03 won the Midget Tier I Championship in the Southwest Youth Hockey League. In 2004-05, his Tier II Midget 16AA squad advanced to the finals of the California Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) Tier I and Tier II State Championships. Morrissette also brought his Cougars Bantam A program to two of the last three state championships. During the 2006-07 season his Tier II Midget 16AA team finished first overall in the Dallas MLK Tournament and the Colorado Springs Presidents’ Day Festival.

“Morrissette is renowned in the west for his success placing large numbers of his players in competitive junior and collegiate hockey programs, particularly those in the east,” Dalessio said. “His strong ties with programs in Massachusetts, including the Express, provide his best players with the opportunity to take their hockey careers to the next level.”