(Walpole, MA) -- The nascent Walpole Express, established by General Manager Rob Barletta in 2005, ended this season with a loss in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League semi finals. Despite the upset, Barletta said he’ll most remember this season for the vast improvements his team and coaching staff has made. “This was only our third year in Junior A Tier III. When we first established the team in July of 2005 we had less than three months to recruit players, cobble together a team and get them ready for their first game in September,” Barletta said. “We had a very late start in the league and in our first season the Express finished in second-to-last place. That year we placed just four players into college hockey programs. It wasn’t the success we had envisioned when we started the program.”

Not content with those results, Barletta went about retooling his program. He made key coaching changes for the Express’ second season, and the Express recruited 20 new players. That year, the Express placed third in the tough North Division, losing in the first round of the playoffs. The team placed an impressive 12 players into college programs, including a Division 1 opportunity for Taylor Anderson (Canisus College).

The team was on a roll. During the 2007-2008 season the team built momentum with a respectable record of 26-18-0-1, placing fourth in the North. To get there the Express swept the number-one ranked Portland Jr. Pirates in a two-game series. Unfortunately, the Express came up short in the semi-finals against the Philadelphia Little Flyers, losing the first game 2-0. The second game, a barn burner, ended in a loss with three minutes left in over time.

Despite the end-of-season disappointment, the Express program has been a resounding success this year. “We’ve already placed eight guys into collegiate hockey programs and expect several more to commitments come in the next few weeks,” Chris Cerrella said. “With three seasons under our belts we are really putting things into place. We are building a solid organization and will keep growing in the right direction. I predict next season will be better than ever."

With the season over, The Express staff is turning their attention toward recruiting for the 2008-2009 season. “We will have some of our guys back for next year but we still need to replace a number of impact players,” Cerrella said. “I will really miss the guys who are moving on, whether to college hockey or other endeavors.” Barletta added, “Our junior team is like no other because we have a dormitory where 90 percent of the players live. During the season we see each other every day and become a tight-knit family so it is difficult to see guys leave – even if it is for new and exciting opportunities. I wish every player continued success in life as they move on to the next step both academically and athletically.”