| On the Ball: Express fans must be patient |
By: By IAN STAUFFER
istauffer@owatonna.com
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Posted: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:02 pm
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If Owatonna Express coach Pat Cullen and his colleagues in the NAHL ever need a career change, the first name at the top of the list ought to be the CIA or the FBI.
Cullen and his brethren are one of the most secretive bunches of people I’ve ever come in contact with. Before the team’s tryout camp last week, Cullen refused to give the names of any players that would be in town for fear they wouldn’t show up. There were no rosters the first day of the camp because the team didn’t know for sure who would be there, and it didn’t want the documents to be incorrect. (For the record, there were rosters the other three days, including conveniently updated ones for the all-star game on Sunday.)
Now that the camp is over and Cullen has his team picked, he won’t tell who is on the list. Last season — my first covering junior hockey — this process really bothered me. I called Cullen every other day, asking for info I knew he wouldn’t give.
This year, I won’t be wasting my wireless minutes. I understand why Cullen is quiet. In junior hockey, everyone seems to have eyes, ears and lips that never stop going. And because of the way the rules are set up, Owatonna’s players aren’t necessarily Owatonna’s until they actually pull on a sweater for the first game.
Cullen was willing to spill the beans on a few players, but even those might choose not to play. Former Texas Tornados defenseman Troy Puente and forward John Kruse, former Kenai River forward Tony McDonald, former Alexandria and Southern Minnesota defenseman Nick Carson and former Fargo-Moorhead goalie Adam Buegler will all likely don
Express jerseys this season.
Beyond that, Cullen said fans will just have to wait until camp starts.
“It is still only July, and none of the players report until Labor Day weekend,” he said. “A lot can happen between now and then.”
All of the above mentioned players, except Buegler, were Owatonna tenders, meaning they can’t go anywhere else in the NAHL without permission from the Express.
Buegler, however, is technically a free agent. He has verbally committed to play for the Express, but unfortunately, that’s about as official as a $3 bill. If North Iowa, Albert Lea or any other NAHL team called him, he could change his mind faster than a presidential candidate.
Cullen said that likely won’t happen, and so did Buegler. The New Ulm native played for Hudson (Wis.) in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League last season before joining the Jets. It was in Hudson that he met former Owatonna High player Mike Gerhartz. Guess whose family Buegler will be staying with this season.
So for now, Express fans will have to live with knowing only a goalie, two defenseman and two forwards. Of course there will be more, but don’t ask Cullen who they are. |
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