Chicago Express

For other uses, see Chicago Express (basketball team) and Chicago Express Airlines.

Chicago Express
City	Hoffman Estates, Illinois
League	ECHL
Conference	Eastern
Division	North
Founded	2010
Home arena	Sears Centre
Colors	Navy, Gray, Sky Blue
Owner(s)	Craig Drecktrah
Head coach	Steve Martinson
Affiliates	Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) Springfield Falcons (AHL)
Franchise history
2011-present	Chicago Express

The Chicago Express is a professional ice hockey team located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, serving the Chicagoland market. The Express is a member of the North Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference.^[1] The team plays its home games at the Sears Centre.^[2]

The Express is owned by Craig Drecktrah, who formerly owned the United Hockey League's Chicago Hounds and Rockford IceHogs.

It was announced on July 13, 2011 that the Express will be affiliated with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and the AHL's Springfield Falcons.^[3]

Team history

The Express' mascot, Traxx the horse

Inception

The team formed out of talks between owner Craig Drecktrah and officials at the Sears Centre. On the heels of the Chicago Hounds folding in 2009 after only playing one season (2006–07) at the Sears Centre, Drecktrah worked with arena and Hoffman Estates village officials to bring in an ECHL franchise.^[2] The league approved the franchise's application at the ECHL's annual Board of Governors Meeting in June 2010.^[4]

Team name

Express center ice logo during their inaugural ECHL season in 2011-12

To name the new franchise, the team held a special name the team contest that eventually received over a thousand unique name suggestions. On July 22, the four finalists for the team name were unveiled. They were the:

• Chicago Blizzard
• Hoffman Estates Hammers
• Chicago Knights
• Chicago Express

Voting for the team's name closed on August 4, with Express announced as the winner on September 21. The final four portion of the contest received a total of 20,000 votes.^[5]

Mascot

The mascot for the Chicago Express is "Traxx" the Horse.

Current roster

view · # Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract 4 United States ! Burrows, JoshJosh Burrows 2.0 !D L 23 2011 Prairie Grove, Illinois Express 6 Canada ! Campbell, DarcyDarcy Campbell 2.0 !D L 27 2011 Airdrie, Alberta Express 31 Canada ! Dainton, PaulPaul Dainton 1.0 !G L 24 2011 Sudbury, Ontario Falcons 5 Canada ! Delisle, StevenSteven Delisle 2.0 !D R 21 2011 Lévis, Quebec Blue Jackets 19 Canada ! Donati, TylerTyler Donati 7.0 !RW L 25 2011 Oakville, Ontario Express 16 United States ! Embach, MikeMike Embach 6.0 !LW L 23 2011 Orland Park, Illinois Express 72 Canada ! Faubert, Pierre-LucPierre-Luc Faubert 7.0 !RW L 25 2011 Levis, Quebec Express 12 Canada ! Henningson, DanDan Henningson 2.0 !D L 27 2011 Edmonton, Alberta Express 18 United States ! Johnson, TylerTyler Johnson 4.0 !C R 22 2011 Cloquet, Minnesota Express 7 Canada ! Lehman, ScottScott Lehman 2.0 !D L 25 2011 Ft. McMurray, Alberta Express 44 Canada ! Lutz, NathanNathan Lutz (C) 2.0 !D L 33 2011 Mistatim, Saskatchewan Express 17 United States ! Marvin, AaronAaron Marvin 4.0 !C L 23 2011 Warroad, Minnesota Express 47 Canada ! Nolan, RobRob Nolan 1.0 !G L 25 2011 Sherwood Park, Alberta Express 9 Canada ! Ostrow, KyleKyle Ostrow 7.0 !RW R 24 2011 Calgary, Alberta Express 2 Canada ! Paris, DrewDrew Paris 2.0 !D R 23 2011 Pointe-Claire, Quebec Marlies 22 Canada ! Riley, BlairBlair Riley 6.0 !LW R 26 2011 Kamloops, British Columbia Express 25 United States ! Robins, BobbyBobby Robins (A) 3.0 !F R 30 2011 Peshtigo, Wisconsin Express 24 United States ! Stephens, EvanEvan Stephens 2.0 !D R 23 2011 Bessemer, Michigan Express 10 Canada ! Tifu, YannickYannick Tifu 4.0 !C L 27 2011 Brossard, Quebec Express

References

1. ^ Press release (August 1, 2011). "Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting concludes". ECHL. http://echl.com/annual-echl-board-of-governors-meeting-concludes-p172058. Retrieved August 1, 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Selvam, Ashok (June 19, 2010). "Sears Centre to house new hockey team". Daily Herald. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=388932. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
3. ^ Press release (July 13, 2011). "Columbus Blue Jackets Announce ECHL Affiliation Agreement Chicago Express for 2011-12". Columbus Blue Jackets. http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569268. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
4. ^ Press release (June 24, 2010). "Expansion membership approved for Chicago". ECHL. http://echl.com/expansion-membership-approved-for-chicago-br-i-team-begins-play-in-2011-12-i--p166145. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
5. ^ Selvam, Ashok (February 8, 2011). "Sears Centre welcomes new hockey team to town". Daily Herald. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=409663. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
6. ^ "chicagoexpresshockey.com: Players". http://chicagoexpresshockey.com/team/players/. Retrieved 2011-11-14. 

External links

• Official Website of the Chicago Express
• Official website of the ECHL
• Official website of the Sears Centre