The Walpole Express is ready to revolutionize the high school experience for college hockey prospects.
Not only is the hockey program based out of Walpole, Mass., a hotbed for college hockey prospects, but also the Express staff is working hard to make sure players are ready for the other side of college — academics.
New this school year, the Express opened the Walpole Express Academy, an individualized academic program that offers plenty of support.
The head instructor for the Express Academy is Danielle Doherty, a former high school teacher who received her bachelor’s degree in education and human development, as well as her master’s degree in moderate special needs (grades 5-12) from the Boston College Lynch School of Education. Assisting Doherty in the classroom is former Boston College teammate Dana Trivigno, who holds a bachelor of science degree from the Boston College Carroll School of Management with a double concentration in finance and operations management.
"Having Doherty and Trivigno in the classroom is huge," program owner Rob Barletta said. "Our main goal is to give the students individual attention, and that is exactly what they are getting so they can be the best student-athletes that they can be."
The Express uses the online University of Nebraska High School — which is accredited by the NCAA — for course work. This is the same academic program used by the U.S. National Team Development Program, an indication that it is a quality system of education.
With the University of Nebraska online, each student is assigned an academic advisor who helps the students in the same way a guidance counselor would. Always having the best in mind for the student, the advisor organizes an individualized approach that is appropriate for each student. This process is guided by the students’ interests, abilities and long-term goals for college to set them up for success. Moreover, their academic schedules are designed to be NCAA-approved so that when it comes time to apply for college, they will have completed all of their necessary requirements.
"The days at the academy are structured to make sure the students are productive," Barletta said.
On a typical day, student-athletes arrive for class at 8 a.m. and have two hours of classroom time. After that, they skate for an hour and then have an hourlong workout session. Lunch is held from noon to 12:30 p.m., and after that, students return to the classroom until at least 3 p.m. However, the students are allowed to stay until as late as 8 p.m. if they need help with their homework or learning experience, because there are several educators on-site.
Second-year Walpole Express women’s junior player Sam Molind said, "I’m so glad I joined the academy. At my previous school, I never had to time to focus on hockey. The academy has helped me academically and athletically because I am constantly challenged on and off the ice every single day. I really have become a better student and hockey player because of the academy."
Molind, a Middleboro, Mass., native, left Coyle and Cassidy private school in Taunton, Mass., to join the Express Academy.
In addition to having Doherty and Trivigno in the classroom, Barletta has three other well-educated employees. Jon Lounsbury, who has his bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine, is the junior/Midget team general manager and head coach of both EHL teams at Walpole. Lounsbury not only helps in the classroom but also on the ice. Barletta said, "The students are very fortunate to have Jon on the ice, as he is a professional skill development coach who has worked with numerous NHL teams and players."
Todd Stirling, director of hockey operations, and Tom Murphy, director of player development, also have their master’s degrees and are available to help the students every day at the rink.
The program has proven itself effective in helping its students prepare for college, as all of the 12 kids currently enrolled have a 3.5 GPA or better this school year. The program is also open to all genders; this school year, there are six girls and six boys enrolled. The Express is looking to expand those numbers on both sides.
"The academy is great," Barletta said. "It’s really complements the other programs that are offered at the arena. My daughter Sami attended Catholic school from first to 10th grade, but for her junior year we made the decision to put her in the academy. I could not have made a better decision for my daughter. She currently has a 3.9 GPA and loves going to school every day. All of her courses are NCAA accredited, and all colleges accept them the same as if she was attending a traditional high school. Not only is she improving in the classroom, she is having one of her best years on the ice."
Included in the academy, the students get to use a brand new, state-of-the-art, $100,000 gym facility (powerplaysc.com). Powerplay is run by longtime strength and conditioning coach Michelle Lounsbury, who holds a bachelor of science in kinesiology from the University of Maine as well as a master of education with a concentration in strength and conditioning from Springfield College. After graduate school, Michelle worked alongside well-known strength and conditioning guru Mike Boyle. Barletta added, "The one piece of the program that really needed a boost was in the off-ice. Our players now have the ability to use the gym seven days a week, as well as being trained by a professional strength and conditioning coach."
The Walpole Express has seen many of its alumni thrive at the next level, both on the ice and in the classroom. Since it’s inception in 2005, the Express has committed more than 200 players to the NCAA college ranks. That legacy is set to continue in the near future, as the boys and girls programs will have more than 25 college commitments for 2017-18.
On year one of the Express Academy, Doherty said, "The studentathletes in the classroom have such an advantage over their teammates. Hockey has become more and more competitive over the years, so kids need to somehow separate themselves from the competition. In addition to team practices, the academy kids get to skate and work out an extra two hours more than their peers that is strictly dedicated to individual skill develop that is limited when attending a traditional high school."
Barletta also is the owner of RB Hockey Camps in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Active NHL alumni who attended those camps growing up include Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin (Norwood, Mass.), Florida Panthers center Connor Brickley (Everett, Mass.), Colorado Avalanche defenseman David Warsofsky (Marshfield, Mass.), New York Rangers center Kevin Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.) and New Jersey Devils right winger Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.).
