NAHL approves sale of Express

The North American Hockey League announced today that its Board of Governors has approved the transfer of membership of the Southern Minnesota Express to the BAM, LLC ownership group.

"Our new partners at BAM are a great fit for the North American Hockey League and the Southern Minnesota community," said NAHL commissioner Mark Frankenfeld.  "The Express organization has always exemplified excellence and professionalism both on and off the ice and we're certain the new ownership group will carry on that tradition."

The Minnesota-based BAM, LLC has interests in commercial real estate, as well as hockey equipment manufacturing.

BAM has named Matt Romaniski the team's president of operations.  A Cottage Grove, Minn., native, Romaniski began his junior hockey career with the defunct Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.

Romaniski's collegiate career continued at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and then professionally in the ECHL.

He has owned and operated Future Stars hockey camps and a medical supply distributorship in Detroit and has run several youth organizations in the Detroit area.

Romaniski has trained and mentored several college and junior players since their youth days, including a second-round and third-round pick in this year's NHL draft who will be attending the University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame, respectively.

The Express also announced that Patrick Cullen, the team's head coach and general manager, has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Cullen, who had been with Southern Minnesota since its inception in 2005, guided Express to back-to-back Robertson Cup Championship appearances in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Romaniski will assume the duties of head coach and general manager.

"We wish Pat the best of luck in his future endeavors," Romaniski.  "He's contributed a lot to our organization over the years and we're sincerely appreciative of his efforts."