Game Story

Norfolk, VA — The Worcester Railers picked up their third straight win on Thanksgiving Eve to kick off their seven-game road trip with a 4-1 victory over the Norfolk Admirals.

Henrik Tikkanen made 28 saves in his second straight start for the Railers. Jack Quinlivan scored his first professional goal. Blake Christensen, Collin Adams, Jack Quinlivan, and Blade Jenkins were the goal scorers for Worcester. Alex Pommerville scored Norfolk’s lone goal at 12:41 in the third period. Railers were 1-for-5 on their power play opportunities, converting a minute into their final power play.

The Railers struck first at 17:15 in the first period. Taking advantage of a Norfolk turnover with the puck bouncing off the skate of Blade Jenkins, Collin Adams fed the puck to Blake Christensen for the first tally of the game.

Collin Adams scored at 6:38 on a crowded Norfolk net to continue Worcester’s dominance into the second period. Jack Quinlivan brought the Railers lead to 3, scoring his first professional goal on his own rebound at 9:50. Railers held a 3-0 lead, and the shot tally was 24-21 Worcester after two periods.

Worcester’s near-perfect game and Henrik Tikkanen’s hopes for a second straight shutout would come to an end as Alex Pommerville scored at 12:41 in the third period. Tikkanen’s last goal allowed was made during the first period of the Railers’ 6-2 loss to Reading last Wednesday. Blade Jenkins would score the fourth goal at 16:33 in the frame, mirroring his stats for the night with Blake Christensen with a goal, two assists, and a plus-three rating.

The three stars of Wednesday’s game were:

  1. Blake Christensen (Worcester) – 1 goal, 2 assists, +3
  2. Blade Jenkins (Worcester) – 1 goal, 2 assists, +3
  3. Henrik Tikkanen (Worcester) – win, 28 saves, 0.966 SV%

Norfolk has lost 12 straight games and by all accounts has the worst record in professional hockey with a 1-15 record. Elsewhere around the North division, the Adirondack Thunder beat the Newfoundland Growlers, 3-2 in regulation and Maine beat Reading 5-3. Railers alum Justin Kapelmaster made his season debut for the Reading Royals, stopping 29 of Maine’s 33 shots. Railers are a point ahead of Newfoundland for top spot in the ECHL.

The Railers and Admirals Thanksgiving week series continues Friday with a puck drop at 7:05.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
1 2 1 4
0 0 1 1
Shots 1 2 3 T
7 17 7 31
10 11 8 29
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
1 – 0 17:15 – 1st B. Christensen (2) B. Jenkins, C. Adams
2 – 0 6:18 – 2nd C. Adams (8) B. Jenkins, B. Christensen
3 – 0 9:50 – 2nd J. Quinlivan (1) J. Solow
3 – 1 12:41 – 3rd A. Pommerville (1) R. Foss, C. Milan
4 – 1 16:33 – 3rd B. Jenkins (7) B. Christensen, P. Beaulieu PP

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 35 K. Appleby 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 H. Tikkanen 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 C. McCarthy 0 0 +1 1 0
F 7 L. Coughlin 0 0 0 2 0
D 9 N. Delmas 0 0 +1 2 0
F 11 N. Vesey 0 0 0 2 0
F 12 B. Beaudoin 0 0 -1 0 0
D 15 C. Evers 0 0 0 0 0
F 17 B. Jenkins 1 2 +3 3 0
F 18 B. Christensen 1 2 +3 3 0
F 19 Q. Ryan 0 0 -1 2 0
F 21 C. Adams 1 1 +2 5 0
D 22 J. Solow 0 1 0 3 2
F 23 J. Lambert 0 0 0 3 2
F 24 J. Quinlivan 1 0 +1 2 0
D 25 P. Beaulieu 0 1 +1 1 0
D 27 M. McGurty 0 0 +1 0 0
F 29 Z. Bross 0 0 0 2 2
F 37 R. Newkirk 0 0 -1 0 2
Team:
Totals: 4 7 10 31 8
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
39 H. Tikkanen (W) 59:52 29 28 1 0.966
Totals: – 29 28 1 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 31 T. Vomacka 0 0 0 0 0
G 35 M. Bullion 0 0 0 0 0
D 3 D. King 0 0 -3 1 0
D 4 C. Musser 0 0 -1 5 0
F 7 K. Hausinger 0 0 -2 2 0
F 8 D. Smirnov 0 0 -1 5 0
F 12 D. Katic 0 0 -1 2 2
F 15 B. Ouderkirk 0 0 0 1 0
D 17 A. Thow 0 0 0 0 4
D 20 E. Williams 0 0 -2 1 2
F 21 T. Bertuzzi 0 0 -1 2 0
F 22 J. Smith 0 0 0 1 2
F 23 C. Milan 0 1 0 2 0
F 25 G. Lunn 0 0 -1 0 0
D 26 A. Pommerville 1 0 +1 1 0
F 27 R. Foss 0 1 0 0 0
D 88 E. Vilio 0 0 +1 1 0
F 93 L. MacDougall 0 0 0 2 0
F 94 B. Van Os 0 0 0 3 0
Team:
Totals: 1 2 -10 29 10
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
31 T. Vomacka (L) 60:00 31 27 4 0.871
Totals: – 31 27 4 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
4:09 – 1st J. Lambert 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
12:48 – 1st Z. Bross 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
13:36 – 1st D. Katic 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
10:43 – 2nd J. Smith 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
12:53 – 2nd R. Newkirk 2 Holding – minor (54.2)
19:31 – 2nd E. Williams 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
3:03 – 3rd A. Thow 2 Interference – minor (56.2)
15:25 – 3rd A. Thow 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
19:32 – 3rd J. Solow 2 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2)

Notes

  • Admirals Scratches: Aidan Brown, Nick Schaus, Tanner Schachle, and Todd Burgess.
  • Railers Scratches: Anthony Repaci, Bobby Butler, Derek Osik, and Jared Brandt.
  • Railers wore their road Navy jerseys for the first time this season.
  • Former Worcester Shark Nick Shaus was a scratch for Norfolk after being placed on the team’s reserve list earlier on Wednesday afternoon.
  • Norfolk will wear a “Norfolk News” themed jersey Friday and Saturday as a part of their City Series jerseys they are wearing this year for all of their specialty jerseys. Admirals will also be wearing another City Series jersey later this season when the Railers return in February.
  • Derek Osik was signed to his second SPC with the Railers on Monday. Osik was assigned #10 previously worn by Ryan MacKinnon, as Osik was originally assigned #22 earlier this season and is now being worn by Jeff Solow. Conor Breen, who was a minus-1 in his one regular season game with the club, was also released the same day.
  • The ECHL announced a schedule change on Monday involving the Railers – they will now play Greenville on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 and will no longer play Maine on April 12. This change comes as a result of an opponent change on November 11 involving Trois-Rivieres being unable to travel to Jacksonville due to Hurricane Nicole. That game was played with Orlando as the opponent against Jacksonville. The league’s announcement of this change can be found here.
  • Player Streaks:
    • Blake Christensen extended his point streak to four games. (2G, 4A)
    • Collin Adams extended his point streak to four games. (3G, 3A)
    • Blade Jenkins is now on a three-game point streak. (3G, 4A)
    • Jimmy Lambert’s seven-game point streak was snapped. (3G, 7A)
    • Reece Newkirk’s three-game point streak was snapped. (1G, 3A)
  • For up-to-date news on all things Worcester Hockey, Like us on Facebook at Woo Hockey – Worcester Hockey News, Follow us on Twitter @WooHockeyNews, and join our Facebook Group – Worcester Railers Fan Club.

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Reece Newkirk #37 Jimmy Lambert #23 Quinn Ryan #19
Forward Line 2 Collin Adams #21 Blade Jenkins #17 Blake Christensen #18
Forward Line 3  Nolan Vesey #11 “A” Brent Beaudoin #12 Zack Bross #29
Rotated Forwards Jack Quinlivan #24 Liam Coughlin #7 “A” –
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Jared Brandt #26 Myles McGurty #27 “A”
Defense Pair 2 Christian Evers #15 Noah Delmas #9
Defense Pair 3 Jeff Solow #22 Connor McCarthy #2
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Henrik Tikkanen #39
Backup Goaltender Ken Appleby #35

Opponent Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Jake Smith #22 Ryan Foss #27 Cody Milan #23
Forward Line 2 Denis Smirnov #8 Kenny Hausinger #7 Danny Katic #12
Forward Line 3 Tag Bertuzzi #21 Brett Van Os #94 Brett Ouderkirk #15
Rotated Forwards – Liam MacDougall #93 Griffin Lunn #25
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Carson Musser #4 Aaron Thow #17
Defense Pair 2 DJ King #3 Eric Williams #20
Defense Pair 3 Elijah Vilio #88 Alex Pommerville #26
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Tomas Vomacka #31
Backup Goaltender Michael Bullion #35

On-Ice Officials

– –
Referee Logan Gruhl (29)
Referee –
Linesman Colin Gates (52)
Linesman Evan Knox (83)

Notable Tweets as the Game Happened

 

https://twitter.com/RailersHC/status/1595577148907003904
Blake Christensen goal


Collin Adams goal


Jack Quinlivan goal


Blade Jenkins goal