A Glance at the 2022-23 Season…

Last season:

• Record: 34-34-4-0 (.500), 72 pts
• Team Finish: Fifth place in North Division
• Playoffs: Did not make playoffs
• Record vs Division: 30-26-4-0 (.566)
• Record vs Conference: 34-31-4-0 (.521)
• Goals For Per Game: 3.15 (17th in ECHL)
• Goals Against Per Game: 3.36 (16th in ECHL)
• Power Play: 52 goals in 249 opportunities (20.9%), 11th in the ECHL
• Penalty Kill: 173 penalties killed out of 222 times shorthanded (77.9%), 21th in the ECHL

Scoring Leaders:

1. Brent Beaudoin (20-35-55)
2. Anthony Repaci (27-27-54)
3. Quinn Ryan (15-25-40)
4. Bobby Butler (17-21-38)
5. Reece Newkirk (18-18-36)

2023-24 Season Preview

After coming up just points shy of a playoff spot last season and a historic 9-0 start, the Railers enter their sixth season in the ECHL with a solid core of players from last season in hopes of making another Kelly Cup Playoff run, which has not been done since the team’s inaugural season.

The coaching staff this season includes Bob Deraney, who joins Jordan Levallee-Smotherman in his sophmore season. Both Smotherman and Deraney have put an emphasis of assembling a team of players who want to play here and have made tough decisions putting this team together. These decisions weren’t easy even with an onslaught of players on NHL and AHL deals being sent down late into training camp.

The team’s opening night roster features 14 players who have previously played here. Some of the more notable players returning are Anthony Repaci, Blade Jenkins, and Quinn Ryan, all of which had good point streaks at different points throughout last season. They’ll be without former Captain Bobby Butler, who retired during the summer, along with leading scorer Brent Beaudoin, Collin Adams, Jimmy Lambert, Jacob Hayhurst, and Myles McGurty, who all had contributions last season. Blake Christensen, Nick Fea, Max Johnson, Chris Ordoobadi, attended training camp, but were ultimately did not make the opening-night roster. Christian Evers was slated to return but retired prior to training camp. Trevor Cosgrove is the lone skater assigned from last year by the Railers’ affiliates, with a handful of rookies from Bridgeport slated to make their pro debuts for the Railers. Henrik Tikkanen and Tristan Lennox will be the goaltender tandem to start the season.

Reece Newkirk and Ken Appleby are starting the season in Bridgeport, while Steve Jandric is under contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds. The Railers held Jandric’s playing rights, but dealt them to the Orlando Solar Bears, where Springfield and the St. Louis Blues are sending players this season.

This season, the Railers will play 60 out of their 76 games within the North Division. If last year taught them anything, is that if they can start strong, they’ll need to finish strong too. Worcester will see the Trois-Rivieres Lions the most this season with 14 meetings, 12 of which occur after the new year. Adirondack will visit Worcester for 7 of the 11 meetings this season, and Norfolk and Maine will each visit Worcester for 7 of the 10 games against the Railers this season.

Looking back at their all-time records against North Division teams, an upside to this season is that they’ll be seeing Reading (15-20-2-1) nine times and Newfoundland (12-23-2-1) six times. These teams have historically posed challenges for the Railers.

On November 29, the Railers and Kansas City Mavericks will meet for the first time in their franchise histories. From January 19 to 21, the Railers will visit to the Fort Wayne Komets for a 3-in-3 weekend. February will feature back-to-back weekends in Florida with two 3-game series against the Orlando Solar Bears and the Florida Everblades.

Notable Additions and Subtractions:

• + Zach White: White was acquired this off-season after starting his pro career with the Iowa Heartlanders, spending the past two seasons with the team, scoring 91 points (38-53-91) in 123 games. He led Iowa in points and penalty minutes (108 PIMs) last season and was a point shy of having a 1 point per game the previous year.
• + Jake Schultz: After a stint with the Railers with a pair of goals in five games, Jake Schultz makes his return to Worcester after making a name for himself in the FPHL, being named defenseman of the year last season, and leading all-defenseman with 20 points during the 2020-21 season. Schultz is expected to have a big locker-room presence, having captained the Binghamton Black Bears to a 36-15-5 record. His scoring ability hasn’t quite translated at the ECHL level, having just seven points in 48 games, but has a track record of fights with 127 career PIMs in the ECHL, 206 in the FPHL, and 237 in the SPHL.
• + Bob Deraney: Bob Deraney joins the Railers full-time after being with the team on a volunteer basis for the past few seasons. Deraney was the head coach of the Worcester State University men’s hockey team last season and led the Lancers to the MASCAC Championship game. Deraney was also named MASCAC Coach of the Year that season. He has coached college hockey locally for over 30 years, most notably as the head coach of the Providence College Friars Women’s Hockey team for 19 of those years.
• – Brent Beaudoin: Last year’s scoring leader opted to sign overseas to play for HK Poprad in Slovakia. Beaudoin ranks third in franchise history in all-time points (97), goals (35), and games played (134). The Railers hold his ECHL playing rights, should he be released from HK Poprad.
• – Collin Adams: Adams was just one of two players who scored higher than a point per game last season. The 2023 ECHL all-star signed with his local Kalamazoo Wings earlier this summer after his entry-level contract with the New York Islanders ended and was not issued a qualifying offer, allowing him to sign anywhere.
• – Jimmy Lambert: After splitting the season between Worcester and Bridgeport last season, Jimmy Lambert joined the Bruins organization this season, signing in Providence and is assigned to Maine to start the season. With 24 points (11-13-24) in 27 games for Worcester last season, his consistency will be a missing piece to be replaced this season.
• – Bobby Butler: Former Olympian and NHL product Bobby Butler hung up his skates for a second time, announcing his retirement this summer. Butler was the Railers’ captain last season and was Worcester’s lone veteran last season, suiting up for 63 games and scoring 38 points (17-21-38). Butler continues to be active in the Worcester hockey community where he serves as the Director of Hockey Operations for the Junior Railers.

Changes for the ECHL in 2023-24:

• Rule #9 – Uniforms
  Altered uniforms of any kind (i.e. Velcro inserts, over-sized jerseys, altered collars, etc.) will not be permitted. Any player or goalkeeper not complying with this rule shall not be permitted to participate in the game.
• Rule #9.6 – Helmets
  A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play will be assessed a minor penalty unless he immediately (a) exits the playing surface or (b) puts the helmet back (the chin strap may be unfastened if helmet is on player’s head).
• Rule #20.4 – Fighting Game Misconducts
  An automatic game misconduct shall be applied to any player who has been assessed a second fighting major in the same game. The misconduct will be waived for a player if an opposing player is assessed a penalty for instigating.
• Rule #46.10 – Fighting prior to or at the drop of the puck
  A player or players who enter into a fight prior to, at the drop of the puck, or immediately following any face-off during the game, shall be assessed an automatic game misconduct in addition to any penalties assessed.
• Rule #67.2 – Handling the Puck
  A minor penalty shall be assessed for “Delay of Game – Face-Off Violation” to a player taking the face-off who attempts to win the face-off by batting the puck with their hand. The two players involved in the actual face-off (the centers) are not permitted to play the puck with their hand without incurring a penalty under this rule until such time as a third player (from either team) has at least touched the puck. Once the face-off is deemed complete (and a winner of the face-off is clear) hand passes shall be enforced as per Rule 80 – Hand Pass.
• Rule #74.4 – Faceoff procedure
  At the eight face-off spots (excluding the center ice face-off spot), the defending player shall place his stick within the designated white area first followed immediately by the attacking player. When the face-off is conducted at the center ice face-off spot, the visiting player shall place his stick on the ice first.
• Rule #83 – Off-side
  A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with the blue line, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line. “On his own side of the line” shall be defined by a “plane” of the blue line which shall extend from the leading edge of the blue line upwards. If a player’s skate has yet to break the “plane” prior to the puck completely crossing the leading edge, he is deemed to be on-side for the purpose of the off-side rule

2023-24 Roster

ECHL teams can carry a maximum of 20 Players on the active roster, no more than 18 of whom may be skaters, at any one time. For the first 30 days of the regular season, teams can carry a maximum of 21 Players on the active roster, no more than 19 of whom may be skaters, at any one time.

Teams are permitted to carry up to two (2) Players at a time on the Reserve List, while an unlimited number of players can be placed on the 14-day Injured Reserve.

Forwards (16)

Andrei Bakanov (BRI)
Ashton Calder (WOR)
Anthony Callin (WOR)
Joey Cipollone (BRI)
Todd Goehring (WOR)
Keeghan Howdeshell (WOR)
Blade Jenkins (WOR)
Daylan Kuefler (NYI)
Reece Newkirk (NYI)
Riley Piercey (WOR)
Jacob Pivonka (BRI)
Jack Quinlivan (WOR) [I/R]
Anthony Repaci (WOR)
Brendan Robbins (WOR)
Quinn Ryan (WOR)
Zach White (WOR)

Defensemen (8)

John Copeland (WOR)
Trevor Cosgrove (BRI)
Zsombor Garát (WOR)
Christian Krygier (WOR) [I/R]
Artyom Kulakov (WOR)
Jake Schultz (WOR)
Ryan Verrier (WOR)
Connor Welsh (WOR)

Goalies (2)

Tristan Lennox (NYI)
Henrik Tikkanen (BRI)

Recalled to AHL (0)

No Longer on Active Roster (1)
Adam Goodsir (WOR) – Traded to Iowa

R = Rookie, less than 25 regular season games of professional hockey
V = Veteran, 260+ regular season games of professional hockey
NYI = New York Islanders contract
BRI = Bridgeport Islanders contract
IR = 14-day Injured Reserve
Res = Reserve

ECHL 2023-24 Critical Dates

 October 2023

5      Players may report to Training Camp for team meetings, registration, physicals, etc.

6      Training Camp opens, Members may begin on-ice sessions

18      Season-Opening Rosters due to League Office (3 p.m. ET)

19       ECHL regular season begins

November 2023

18        Active Rosters cut down from 21 to 20 (by 3 p.m. ET) – Florida, Iowa, Orlando and Rapid City

19        Active Rosters cut down from 21 to 20 (by 3 p.m. ET) – all other teams

December 2023

23        Christmas Waiver/Trade Freeze begins (5 p.m. ET)

24-26  Christmas Break (no games)

27         Christmas Waiver/Trade Freeze ends (12 p.m. ET)

January 2024

15    2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic (Savannah, Georgia)

16-18  All-Star Break

19    Jersey Reversal Date

February 2024

15       Overseas Deadline (3 p.m. ET) & IIHF Transfer Deadline (6 p.m. ET)

March 2024

20    Recall/Assignment Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)

21    ECHL Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)

April 2024

12        Last day to place Player on Waivers (5 p.m. ET)

14        Last day of 2023-24 ECHL regular season

15        Submission of Playoff Rosters due (3 p.m. ET)

17        2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs begin

June 2024

8        Protected Lists due (3 p.m. ET)

20        Future Considerations Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)

22         Season-Ending Rosters due (3 p.m. ET)

23         First day to sign contracts for 2023-24 Season

July 2024

7        Qualifying Offers due to Players (11:59 p.m. ET)

22       Qualifying Offer Acceptance Period ends (11:59 p.m. ET)

August 2024

8      Restricted Free Agency ends

2023-24 Schedule

A full breakdown of opponents this season:

14X – Trois-Rivières Lions (7 home, 7 away)
11X – Adirondack Thunder (7 home, 4 away)
10X – Norfolk Admirals (7 home, 3 away)
10X – Maine Mariners (7 home, 3 away)
9X – Reading Royals (2 home, 7 away)
6X – Newfoundland Growlers (3 home, 3 away)
3X – Orlando Solar Bears (0 home, 3 away)
3X – Florida Everblades (0 home, 3 away)
3X – Fort Wayne Komets (0 home, 3 away)
2X – Cincinnati Cyclones (2 home, 0 away)
1X – Kansas City Mavericks (1 home, 0 away)

A full promotional schedule can be found on the Railers website.

Affiliations

Note: The Arizona Coyotes and the Columbus Blue Jackets (and their AHL teams) have not declared official affiliations with ECHL teams. The Chicago Wolves have opted to be independent for this season, and do not have NHL or ECHL affiliates.