Game Story

Worcester, MA – The Worcester Railers kicked off their 2024-25 season on Saturday night with a 2-1 loss to the Reading Royals, in front of 5,927 fans at the DCU Center.

Michael Bullion made his Railers debut, while Keith Petruzzelli appeared in his fifth game against Worcester, having previously faced them with the Newfoundland Growlers. Connor Welsh netted the Railers’ only goal, while Reading’s Logan Britt and Tyler Gratton secured the victory for the Royals. Despite the Royals playing the night before in Trois-Rivières, where they came from behind to defeat the Lions 3-2, the Railers couldn’t capitalize on the potential advantage. This marked the first time in franchise history that Worcester lost a home opener.

>Before Saturday night’s game, the Railers and Royals paid tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau with a moment of silence. Both teams left a winger absent for the opening face-off, and the game clock paused at 13 seconds and 21 seconds to honor the jersey numbers the Gaudreau brothers wore during their collegiate and professional careers. Matty Gaudreau spent much of his career with both Reading and Worcester, making it a fitting that the game took place in Worcester early in the season.

Matt Demelis set up Connor Welsh for the opening goal with 51.4 seconds left in the first period. After entering the zone, Demelis delivered a backhand pass to Welsh, who slipped the puck through Petruzzelli’s five-hole to score. The goal came just nine seconds after JD Dudek finished serving a penalty for interference.

Worcester’s lead disappeared at 8:23 of the second period when Logan Britt tied the game with a wrist shot from outside the left circle. Despite outshooting Reading 15-5 in the period, the Railers couldn’t regain control.

In the third period, Tyler Gratton capitalized on a Railers’ turnover and scored at 12:59, putting Reading ahead 2-1. Gratton found a loose puck, skated to the crease, and managed to beat Bullion. The Royals nearly extended their lead to 3-1, but a late shot on Worcester’s empty net was overturned after video review showed it didn’t cross the goal line.

The game’s three stars were:

  1. Tyler Gratton (Reading) – game-winning goal
  2. Connor Welsh (Worcester) – 1 goal
  3. Keith Petruzzelli (Reading) – win, 25 saves

The Railers and Royals will face off again in a Sunday matinee at 3:05 p.m. at the DCU Center.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
0 1 1 2
1 0 0 1
Shots 1 2 3 T
7 5 4 16
6 15 5 26
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
0 – 1 19:08 – 1st C. Welsh (1) M. DeMelis, J. Kaplan
1 – 1 8:23 – 2nd L. Britt (1) G. Cassaro, S. Sellar
2 – 1 12:59 – 3rd T. Gratton (2) L. Britt

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 31 P. Gahagen 0 0 0 0 0
G 80 K. Petruzzelli 0 0 0 0 0
D 3 T. Malinowski 0 0 0 1 0
F 5 L. Denis 0 0 +1 0 0
D 6 L. Britt 1 1 +2 1 0
F 7 N. Welsh 0 0 0 0 0
D 8 P. Connor 0 0 0 0 0
D 9 S. Sedley 0 0 0 1 0
F 14 N. Capone 0 0 +1 0 0
D 15 E. Chouinard 0 0 0 2 0
F 16 S. Sellar 0 1 +1 2 2
F 17 T. Skirving 0 0 0 1 0
F 19 B. Caufield 0 0 0 2 0
F 20 M. Miller 0 0 0 1 2
D 23 G. Cassaro 0 1 0 0 0
F 27 J. Bouquot 0 0 -1 1 0
F 28 T. Broughman 0 0 0 1 0
F 39 C. McMenamin 0 0 0 0 0
F 59 T. Gratton 1 0 +1 3 0
F 71 D. Marcinkevics 0 0 0 0 2
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
80 K. Petruzzelli (W) – 26 25 1 –
Totals: – 26 25 1 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 32 M. Bullion 0 0 0 0 0
G 40 J. Muse 0 0 0 0 0
D 3 R. Verrier 0 0 -1 0 0
F 7 J. Gill 0 0 0 6 0
D 8 C. Krygier 0 0 -1 3 0
F 10 J. Kaplan 0 1 +1 1 0
F 11 J. Randl 0 0 -1 1 2
F 13 A. Bakanov 0 0 0 1 0
D 14 M. Rajaniemi 0 0 -1 1 0
C 15 J. Dudek 0 0 0 2 2
F 18 M. Kopperud 0 0 -1 0 0
F 19 R. Piercey 0 0 -1 0 0
D 22 G. Luce 0 0 +1 2 0
C 23 C. Jacobs 0 0 +1 1 0
D 24 M. Klee 0 0 -1 0 0
D 26 C. Welsh 1 0 +1 3 0
F 29 C. Donhauser 0 0 -2 0 0
F 37 M. DeMelis 0 1 0 1 0
F 44 A. Callin 0 0 0 1 0
F 81 A. Repaci 0 0 0 3 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
32 M. Bullion (L) – 16 14 2 –
Totals: – 16 14 2 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
16:59 – 1st J. Dudek 2 Interference – minor (56.2)
10:24 – 2nd D. Marcinkevics 2 High-sticking – minor (60.2)
12:59 – 2nd M. Miller 2 Interference – minor (56.2)
17:25 – 2nd S. Sellar 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
19:22 – 2nd J. Randl 2 High-sticking – minor (60.2)

Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Austin Heidemann, Cam McDonald, Cole Crowder, Griffin Loughran, and Ryan Dickinson.
  • Reading Scratches: Kenny Johnson, Noah Prokop, and Vinnie Purpura.
  • Before Saturday night’s game, the Railers and Royals paid tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau with a moment of silence. Both teams left a winger absent for the opening face-off, and the game clock paused at 13 seconds and 21 seconds to honor the jersey numbers the Gaudreau brothers wore during their collegiate and professional careers. Matty Gaudreau spent much of his career with both Reading and Worcester, making it a fitting coincidence that the game took place in Worcester early in the season.
  • In addition to the tribute, the Railers are honoring the brothers with a special helmet decal and an emblem placed behind both nets at the DCU Center. The decals feature a “G” in the center for Gaudreau, with Johnny’s No. 13 on the right and Matthew’s No. 21 on the left. The Railers’ version incorporates the team’s navy and grey colors, while the NHL’s version, with the numbers reversed, is black and white. The Gaudreau brothers tragically passed away on August 29 after being struck by a car while riding their bikes near their home in Salem County, New Jersey.
  • This weekend, the team is raffling off a Matthew Gaudreau #21 jersey, with proceeds going to support Matthew’s family, who are expecting their second child. RAFFLE LINK
  • Worcester Public Schools custodian, comedian, and TikTok star Jimmy Cash served as the in-game host for the night.
  • Joey Cipollone, who was released after training camp and recorded 7 goals and 15 assists in 63 games last season, signed with the Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday.
  • There are currently no active streaks, personal or team-related, for any player on the Railers’ roster.
  • 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 Jack Randl #11 Matthew Kopperud #18 Cole Donhauser #29
Forward Line 2 Anthony Repaci #81 Jordan Kaplan #10 Anthony Callin #44
Forward Line 3 Andrei Bakanov #13 Colin Jacobs #23 Justin Gill #7
Forward Line 4 Riley Piercey #19 Matt DeMelis #37 JD Dudek #15
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Griffin Luce #22 Connor Welsh #26
Defense Pair 2 Ryan Verrier #3 Mason Klee #24
Defense Pair 3 Matias Rajaniemi #14 Christian Krygier #8
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Michael Bullion #32
Backup Goaltender John Muse #40

 

On-Ice Officials:

 

Referee Chazz Knoche (33)
Referee Will Kelly (7)
Linesman Davids Rozitis (90)
Linesman Antoine Bujold-Roux (72)

Highlights

Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Connor Welsh goal


Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Tribute


Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Tribute


Keith Pertruzzelli with a skater’s stick


Logan Britt goal


Tyler Gratton goal


Zamboni doors stuck open