Game Story


Worcester, MA – The Worcester Railers closed out their season-long eight-game homestand in a chaotic game which ultimately ended with an 8-5 loss to the Maine Mariners on Sunday.

Michael Bullion made 34 saves in his 13th start of the season, marking the second time in his professional career that an opponent has scored seven goals against him. On the other side, Brad Arvanitis allowed five goals on Worcester’s 37 shots. Scoring for Worcester were Matias Rajaniemi, Anthony Callin (twice), Jordan Kaplan, and Riley Ginnell. Rajaniemi’s goal was his first in North America, while Ginnell notched his first as a Railer. Maine’s goals came from Chase Zieky, Owen Pederson (twice), Brooklyn Kalmikov, Nick Jermain, Evan Vierling, and Matt Philip (twice).

The game was marred by inconsistent officiating, adding another obstacle for the Railers, who fought through it as best they could.

The Railers found themselves shorthanded at 12:07 in the first period, Riley Piercey was pulled out of a scrum by the Mariners bench for a roughing penalty. The Mariners had one shot on their power play, but as soon as that expired and before Piercey could get two skates out of the penalty box, they scored to take a 1-0 lead. Matias Rajaniemi scored through a crowded net to even the score at 18:17. After Matt Kopperud was jabbed by Maine goaltender Brad Arvanitits, he was sent to the penalty box after another scrum ensued for Maine’s second power play. They wouldn’t convert with the game being tied after 20 minutes.

The second period was an unusually long one, lasting approximately 45 minutes and featuring a bunch of penalties totaling 36 minutes. At 1:04, Connor Welsh squared off at center ice with Carter Johnson, enduring the early punches before taking Johnson down. Just two minutes later, at 3:19, a scrum erupted in the Railers’ crease. Lincoln Hatten received a double minor for roughing and an additional roughing penalty—dubbed a “triple roughing minor”—after landing punches on Patrick Guay, who did not retaliate. Christian Sarlo and Ryan Dickinson also received roughing penalties, leading to a two-man advantage for Maine.

The penalties continued at 4:46 when Cole Donhauser fought Jacob Hudson, further inflating the totals. Maine capitalized on the chaos, scoring three goals in a span of two minutes: Owen Pederson at 4:57, Brooklyn Kalmikov at 6:04, and Nick Jermain at 6:57, building a 4-1 lead. Back at even strength, Anthony Callin scored at 7:24 to narrow the gap to 4-2. Evan Vierling responded for Maine, making it 5-2 at 10:16. Callin struck again during the Railers’ first power play of the game at 11:57, cutting the deficit to 5-3.

Just 51 seconds into the third period, Jordan Kaplan brought the Railers within one, netting a well-placed backhand shot from the right side of the net to make it 5-4. The Mariners quickly responded with two goals—Owen Pederson’s second of the game at 5:33 and Matt Philip’s tally at 7:22.

Tensions flared again when Griffin Loughran was called for high-sticking at 7:51, and in the ensuing scrum, Griffin Luce was penalized for continuing the altercation. After voicing his frustration with the officials, Luce received a second 10-minute misconduct and was sent to the locker room for the rest of the game—an outcome that seemed inevitable given the contentious calls throughout the match.

Riley Ginnell scored at 17:03 to narrow the margin to 7-5, but Philip’s empty-netter at 19:19 sealed the Mariners’ victory.

The three stars of Sunday’s game were:

  1. Owen Pederson (Maine) – 2 goals
  2. Anthony Callin (Worcester) – 2 goals, 1 assist
  3. Nick Jermain (Maine) – 1 goal, 1 assist

On Sunday, other North Division action saw the Kalamazoo Wings edge the Wheeling Nailers 2-1, while the Norfolk Admirals defeated the Trois-Rivieres Lions 5-2 at the Norfolk Scope. The ECHL schedule now pauses until Friday, when all North Division teams, except Maine, will be back in action.

The Bridgeport Islanders closed out their Charlotte trip with a 4-1 win over the Checkers on Sunday. Railers alum Jakub Skarek made 30 saves and was named the game’s first star. Jack Randl was in the line-up on the top forward line but did not make the scoresheet.

The Railers enter their holiday break with a 10-15-1-2 record on the season and will return to action on Friday with a road game against the Reading Royals at 7 p.m. They’ll be back at the DCU Center on Saturday to host the Royals at 6:05 p.m., followed by a matchup against the Adirondack Thunder on Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

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Box Score


Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Christian Krygier, Matt DeMelis, and Ryan Mahshie.
  • Maine Scratches: Cory Dennis, Jimmy Lambert, Nolan Maier, and Wyllum Deveaux.
  • The ECHL’s Christmas waiver/trade freeze is in effect. No player can be moved via trade or waiver until Thursday at noon, EST.
  • Following Saturday night’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks and droughts:
    • Riley Ginnell snapped a eight-game scoring drought with a goal.
    • Kolby Johnson is without a point in his last eight games.
    • Matias Rajaniemi snapped a 23-game scoring drought with a goal, a drought which was the longest in franchise history.
    • JD Dudek is without a point in his last eight games.
    • Griffin Loughran is on a five-game point streak. (2-3-5)
    • Matt Kopperud is on a three-game point streak. (2-2-4)
    • Mason Klee snapped a five-game scoring drought with an assist.
    • Ryan Dickinson snapped a seven-game scoring drought with an assist.
    • Lincoln Hatten snapped a four-game scoring drought with an assist.
    • Anthony Repaci extended his point streak to four games. (2-6-8)

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Anthony Repaci #81 Jordan Kaplan #10 Griffin Loughran #16
Forward Line 2 Riley Piercey #19 Anthony Callin #44 Matthew Kopperud #18
Forward Line 3 Cole Donhauser #29 JD Dudek #15 Matthew Boudens #23
Forward Line 4 Riley Ginnell #9 Lincoln Hatten #33 Kolby Johnson #12
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Connor Welsh #26 Griffin Luce #22
Defense Pair 2 Brenden Rons #17 Mason Klee #24
Defense Pair 3 Matias Rajaniemi #14 Ryan Dickinson #25
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Michael Bullion #32
Backup Goaltender John Muse #40

On-Ice Officials

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Referee Nolan Bloyer (31)
Referee Emile Charron (43)
Linesman Matthew Heinen (93)
Linesman Patrick Philbin (88)

Highlights

Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Chase Zieky goal


Matias Rajaniemi goal


Connor Welsh/Carter Johnson fight


Lincoln Hatten/Patrick Guay scrum


Owen Pederson goal


Brooklyn Kalmikov goal


Anthony Callin goal


Nick Jermain goal


Anthony Callin goal


Evan Vierling goal


Anthony Repaci 100th Career Assist


Jordan Kaplan goal


Owen Pederson goal


Matt Philip goal


Brad Arvanitis goal


Riley Ginnell goal


Matt Philip ENG goal