Game Story

Allen, TX – The Worcester Railers kicked off the first of a three-game series against the Allen Americans with a 5-3 victory at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center on Friday night.

Hugo Ollas secured his fifth victory of the season—and his third consecutive win—by stopping 33 of 36 shots. Luke Richardson, returning from an injury for his first game in over a month, made 29 saves for the Allen Americans. Worcester saw goals from Anthony Callin, who scored twice, as well as Matt DeMelis, Jordan Kaplan, and Griffin Loughran. Liam Gorman found the net twice for Allen, while former Railer Artyom Kulakov also contributed a goal and had assists on both of Gorman’s goals.

The Railers erupted for three goals in a span of two minutes and thirty-one seconds, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. The scoring began at 8:59 when Anthony Callin took advantage of Luke Richardson leaving his net to play the puck. Callin blocked Richardson’s clearing attempt and swiftly wrapped the puck around the opposite side of the net, scoring with Richardson out of position. Just over a minute later, Matt DeMelis made it 2-0 with a shot from between the faceoff circles. At 11:30, Jordan Kaplan added to the lead, finishing a play set up by Ryan Dickinson, who won a puck battle in the corner and fed Kaplan in the right circle. Worcester outshot Allen 14-8 in the first period.

Artyom Kulakov got Allen on the board at 4:43, capitalizing on a rebound from Mark Duarte. Duarte created the opportunity with a backhanded shot from the crease, and Kulakov quickly followed up with a shot that slipped past Hugo Ollas as he moved to cover the post. Liam Gorman then cut the deficit to one, scoring off a rebound from Harrison Blaisdell’s shot. Despite Ollas making the initial save, Griffin Luce and Anthony Hora were unable to clear the puck from the crease. Worcester held a slight edge in shots, 13-12, in the second period, bringing the total to 27-20.

Anthony Callin found the back of the net again just 48 seconds into the third period, firing a shot from the right circle that beat Richardson over his shoulder, extending Worcester’s lead to 4-2. With 3:18 remaining, Liam Gorman responded for Allen, closing the gap to 4-3. Gorman’s goal came after a scramble in front of the net, eventually scoring on a backhand shot to the left of Ollas. Luke Richardson was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:31 left, but Griffin Loughran sealed the win for Worcester with a breakaway goal with 10 seconds remaining. Allen outshot Worcester 16-7 in the third, finishing with a 36-34 advantage in shots.

The Three Stars of the Game were:

  1. Anthony Callin – (Worcester) – 2 goals
  2. Liam Gorman – (Allen) – 2 goals
  3. Artyom Kulakov – (Allen) – 1 goal, 2 assists

In other North Division action, the Trois-Rivieres Lions defeated the Adirondack Thunder 2-1 in Glens Falls. The Maine Mariners were shut out 4-0 in the opening game of their Western road trip against the Rapid City Rush. All seven North Division teams are in action on Saturday night, with one notable game being Maine’s match against Rapid City, scheduled to start at midnight Mountain Time, which is 2 AM Eastern Time.

The Bridgeport Islanders were off on Friday, but have a road-and-away series against the Providence Bruins starting on Saturday at 5 PM.

The Railers and Americans continue their weekend series with game 2 on Saturday night at 8:10 Eastern time.

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Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
3 0 2 5
0 2 1 3
Shots 1 2 3 T
14 13 7 34
8 12 16 36
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
1 – 0 8:59 – 1st A. Callin (14)
2 – 0 10:02 – 1st M. DeMelis (4) M. Klee, R. Ginnell
3 – 0 11:30 – 1st J. Kaplan (14) C. Donhauser, G. Loughran
3 – 1 4:43 – 2nd A. Kulakov (5) M. Duarte, S. Asuchak
3 – 2 18:10 – 2nd L. Gorman (4) H. Blaisdell, A. Kulakov
4 – 2 0:48 – 3rd A. Callin (15) M. DeMelis, C. Welsh
4 – 3 16:42 – 3rd L. Gorman (5) M. Matikka, A. Kulakov
5 – 3 19:50 – 3rd G. Loughran (7) EN

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 30 H. Ollas 0 0 0 0 0
G 32 M. Bullion 0 0 0 0 0
D 3 A. Hora 0 0 -2 0 0
F 4 R. Mahshie 0 0 +3 1 0
F 9 R. Ginnell 0 1 0 3 0
F 10 J. Kaplan 1 0 0 4 0
F 13 T. Kobryn 0 0 -1 1 0
C 15 J. Dudek 0 0 -1 1 0
F 16 G. Loughran 1 1 +1 1 0
D 17 B. Lindberg 0 0 +1 1 0
D 22 G. Luce 0 0 +1 4 0
D 24 M. Klee 0 1 +1 3 0
D 25 R. Dickinson 0 0 +1 0 0
D 26 C. Welsh 0 1 +1 3 0
F 29 C. Donhauser 0 1 +1 2 0
F 33 L. Hatten 0 0 0 0 2
F 37 M. DeMelis 1 1 +3 2 0
F 44 A. Callin 2 0 +1 7 2
F 55 M. Ustaski 0 0 0 1 0
– – – – – – – –
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
30 H. Ollas (W) – 36 33 3 –
Totals: – 36 33 3 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 33 L. Richardson 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 D. Wells 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 Q. Warmuth 0 0 +1 4 0
D 3 J. Powell 0 0 -1 3 0
D 5 H. Wilson 0 0 -2 3 0
C 8 M. Duarte 0 1 -2 3 0
RW 9 N. Isaacson 0 0 -2 1 0
LW 11 K. Nault 0 0 +1 1 0
LW 14 B. Guy 0 0 -2 1 0
LW 16 K. Crnkovic 0 0 -1 1 0
C 17 C. Jacobs 0 0 -2 2 0
D 23 J. Brassard 0 0 -3 2 2
LW 24 H. Blaisdell 0 1 +2 2 0
C 26 S. Asuchak 0 1 -2 0 0
D 66 A. Kulakov 1 2 +3 3 0
D 82 C. Fraser 0 0 -2 3 0
RW 84 L. Gorman 2 0 +2 4 0
LW 89 P. Polino 0 0 0 0 2
RW 91 M. Matikka 0 1 0 3 0
RW 92 B. Watts 0 0 -1 0 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
33 L. Richardson (L) – 33 29 4 –
Empty Net – 1 1 –
Totals: – 34 29 5 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
3:33 – 1st L. Hatten 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
18:12 – 1st P. Polino 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
18:37 – 2nd J. Brassard 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
11:56 – 3rd A. Callin 2 Delay of Game (63.2)

Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Anthony Repaci, Kolby Johnson, Mark Cheremeta, and Matthew Boudens.
  • Allen Scratches: Anson Thornton, Brian Chambers, Jared Westcott, Kenny Johnson, Mike Van Unen, and Will Gavin.
  • Kolby Johnson was suspended for three games on Monday for his role in the post-game scrum on Saturday night. Griffin Luce was also fined after leaving the bench to engage with Atlanta’s bench after Johnson threw his glove. Luce could’ve been suspended for leaving the bench to engage in the altercation.
  • Hugo Ollas was assigned back to Worcester after being recalled to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. Joe Spagnoli, who served as the EBUG on Saturday night, was released.
  • Tyler Korbin was acquired from the Florida Everblades on Thursday for cash considerations.
  • Matias Rajaniemi was recalled by Bridgeport on Thursday.
  • Anthony Repaci was placed on 3-day injured reserve on Tuesday, and was then moved from 3-day injured reserve to 14-day injured reserve on Friday. Repaci is eligible to return February 28 vs Bloomington at the earliest.
  • The Railers acquired defenseman Kabore Dunn from the Fort Wayne Komets on Friday for future considerations.
  • Following Friday Night’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks and droughts:
    • Anthony Hora is without a point in his last 3 games.
    • Jordan Kaplan is now on a 3 game point streak with a goal. (1-2-3)
    • Tyler Korbyn is without a point in his last 3 games.
    • JD Dudek is without a point in his last 4 games.
    • Griffin Loughran snapped his point streak after 3 games with a goal and two assists
    • Benjamin Lindberg is without a point in his last 12 games.
    • Griffin Luce is without a point in his last 4 games.
    • Mason Klee snapped his point drought after 3 games with an assist.

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Cole Donhauser #29 Jordan Kaplan #10 Griffin Loughran #16
Forward Line 2 Riley Ginnell #9 Anthony Callin #44 Ryan Mahshie #4
Forward Line 3 Tyler Kobryn #13 Matt DeMelis #37 JD Dudek #15
Forward Line 4 Matt Ustaski #55 – Lincoln Hatten #33
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Connor Welsh #26 Griffin Luce #22
Defense Pair 2 Anthony Hora #3 Mason Klee #24
Defense Pair 3 Benjamin Lindberg #17 Ryan Dickinson #25
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Hugo Ollas #30
Backup Goaltender Michael Bullion #32

Opponent Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Kyle Crnkovic #16 Patrick Polino #89 Miko Matikka #91
Forward Line 2 Mark Duarte #8 Spencer Asuchak #26 Brayden Watts #92
Forward Line 3 Brayden Guy #14 Colin Jacobs #17 Nick Isaacson #9
Forward Line 4 Harrison Blaisdell #24 Liam Gorman #84 Kamerin Nault #11
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Hudson Wilson #5 Cole Fraser #82
Defense Pair 2 Artyom Kulakov #66 Mike Van Unen #21
Defense Pair 3 Jay Powell #3 J.C. Brassard #23
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Luke Richardson #33
Backup Goaltender Dylan Wells #39

On-Ice Officials

– –
Referee Sam Heidemann (22)
Referee –
Linesman Daniel Barnes (76)
Linesman Aaron Schacht (51)


Highlights

Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Anthony Callin goal


Matt DeMelis goal


Jordan Kaplan goal


Artyom Kulakov goal


Liam Gorman goal


Anthony Callin goal


Liam Gorman goal


Griffin Loughran goal