Game Story

Worcester, MA — The Worcester Railers earned their 17th win of the season, closing out January with a 4-3 victory over the Adirondack Thunder on Friday night.

Hugo Ollas picked up his third win as a Railer and was named the game’s third star with 31 saves. Colby Muise made 22 saves in his third appearance of the season for the Adirondack Thunder. Mark Cheremeta had a three point game with two goals and an assist, and was also a plus-4 in his third game in a Railers uniform. Matt Ustaski and Riley Ginnell scored Worcester’s other goals, Ustaski made his Railers debut on Friday. Sean Gulka and Josh Filmon scored Adirondack’s goals, Filmon scored twice.

Despite spending much of the night chasing the puck, as Adirondack controlled possession for large stretches, Worcester never trailed. With Anthony Repaci sidelined due to injury, the game showcased some of the Railers’ newer additions. The team struggled on special teams, going 0-for-6 on the power play but successfully killing off three penalties.

Mark Cheremeta opened the scoring on the Railers’ first rush into the offensive zone. Skating across the crease, he maneuvered the puck past Chase Muise and tucked it behind his skate to give Worcester an early 1-0 lead just 1:47 into the game. Ustaski extended the advantage to 2-0 at 17:25, firing a shot from the right circle off a loose puck. Adirondack outshot Worcester 11-5 in the first period.

The Thunder responded quickly in the second, striking twice in a 20-second span to tie the game. At 6:32, TJ Friedmann set up Sean Gulka, who beat Ollas with a shot over the pads. Moments later, at 6:52, Grant Loven fed Josh Filmon on a two-on-one, evening the score at 2-2. The Railers reclaimed the lead at 10:31 when Cheremeta buried a one-timer from the left circle, sneaking the puck over Muise’s shoulder. Worcester later had a 5-on-3 advantage, generating six shots but failing to convert. Ginnell restored the two-goal cushion at 15:17, deflecting a shot from Griffin Luce into the net.

The Railers had two power plays in the third period, both of which they did not get a shot on goal. Late in the period Colby Muise would be pulled for the extra attacker late in the period, they would come back to within one with Josh Filmon scoring on a backhanded bat in front of the Railers net with 18 seconds left, but the Railers would hold on for the 4-3 victory.

The three stars of the game were:

  1. Mark Cheremeta (Worcester) – 2 goals, 1 assist, +4
  2. Griffin Luce (Worcester) – 2 assists
  3. Hugo Ollas (Worcester) – win, 31 saves, 0.912 SV%

Also in the North Division on Friday night, the Trois-Rivières Lions defeated the Maine Mariners 5-1 in Quebec. The Norfolk Admirals blanked the South Carolina Stingrays 3-0 at home, while the Wheeling Nailers edged out the Cincinnati Cyclones 4-3 in overtime. The remaining six division teams are set to play on Saturday, with the Railers having the night off.

Henrik Tikkanen made 23 saves in Bridgeport’s 4-3 loss to Hershey on Friday night. Riley Piercey was the lone former Railer in the lineup, picking up an assist and was a +1 on the night.

With Saturday night off, the Railers head to Portland to take on the Maine Mariners at 3 PM on Sunday.

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Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
0 2 1 3
2 2 0 4
Shots 1 2 3 T
11 13 10 34
5 14 7 26
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
0 – 1 1:47 – 1st M. Cheremeta (2) R. Dickinson, A. Hora
0 – 2 17:25 – 1st M. Ustaski (1) M. DeMelis, M. Cheremeta
1 – 2 6:32 – 2nd S. Gulka (2) T. Friedmann, S. Smirnov
2 – 2 6:52 – 2nd J. Filmon (11) G. Loven, D. Wendt
2 – 3 10:31 – 2nd M. Cheremeta (3) G. Luce, L. Hatten
2 – 4 15:17 – 2nd R. Ginnell (6) G. Luce, L. Hatten
3 – 4 19:41 – 3rd J. Filmon (12) S. Gulka, R. Conroy

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 34 T. Brennan 0 0 0 0 0
G 35 C. Muise 0 0 0 0 0
D 5 J. van de Leest 0 0 -1 6 6
D 6 R. Wheeler 0 0 0 1 2
D 7 A. Bisson 0 0 -1 2 0
D 8 R. Conroy 0 1 +1 0 2
D 9 T. Gibson 0 0 -2 1 0
F 12 A. Ghantous 0 0 0 1 0
F 17 K. O’Neil 0 0 -1 3 0
F 19 T. Friedmann 0 1 +1 1 0
F 20 S. Smirnov 0 1 +1 3 0
F 22 G. Müller 0 0 0 3 0
F 23 G. Loven 0 1 0 1 0
F 24 J. Filmon 2 0 -1 2 0
F 29 G. Smith 0 0 -1 0 0
F 36 S. Gulka 1 1 +2 1 0
F 37 D. Wendt 0 1 -2 3 0
F 43 K. Gervais 0 0 -1 2 0
D 44 D. Skeoch 0 0 0 0 0
C 72 R. Francis 0 0 +1 4 2
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
35 C. Muise (L) 58:44 26 22 4 0.846
00:00 0.000
# 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 1 0 2 2
F 4 R. Mahshie 0 0 -1 1 0
F 9 R. Ginnell 1 0 0 3 2
F 10 J. Kaplan 0 0 -2 1 0
F 12 K. Johnson 0 0 -1 0 0
D 14 M. Rajaniemi 0 0 +1 0 0
C 15 J. Dudek 0 0 0 0 0
F 20 M. Cheremeta 2 1 +3 4 0
D 22 G. Luce 0 2 0 1 0
D 24 M. Klee 0 0 +1 0 0
D 25 R. Dickinson 0 1 +1 1 0
D 26 C. Welsh 0 0 -1 3 0
F 29 C. Donhauser 0 0 0 3 0
F 33 L. Hatten 0 2 +3 1 2
F 37 M. DeMelis 0 1 +3 1 0
F 44 A. Callin 0 0 -2 3 0
F 55 M. Ustaski 1 0 0 2 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
30 H. Ollas (W) – 34 31 3 –
Totals: – 34 31 3 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
9:55 – 1st L. Hatten 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
13:43 – 1st J. van de Leest 2 Holding – minor (54.2)
12:41 – 2nd R. Conroy 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
13:10 – 2nd R. Wheeler 2 Delay of Game (63.2)
15:56 – 2nd A. Hora 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
19:21 – 2nd R. Francis 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
1:28 – 3rd R. Ginnell 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
10:50 – 3rd J. van de Leest 2 High-sticking – minor (60.2)
16:01 – 3rd J. van de Leest 2 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2)

Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Anthony Repaci, Griffin Loughran, Brendan Rons, Matthew Boudens, and Severi Savijoki.
  • Adirondack Scratches: Alex Young, Brendan Less, David Fessenden, James Marooney, Kurt Gosselin, Ryan Francis, Shaw Boomhower, Tag Bertuzzi, and Taylor Ford.
  • The Islanders organization is still dealing with a multitude of injuries at the NHL and AHL level. As such, the Railers have been without all of their AHL-contracted players since last week. Earlier this week, the NHL club claimed a couple of players on waviers and sent down Isiah George to the AHL. On Friday, the Railers received Matias Rajaniemi from Bridgeport.
  • This week, Railers made a couple of moves to replenish their roster:
    • On Tuesday, the Railers claimed Tyson Kirkby from the Reading Royals and on Thursday, he was released.
    • On Wednesday, the Railers signed Matt Utaski.
  • Following Friday night’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks and droughts:
    • Anthony Hora snapped a three-game scoring drought with his first ECHL assist.
    • Ryan Mahshie is without a point in his last three games.
    • Kolby Johnson is without a point in his last eight games.
    • JD Dudek is without a point in his last four games.
    • Mark Cheremeta snapped an eight-game scoring drought with two goals and an assist.
    • Griffin Luce is on a three-game point streak. (1-3-4)
    • Mason Klee is without a point in his last five games.
    • Ryan Dickinson snapped a six-game scoring drought with an assist.
    • Anthony Callin is without a point in his last three games.
    • Matt Ustaski snapped a three-game scoring drought with a goal.

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Riley Ginnell #9 Jordan Kaplan #10 Ryan Mahshie #4
Forward Line 2 Cole Donhauser #29 Anthony Callin #44 JD Dudek #15
Forward Line 3 Mark Cheremeta #20 Matt DeMelis #37 Lincoln Hatten #33
Forward Line 4 Anthony Callin #44 – Kolby Johnson #12
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 Brenden Rons #17 Ryan Dickinson #25
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Hugo Ollas #30
Backup Goaltender Michael Bullion #32

Thunder Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Josh Filmon #24 Kevin O’Neil #17 Dylan Wendt #37
Forward Line 2 Kishaun Gervais #43 Grant Loven #23 Ryan Francis #72
Forward Line 3 Gustav Müller #22 Greg Smith #29 Andre Ghantous #12
Forward Line 4 Sean Gulka #36 T.J. Friedmann #19 Savva Smirnov #20
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Ryan Wheeler #6 Adrien Bisson #7
Defense Pair 2 Ryan Conroy #8 Darian Skeoch #44
Defense Pair 3 Jackson van de Leest #5 Ty Gibson #9
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Colby Muise #35
Backup Goaltender Tyler Brennan #34

On-Ice Officials

– –
Referee David Lilly (25)
Referee –
Linesman Matthew Heinen (93)
Linesman Jack McQuesten (53)


Highlights

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Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Thunder Lines


Mark Cheremeta goal


Matt Utaski goal


Sean Gulka goal


Josh Filmon goal


Mark Cheremeta goal


Riley Ginnell goal


Josh Filmon goal