Game Story

Worcester, MA — The Worcester Railers secured all four possible points this weekend, completing a sweep with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Sunday afternoon.

John Muse made his second start of the season, making 25 saves and earning his first win since his season debut on October 20. Joe Cannata, in his fourth start of the season and second against Worcester, stopped 33 of 37 shots. For the second consecutive night, Anthony Repaci sent Railers fans home smiling, this time scoring both the game-tying goal and the game-winner in overtime. Scoring for Norfolk were Carson Musser, Connor Fedorek, and Josh McDougal, while Worcester’s goals came from Ryan Verrier, Griffin Loughran, and Repaci, who scored twice.

Norfolk scored first at 2:40 in the first period. Just as Jordan Kaplan exited the box for a tripping penalty, Carson Musser capitalized on a chaotic situation in front of the Railers net to get the Admirals on the board early. Musser’s shot snuck through traffic with Railers goalie John Muse out of position, giving Norfolk an early 1-0 advantage. Worcester responded five minutes later when Ryan Verrier, netted a goal from a rebound off the post, tying the game at 1-1 with his first goal of the season. Griffin Loughran put the Railers ahead for the first time, delivering a precise shot past Norfolk’s goalie Cannata to make it 2-1. With under three minutes left in the period, Connor Fedorek tied it up at 2-2 for the Admirals with a backhanded shot off a rebound. Wtih the game tied 2-2, the Railers held the advantage by outshooting the Admirals 15-12.

Eight minutes into the second period, Josh McDougall scored his second goal of the season for Norfolk, putting the Admirals up 3-2 after persistent play around the net. However, Worcester’s Anthony Repaci quickly leveled the score with a breakaway goal just 44 seconds later, halting Norfolk’s momentum. Worcester maintained a slight edge in shots during the second, once again outshooting the Admirals with a 10-8 tally, as the period closed with a 3-3 tie.

In the third, Norfolk had a chance to regain the lead with a 5-on-3 power play, but they struggled to capitalize, and the period ended with the score still tied. Despite a slower pace, both teams kepts fans on the edge of their seats.

Overtime began with anticipation, and just 38 seconds in, Repaci found the net once again to secure the 4-3 win for Worcester. After a quick review, the call stood, giving the Railers their second win of the weekend at the DCU Center.

The three stars of Saturday’s game were:

  1. Anthony Repaci (Worcester) – 2 goals, +2
  2. Griffin Loughran (Worcester) – 1 goal, +2
  3. Carson Musser (Norfolk) – 1 goal, 2 assists

In the only other North Division game on Sunday afternoon, the Reading Royals were shut out by the Indy Fuel, 3-0. The Wheeling Nailers will host the Fort Wayne Komets on Tuesday for a School Day game, and Maine will host Reading on Wednesday night. All seven North Division teams are set to play Friday night.

The Railers will be back at home Wednesday to host the South Carolina Stingrays at 10:05 a.m. Woo Hockey will resume coverage of the Railers on Friday, when the Railers host the Stingrays again at 7:05 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 OT T
2 1 0 0 3
2 1 0 1 4
Shots 1 2 3 OT T
12 8 7 1 28
15 11 10 1 37
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
1 – 0 2:40 – 1st C. Musser (3) B. Fleurent, J. McDougall
1 – 1 7:30 – 1st R. Verrier (1) M. DeMelis, C. Welsh
1 – 2 14:19 – 1st G. Loughran (2) J. Randl
2 – 2 17:17 – 1st C. Fedorek (2) M. Reifenberger, C. Musser
3 – 2 8:09 – 2nd J. McDougall (2) S. Timofeyev, C. Musser PP
3 – 3 8:53 – 2nd A. Repaci (6) C. Welsh
3 – 4 0:38 – 1st OT A. Repaci (7) M. Kopperud, C. Welsh

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 1 J. Cannata 0 0 0 0 0
G 31 D. Giannuzzi 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 D. Louis-Jean 0 0 -1 1 2
D 4 C. Musser 1 2 +1 1 2
D 7 N. Kelly 0 0 -2 0 0
F 11 K. Nault 0 0 +1 4 0
F 12 P. Padakin 0 0 -1 1 0
F 13 K. Iverson 0 0 -1 0 0
D 14 C. Fedorek 1 0 0 1 0
D 15 G. Sward 0 0 -2 2 0
F 16 M. Reifenberger 0 1 -1 3 0
F 19 S. Montgomery 0 0 0 0 0
F 21 J. Young 0 0 -1 0 0
F 22 S. Timofeyev 0 1 -1 3 0
D 23 J. McDougall 1 1 +1 4 0
F 24 C. Golder 0 0 -1 1 2
F 25 B. Osmundson 0 0 0 1 0
D 27 LA Grissom 0 0 +1 0 2
F 74 S. Shin 0 0 -1 1 0
F 94 B. Fleurent 0 1 0 5 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
1 J. Cannata (L) – 37 33 4 –
Totals: – 37 33 4 –
# 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 1 0 -1 1 0
F 10 J. Kaplan 0 0 0 2 2
F 11 J. Randl 0 1 +2 1 0
F 12 K. Johnson 0 0 -1 1 0
F 13 A. Bakanov 0 0 0 1 0
D 14 M. Rajaniemi 0 0 -2 2 0
F 16 G. Loughran 1 0 +2 2 0
F 18 M. Kopperud 0 1 +2 1 0
F 19 R. Piercey 0 0 +1 3 0
D 22 G. Luce 0 0 +1 3 4
C 23 C. Jacobs 0 0 -1 1 0
D 24 M. Klee 0 0 +1 4 0
D 26 C. Welsh 0 3 +3 3 0
D 27 C. McDonald 0 0 +1 1 2
F 29 C. Donhauser 0 0 -1 4 0
F 33 L. Hatten 0 0 -1 0 0
F 37 M. DeMelis 0 1 0 3 0
F 81 A. Repaci 2 0 +2 4 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
40 J. Muse (W) – 28 25 3 –
Totals: – 28 25 3 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
0:38 – 1st J. Kaplan 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
12:12 – 1st D. Louis-Jean 2 High-sticking – minor (60.2)
18:58 – 1st C. Musser 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
6:17 – 2nd G. Luce 2 Delay of Game (63.2)
14:59 – 2nd C. Golder 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
19:24 – 2nd LA Grissom 2 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2)
8:26 – 3rd G. Luce 2 High-sticking – minor (60.2)
9:51 – 3rd C. McDonald 2 Delay of Game (63.2)

Notes

  • Worcester scratches: Anthony Callin, Brenden Rons, Cole Crowder, JD Dudek, Justin Gill, and Ryan Dickinson.
  • Norfolk scratches: Denis Smirnov, German Yavash, Kristian Stead, Lordanthony Grissom, Ryan Chyzowski, and Spencer Kennedy.
  • On Saturday, the Railers acquired Austen Swanker from Fort Wayne. Swanker didn’t last long on the Railers roster as Sunday night’s transactions report he’s already been traded to Cincinnati.
  • The jersey raffle of the game, along with Saturday night’s game was a game-issued 2024-25 Matt Barnaby #9 jersey from Railers Fight Cancer night.
  • The Railers had the following scoring streaks:
    • Ryan Verrier snapped a five-game scoreless streak with a goal.
    • Jack Randl is on a three-game point streak. (2-3-5)
    • Andrei Bakanov is without a point in his last three games.
    • Matias Rajaniemi is without a point in all nine games played this season.
    • Griffin Luce is without a point in his last three games.
    • Mason Klee is without a point in his last three games.
    • Connor Welsh extended his point streak to five games with three assists. (2-7-9)
    • Lincoln Hatten is without a point in his last five games.
    • Matt DeMelis snapped a three-game pointless streak with an assist.
  • 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 Riley Piercey #19 Matthew Kopperud #18 Cole Donhauser #29
Forward Line 2 Jack Randl #11 Jordan Kaplan #10 Anthony Repaci #81
Forward Line 3 Andrei Bakanov #13 Matt DeMelis #37 Griffin Loughran #16
Forward Line 4 Kolby Johnson #12 Colin Jacobs #23 Lincoln Hatten #33
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Griffin Luce #22 Connor Welsh #26
Defense Pair 2 Cam McDonald #27 Mason Klee #24
Defense Pair 3 Matias Rajaniemi #14 Ryan Verrier #3
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender John Muse #40
Backup Goaltender Michael Bullion #32

Opponent Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Pavel Padakin #12 Marko Reifenberger #16 Carson Golder #24
Forward Line 2 Stepan Timofeyev #22 Brandon Osmundson #25 Brady Fleurent #94
Forward Line 3 Kamerin Nault #11 Sean Montgomery #19 Sanghoon Shin #74
Forward Line 4 Lordanthony Grissom #27 Sean Montgomery #19 Keegan Iverson #13
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Darick Louis-Jean #2 Connor Fedorek #14
Defense Pair 2 Carson Musser #4 Josh McDougall #23
Defense Pair 3 Graham Sward #15 Nathan Kelly #7
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Joe Cannata #1
Backup Goaltender Dante Giannuzzi #31

On-Ice Officials

– –
Referee Hunter Mottinger (9)
Referee –
Linesman Matthew Heinen (93)
Linesman Davids Rozitis (90)

Highlights

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Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Norfolk Lines


Carson Musser goal


Ryan Verrier goal


Griffin Loughran goal


Josh McDougal goal


Anthony Repaci goal


Anthony Repaci OT goal