Game Story

Worcester, MA — The Worcester Railers extended their season-opening win streak with a 4-2 win over the Norfolk Admirals at the DCU Center on Saturday Night. The Railers hosted their first-ever Hockey Fights Cancer night, donning lavender specialty jerseys to benefit the Why Me and Sherry’s House charities.

Jacob Hayhurst, Liam Coughlin, and Jared Brandt each scored their first goals of the season for the Railers. Anthony Repaci also scored on an empty net, scoring his second in as many games in the closing minute of the third period. Railers outshot the Admirals 39-17, the biggest shot differential between Worcester and any of their opponents so far this season. Opposing netminder Cale Moris stopped 35 of Worcester’s shots. Railers were 1-for-7 on the power play; including a combined eight minutes of opportunity in the second half of the first period.

Jacob Hayhurst gave Worcester the early lead at 9:18 in the first period. Jimmy Lambert made an excellent pass to Hayhurst after a Norfolk defensive zone turnover, which Hayhurst was able to convert with a backhand at the crease. Railers had three straight power plays in the first period they were unable to find the back of the net. Railers led 1-0, outshooting Norfolk 13-9 in the opening twenty minutes.

Norfolk applied pressure in the second period, getting on the board with a pair of goals with what would be their only goals of the game. Luke Pukolop scored with a slap shot from the blue line at 1:42. Aiden Brown shot was stopped by Tikkanen but Joe Widmar netted the rebounded puck on a 2-on-1 to give the Admirals a 2-1 lead. However, the Railers would convert on their power play at 11:48 with Liam Coughlin tipping in a shot up front from Noah Delmas. Worcester outshot Norfolk 16-6 in the period.

Railers would regain their lead with Jared Brandt firing a top-shelf shot from the left circle at 2:07 in the third period. Anthony Repaci put the game away scoring on an empty net to close out the third period.

The three stars of Saturday’s game were:

  1. Jared Brandt (Worcester) – game-winning goal
  2. Liam Coughlin (Worcester) -1 goal
  3. Jacob Hayhurst (Worcester) – 1 goal

With the Savannah Ghost Pirates losing to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, the Railers are the last team in the ECHL to remain undefeated. They are currently one win short of tying a city record of eight straight wins set by the Worcester Sharks in January 2015, and the ECHL record of eight straight which has been set twice.

Railers will look to extend their streak to eight as they host the Admirals again in a 3 PM matinee matchup on Sunday.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
Norfolk Admirals 0 2 0 2
Worcester Railers 1 1 2 4
Shots 1 2 3 T
Norfolk Admirals 9 6 2 17
Worcester Railers 13 16 10 39

 

Admirals Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 30 C. Morris 0 0 0 0 0
G 31 T. Vomacka 0 0 0 0 0
D 4 C. Musser 0 0 -1 0 0
D 6 L. Prokop 1 0 -1 2 0
F 7 K. Hausinger 0 0 0 0 0
F 11 J. Widmar 1 0 0 1 0
F 12 D. Katic 0 0 0 1 0
D 17 A. Thow 0 0 +1 0 0
F 19 J. Kaplan 0 0 0 0 2
D 20 E. Williams 0 0 0 1 2
F 21 T. Bertuzzi 0 1 0 0 0
F 23 C. Milan 0 0 0 3 0
F 24 T. Burgess 0 0 -2 3 4
F 27 R. Foss 0 0 0 0 0
F 43 A. Brown 0 1 0 1 0
D 55 N. Schaus 0 0 -1 0 2
D 88 E. Vilio 0 0 0 2 4
F 93 L. MacDougall 0 1 -1 2 0
F 94 B. Van Os 0 1 -1 1 0
Team:
Totals: 2 4 -6 17 14
No Name Min SH SVS GA
30 C. Morris (L) 59:37 38 35 3
Empty Net 1 1
Totals: 59:37 39 35 4
Railers Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 35 K. Appleby 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 H. Tikkanen 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 C. McCarthy 0 0 -1 3 0
F 7 L. Coughlin 1 0 +1 2 0
F 8 B. Butler 0 0 +1 4 0
D 9 N. Delmas 0 1 -2 1 0
D 10 R. MacKinnon 0 0 +1 2 0
F 11 N. Vesey 0 1 0 0 2
F 12 B. Beaudoin 0 0 +2 2 0
F 16 J. Hayhurst 1 0 +1 2 0
F 17 B. Jenkins 0 0 -2 2 0
F 21 C. Adams 0 0 0 2 2
F 23 J. Lambert 0 1 +1 0 0
D 25 P. Beaulieu 0 1 0 1 0
D 26 J. Brandt 1 0 +3 3 0
D 27 M. McGurty 0 1 +1 4 0
F 37 R. Newkirk 0 0 -1 6 0
F 44 S. Jandric 0 1 +1 1 0
F 81 A. Repaci 1 0 -1 4 0
Team:
Totals: 4 6 5 39 4
No Name Min SH SVS GA
39 H. Tikkanen (W) 60:00 17 15 2
Totals: 60:00 17 15 2
P T Player M Offense Time
1st V E. Vilio 2.00 Holding – minor (54.2) 11:01
1st V T. Burgess 4.00 High-sticking – double minor (60.3) 12:48
1st V J. Kaplan 2.00 Delay of Game (63.2) 16:21
2nd H C. Adams 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 9:01
2nd V N. Schaus 2.00 Hooking – minor (55.2) 10:14
2nd V E. Vilio 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 14:52
3rd V E. Williams 2.00 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2) 10:41
3rd H N. Vesey 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 16:04

Notes

  • Railers Scratches: Conor Breen (injured), Zack Bross (injured), Blake Christensen (reserve), Trevor Cosgrove, Christian Evers, Jack Quinlivan (injured), and Quin Ryan (reserve)
  • Admirals Scratches: Michael Bullion, DJ King, Brett Ouderkirk, Carter Robertson, Dennis Smirnov, and Jake Smith
  • Railers were 1-for-7 on the power play; including a combined eight minutes of opportunity in the second half of the first period. Railers are 4-for-27 on the power play overall this season (including a power play empty net goal), but are a few steps ahead of Norfolk who are just 1-for-18.
  • Boston Bruins Alumni featuring former IceCats Mike Mottau and Terry Virtue kicked off a doubleheader at the DCU Center Saturday. Bruins Alumni won 8-5 over the Why Me all-stars when all was said and done. The Why Me all-stars also wore a similar lavender Hockey Fights Cancer jersey for their game.
  • Railers wore HFC stickers on helmets; Jersey was primarily sublimated with patched numbers, nameplates, and a single-piece fabric patch featuring a modified five-year-themed logo. Smothered in lavender from top to bottom with the names of loved ones from Railers fans, staff, and players sublimated along the body of the jerseys. It was the first time this season the Railers have worn a jersey that wasn’t their orange alternate this season. ECHL teams are supposed to be wearing white jerseys at home and dark jerseys on the road with some exceptions with specialty and alternate jerseys, which are usually worked out between teams beforehand. Newfoundland Growlers are another team who have only one of their regular jerseys, and that has been their White jersey.
  • Norfolk had just two shots on goal in the third period, the least amount made in a single period by any Railers opponent so far this season.
  • Railers scored one goal in the first period, continuing a trend that they’ve scored at least one has been made in the opening frame, though this was the first time this season they’ve scored less than two in the first period.
  • The Railers had the following scoring streaks:
    • Blade Jenkins, Brent Beaudoin, and Collin Adams all had their scoring streaks ended.
    • Phil Beaulieu is now on a three-game point streak with four assists.
    • Jacob Hayhurst is now on a three-game point streak with a goal and three assists.
    • Anthony Repaci is now on a three-game point streak with two goals and two assists.
  • Railers Alum Brian Bowen was also claimed by Norfolk Admirals earlier this week after being released by the Orlando Solar Bears. He subsequently signed with the Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL and refused to report to Norfolk. Norfolk suspended Bowen and holds his ECHL rights should he want to return to the league or be acquired via trade if another team wants to give him a shot.
  • Nick Shaus made his return to Worcester after 11 years. Shaus turned pro with the Sharks back in 2010, signing after his college career with Umass Lowell and went on to play 81 games with Worcester. This was the first time in his career that he has played against Worcester, despite playing in the same leagues as Worcester teams in both the AHL and ECHL.
  • Kenny Hausinger, who signed with Worcester but did not play due to the team opting out of the 2020-21 season, made his season debut for Norfolk Saturday in Worcester. Hausinger didn’t make the scoresheet and was one of the rotated forwards for the Admirals.
  • Railers Hockey Fights Cancer Live Auction Results
    • Bobby Butler $1100
    • Blade Jenkins $600
    • Anthony Repaci $1650
    • Ken Appleby $600
    • Henrik Tikkanen $1600
  • $526 was the average price for all jerseys auctioned via HandBid.
  • Railers are 16-13-3-0 all-time when wearing specialty jerseys.
  • 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.

Out-of-Town Scores

Hershey 2, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1
Bridgeport 5, Hartford 3
Providence 3, Springfield 2

Adirondack 6, Trois-Rivières 1
Newfoundland 5, Maine 2
Reading 4, Wheeling 3

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1  Nolan Vesey #11 “A”  Brent Beaudoin #12  Anthony Repaci #81 “A”
Forward Line 2  Steven Jandric #44  Liam Coughlin #7  Bobby Butler #8 “C”
Forward Line 3  Collin Adams #21  Blade Jenkins #17  Reece Newkirk #37
Rotated Forwards  –  Jimmy Lambert #23  Jacob Hayhurst #16
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Line 1  Noah Delmas #9  Connor McCarthy #2
Defense Line 2  Myles McGurty #27  Jared Brandt #26
Defense Line 3  Phil Beaulieu #25  Ryan MacKinnon #10
Rotated Defensemen  –  –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender  Henrik Tikkanen #39
Backup Goaltender  Ken Appleby #35

Admirals Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1  Tag Bertuzzi #21  Joe Widmar #11  Aidan Brown #43
Forward Line 2  Brett Van Os #94  Liam MacDougal #93  Todd Burgess #24
Forward Line 3  Ryan Foss #27  Jordan Kaplan #19  Cody Milan #23
Rotated Forwards  Danny Katic #12  Kenny Hausinger #7  –
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Line 1  Elijah Vilio #88  Eric Williams #20
Defense Line 2  Aaron Thow #17  Luke Prokop #6
Defense Line 3  Carson Musser #4  Nick Schaus #55 “A”
Rotated Defensemen –  –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender  Cale Morris #30
Backup Goaltender  Tomas Vomacka #31

On-Ice Officials:

Referee  Michael Zyla (#34)
Referee  –
Linesman  Matthew Hallock (#85)
Linesman  Noah Merrow (#57)

Highlights


Jersey reveal


Jacob Hayhurst Goal


Liam Coughlin Goal


Jared Brandt Goal