Game Story

Worcester, MA – The Railers lost the second game of their opening weekend series against the Reading Royals at the DCU Center on Sunday afternoon, with a final score of 2-1.

John Muse made 19 saves in his first appearance of the 2024-25 season. On the other end, Parker Gahagen, who started for Reading on Friday, stopped all but one of Worcester’s 23 shots. Captain Anthony Repaci scored the Railers’ lone goal, while Nolan Welsh and Connor McMenamin found the net for Reading. Worcester was without defensemen Griffin Luce and Christian Krygier, who were recalled to the AHL earlier that day. Both players suited up for their respective teams, though neither made the scoresheet. Krygier was recalled under his contract with the Bridgeport Islanders, while Luce signed a new PTO with the Wolf Pack. Cole Crowder made his professional debut, he was listed on the lines list as being on the top defensive pairing, but instead took shifts as a forward.

Reading scored twice in the opening frame. Nolan Welsh scored the first at 4:38 in the period. He collected a puck dumped into the Railers zone by Tyler Gratton and sent the puck top-shelf from the right circle. The Royals lead doubled five minutes later when Connor McMenamin converted on the power play at 9:55. McMenmamin collected a loose puck that bounced off the skate of Connor Welsh and sent that one top-shelf from the right circle. Much like the previous night, the Royals didn’t really have a lot of scoring opportunities after they established their lead, and would go on to work in their favor.

The Railers managed to find the back of the net three times after the Royals’ first-period goals, but only one stood. Colin Jacobs scored around the 18:30 mark of the second period, but moments before, the whistle had blown as officials thought goaltender Gahagen had covered the puck. However, it quickly became clear to everyone in the arena that the puck had remained loose behind him, allowing Jacobs to knock it in. This led to some heated exchanges between the teams, resulting in roughing penalties and a 10-minute misconduct for Jacobs. Early in the third period, Matias Rajaniemi scored 44 seconds in with a long shot, but after video review, it was confirmed as no goal due to Anthony Repaci being in the crease and making contact with goaltender Parker Gahagen as the puck went in. Anthony Repaci would bring the Railers to within one, netting his own rebound after a tip-in attempt off a shot from Cam McDonald at 13:37 in the third period. John Muse would be pulled with 2:47 left in the third period, but the Railers were unable to force overtime or even register another shot on goal.

It’s only two games into the season and there is quite a bit of room for improvement for this team. The defense hasn’t looked terrible, but as it stands two defensemen have been recalled to the AHL and could remain there for some time. In an unreleased season guide I wrote that the offense would be the biggest unknown with the way this roster is currently assembled. Rookie Justin Gill shows some promise but hasn’t produced in either of the two games so far. Scoring just two goals on home ice on opening weekend isn’t a way to kick off the season.

The game’s three stars were:

  1. Connor McMenamin (Reading) – game-winning goal
  2. Anthony Repaci (Worcester) – 1 goal
  3. Parker Gahagen (Reading) – win, 22 saves

The Railers hit the road next weekend, traveling to Trois-Rivières for a game on Friday, followed by a matchup against the Maine Mariners in Portland on Sunday. As for me, I’ll be away for both games, attending benefit shows for the Divided Sky Foundation hosted by Phish at the MVP Arena in Albany, NY—a new hockey venue for me, which previously hosted the Albany River Rats, Albany Choppers, and Albany Devils. Woo Hockey’s coverage will resume on October 30, with the Railers still on the road to face the Norfolk Admirals the following Wednesday.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
2 0 0 2
0 0 1 1
Shots 1 2 3 T
8 11 2 21
6 10 7 23
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
1 – 0 4:38 – 1st N. Welsh (1) T. Gratton, T. Malinowski
2 – 0 9:55 – 1st C. McMenamin (2) G. Cassaro, T. Skirving PP
2 – 1 13:37 – 3rd A. Repaci (1) C. McDonald, R. Piercey

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 31 P. Gahagen 0 0 0 0 0
G 80 K. Petruzzelli 0 0 0 0 0
D 3 T. Malinowski 0 1 0 0 0
F 5 L. Denis 0 0 0 2 0
D 6 L. Britt 0 0 0 0 0
F 7 N. Welsh 1 0 +1 1 0
D 8 P. Connor 0 0 0 3 2
D 9 S. Sedley 0 0 +1 1 0
F 14 N. Capone 0 0 +1 0 2
D 15 E. Chouinard 0 0 0 1 2
F 16 S. Sellar 0 0 -1 0 0
F 17 T. Skirving 0 1 0 0 0
F 19 B. Caufield 0 0 -1 0 0
F 20 M. Miller 0 0 0 0 2
D 23 G. Cassaro 0 1 0 2 0
F 27 J. Bouquot 0 0 -1 3 2
F 28 T. Broughman 0 0 0 2 2
F 39 C. McMenamin 1 0 0 3 0
D 57 K. Johnson 0 0 -1 0 0
F 59 T. Gratton 0 1 +1 3 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
31 P. Gahagen (W) – 23 22 1 –
Totals: – 23 22 1 –
# 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 0 0 0 1 2
F 7 J. Gill 0 0 0 3 2
F 10 J. Kaplan 0 0 0 1 0
F 11 J. Randl 0 0 0 0 0
F 13 A. Bakanov 0 0 0 1 0
D 14 M. Rajaniemi 0 0 -1 0 0
C 15 J. Dudek 0 0 0 1 0
F 17 A. Heidemann 0 0 0 0 0
F 18 M. Kopperud 0 0 0 1 2
F 19 R. Piercey 0 1 0 4 0
C 23 C. Jacobs 0 0 0 0 14
D 24 M. Klee 0 0 0 3 0
D 26 C. Welsh 0 0 +1 1 0
D 27 C. McDonald 0 1 +1 2 0
F 37 M. DeMelis 0 0 -1 0 0
F 44 A. Callin 0 0 -1 1 0
F 55 C. Crowder 0 0 0 1 0
F 81 A. Repaci 1 0 +1 3 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
40 J. Muse (L) – 21 19 2 –
Totals: – 21 19 2 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
8:28 – 1st M. Kopperud 2 Boarding – minor (41.2)
12:40 – 1st M. Miller 2 Interference – minor (56.2)
7:33 – 2nd T. Broughman 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
17:22 – 2nd E. Chouinard 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
18:30 – 2nd P. Connor 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
18:30 – 2nd C. Jacobs 4 Double Minor – Roughing
18:30 – 2nd C. Jacobs 10 Misconduct – Continuing Altercation (46.5)
3:36 – 3rd N. Capone 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
3:36 – 3rd R. Verrier 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
10:33 – 3rd J. Gill 2 Boarding – minor (41.2)
14:30 – 3rd J. Bouquot 2 Delay of Game (63.2)

Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Cole Donhauser, Griffin Loughran, and Ryan Dickinson.
  • Reading Scratches: Dominiks Marcinkevics, Noah Prokop, and Vinnie Purpura.
  • Christian Krygier was recalled to Bridgeport and Griffin Luce signed a PTO with the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday morning. Word is Krygier is replacing Isiah George on the roster, who was injured on Saturday night.
  • There are currently no active streaks, personal or team-related, for any player on the Railers’ roster.
  • 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 Jack Randl #11 Matthew Kopperud #18 JD Dudek #15
Forward Line 2 Anthony Repaci #81 Jordan Kaplan #10 Anthony Callin #44
Forward Line 3 Andrei Bakanov #13 Colin Jacobs #23 Justin Gill #7
Forward Line 4 Riley Piercey #19 Matt DeMelis #37 Austin Heidemann #17
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Cole Crowder #55 (listed) 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

 

On-Ice Officials:

Referee Brendan Schreider (12)
Referee Austin Rook (11)
Linesman Matthew Heinen (93)
Linesman Jack McQuesten (53)

Highlights

Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Nolan Welsh goal


Connor McMenamin goal


Anthony Repaci goal