Game Story

Norfolk, VA — The Worcester Railers Thanksgiving week continued with games against the Norfolk Admirals on Friday and Saturday night.

Coming off a 4-1 win over Norfolk Wednesday, the Worcester Railers continued their series against the Admirals on Friday. Norfolk, struggling to find a win or much scoring for that matter, acquired defenseman Callum Fryer from Rapid City, Brandon van Riemsdyk from Orlando, and Aiden Brown from Allen in future considerations trades. Ken Appleby and Michael Bullion were the starters for their respective teams, and both games ended in overtime. The Railers were 2-for-5 on the power play, with both goals coming on their first two power plays in Saturday night’s game.

Friday
You can’t win them all, but you can win most, or so it goes with the Railers’ result Friday night. They came back from what was a two-goal deficit to force the game into overtime but were unable to pick up the win. The Norfolk Admirals snapped a twelve-game losing streak, taking that one 5-4 in overtime. Quinn Ryan, Blake Christensen, and Jimmy Lambert were the goal scorers for Worcester. Ken Appleby made his ninth appearance of the season, stopping 21 of 26 Admirals’ shots. It was the fifth game the Railers have faced Norfolk all-time, the first time the Railers have lost to Norfolk in as many games. Tag Bertuzzi, Griffin Lunn, Eric Williams, Danny Katic, and Cody Milan each had goals in Norfolk’s second win of the season. Norfolk’s last win had come 29 days prior on October 28.

Railers struck first on Friday. Quinn Ryan scored the first of the night on a tight angle between Norfolk goaltender Michael Bullion at 9:32. Norfolk evened things up with 32 seconds remaining in the opening period. Tag Bertuzzi slapped the puck in at the crease through the pads of Ken Appleby, a shot that initially came from Brett Ouderkirk from the blue line.

Norfolk would score twice in the second period to bring the game to 3-1. It was the first time this season Norfolk led in a game against Worcester, giving them the momentum they had been searching for just about all season and in position to pick up a win. Both goals came within 1:20 late in the period. Griffin Lunn put a loose puck in off a shot from Liam McDougall at 16:25. A bad defensive turnover gave Norfolk the chance to score on the power play at 18:42, coming from Eric Williams on the blue line.

Quinn Ryan scored his second of the night, with an up-ice pass on a breakaway from Christian Evers at 2:27 in the third period to bring the game to 3-2. However the Admirals would regain a two-point lead with Danny Katic netting a rebound from Ryan Foss minutes later at 7:40. Railers would regain some momentum with Blake Christensen breaking through a number of Norfolk skaters and scoring at 13:41. Jimmy Lambert would force the game into overtime with less than two minutes to go in the frame, deflecting a shot from Phil Beaulieu at 18:22.

Norfolk’s Cody Milan scored at the 3:16 mark in overtime to give the Admirals their second win of the season on their first puck possession during the overtime period.

The three stars of Friday’s game were:

1. Cody Milan (Norfolk) – 1 goal, 1 assist, +2
2. Danny Katic (Norfolk) – 1 goal, 1 assist
3. Eric Williams (Norfolk) – 1 goal, 1 assist

Honorable Mention not included in the three stars was Quinn Ryan, who had two goals and was a +2 on the night Friday.

Saturday
Norfolk struck first on Saturday, with Admirals’ Liam McDougall deflecting a puck up high at the 42-second mark to give Norfolk the early lead. Jimmy Lambert tied the game back up six minutes later on a shot from the right circle at 6:45.

Saturday’s game had a number of delays due to ice conditions, due to the Norfolk Scope’s ice crew drilling into the ice and hitting a refrigerant line underneath the ice. The most notable delay was well over an hour long, which came at the 1:49 mark in the second period. Both teams headed to their respective locker rooms during the delay as ice crews worked to stop glycol (which is used to cool the ice from underneath) from spilling onto the ice. This was done using a vacuum and at one point a fire extinguisher was used to stop the spread. The crew was able to mitigate the issue and the game resumed around 8:20 that evening. However, ice conditions were not ideal, and rescheduling this game would’ve been the start of a mess – likely rescheduled during the Railers’ mid-February road trip when they return to Norfolk, which just had a game added against Greenville last week.

With play resuming after an eight-minute warmup, the game continued. Tag Bertuzzi gave Norfolk a 2-1 lead on a rush with a backhand shot at 11:44. Collin Adams connected with Nolan Vesey on a 2-on-1 rush at the 14:26 mark to tie the game back up. Blake Christensen gave Worcester their first lead of the night, converting just seconds into a power play and a 3-2 lead with two seconds remaining in the second period.

Danny Katic would tie the game at 5:53 in the third, a goal that would eventually force the game into overtime. Worcester outshot Norfolk 31-27 through 60 minutes of play, with the game tied at 3 the game was headed into overtime.

Norfork scored on a dislodged net around the 1:20 mark in the overtime period, the same net that caused delays throughout the game. Much to the disagreement of Norfolk head coach Jeff Carr and Admirals’ fans the goal did not count as it occured after the play had been ruled dead. It was Reece Newkirk who ended the nearly four-hour-long hockey game by jamming the puck past Michael Bullion at 2:57 in the overtime period. The Railers outshot Norfolk 8-1, a season-high in the extra period.

The three stars of Saturday’s game were:

1. Reece Newkirk (Worcester) – game-winning goal, +1
2. Collin Adams (Worcester) – 2 assists
3. Ryan Foss (Norfolk) – 2 assists

Over and Onward
With the month of November in the books, the Railers lead the ECHL with 29 points and a record of 14-2-1. They have two points in hand with one more win ahead of the Newfoundland Growlers. In the month of December, the Railers will have a huge month ahead of them, facing second-place Growlers five times, and the third-place Idaho Steelheads three times. They’ll make two separate one-game stops in Trois-Rivières, play the Adirondack Thunder three times, and have a two-game home/away split with the Maine Mariners, facing them for the first time this season.

The Railers had the following accolades to end the month of November:

• Brent Beaudoin is on a four-game point streak. (1 goal, 5 assists).
• Blake Christensen is on a three-game goal streak and a six-game point streak. (4 goals, 4 assists).
• The Railers are on a five-game point steak. (Record 4-0-1 in those games).
• Blade Jenkins* is on a three-game goal streak and a three-game point streak in ECHL games. (3 goals, 5 assists).
• There are five Railers skaters on recall in the AHL: Trevor Cosgrove, Blade Jenkins, Ryan MacKinnon – Bridgeport Islanders; Jacob Hayhurst, Steve Jandric (PTO) – Springfield Thunderbirds.

The Railers’ road trip continues next weekend with their first 3-in-3 of the season against the Newfoundland Growlers. That series begins with a 5:30 EST puck drop on Friday.

Box Score

Scoring	1	2	3	OT	T
	1	0	3	0	4
	1	2	1	1	5

Shots	1	2	3	OT	T
	11	9	12	1	33
	7	9	9	1	26

Score	Team	Time	Scored by	Assisted by	Type
1 – 0		9:32 – 1st	Q. Ryan (5)	R. Newkirk
1 – 1		19:28 – 1st	T. Bertuzzi (4)	B. Ouderkirk, D. Louis-Jean
1 – 2		16:25 – 2nd	G. Lunn (2)	L. MacDougall
1 – 3		18:42 – 2nd	E. Williams (2)	D. Katic	PP
2 – 3		2:27 – 3rd	Q. Ryan (6)	C. Evers
2 – 4		7:40 – 3rd	D. Katic (2)	C. Milan, D. Louis-Jean
3 – 4		13:41 – 3rd	B. Christensen (3)	B. Beaudoin, M. McGurty
4 – 4		18:22 – 3rd	J. Lambert (6)	P. Beaulieu, M. McGurty
4 – 5		3:16 – 1st OT	C. Milan (3)	R. Foss, E. Williams

Rosters

	#	Player	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	1	0
F	7	L. Coughlin	0	0	0	2	0
D	9	N. Delmas	0	0	+1	1	0
F	10	D. Osik	0	0	-2	1	0
F	11	N. Vesey	0	0	-1	3	0
F	12	B. Beaudoin	0	1	+1	6	0
D	15	C. Evers	0	1	-1	3	0
F	18	B. Christensen	1	0	-1	4	0
F	19	Q. Ryan	2	0	+2	2	0
F	21	C. Adams	0	0	0	2	0
D	22	J. Solow	0	0	0	0	0
F	23	J. Lambert	1	0	+2	3	2
F	24	J. Quinlivan	0	0	-1	0	0
D	25	P. Beaulieu	0	1	+2	1	2
D	27	M. McGurty	0	2	0	0	2
F	29	Z. Bross	0	0	0	1	0
F	37	R. Newkirk	0	1	+1	3	0
		Team:
		Totals:	4	6	2	33	6

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GA	SV%
35	K. Appleby (L)	63:16	26	21	5	–
	Totals:	–	26	21	5	–

	#	Player	G	A	+/-	SH	PIM
G	31	T. Vomacka	0	0	0	0	0
G	35	M. Bullion	0	0	0	0	0
D	2	D. Louis-Jean	0	2	+2	0	0
D	3	D. King	0	0	+2	3	0
D	4	C. Musser	0	0	-1	2	0
F	8	D. Smirnov	0	0	-2	3	0
F	10	T. Schachle	0	0	0	0	0
F	12	D. Katic	1	1	0	1	0
F	15	B. Ouderkirk	0	1	0	2	0
D	20	E. Williams	1	1	-1	3	2
F	21	T. Bertuzzi	1	0	-1	2	0
F	23	C. Milan	1	1	+2	1	0
F	25	G. Lunn	1	0	+1	4	2
D	26	A. Pommerville	0	0	0	0	0
F	27	R. Foss	0	1	-1	3	0
D	88	E. Vilio	0	0	-4	0	0
F	93	L. MacDougall	0	1	+2	2	0
F	94	B. Van Os	0	0	-1	0	0
–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
		Team:
		Totals:	5	8	-2	26	4

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GJ	SV%
35	M. Bullion (W)	62:59	33	29	4	–
	Totals:	–	33	29	4	–

Penalties

Time	Team	Player	Mins	Infraction
2:15 – 1st		P. Beaulieu	2	Tripping – minor (57.2)
8:30 – 2nd		M. McGurty	2	Holding the stick – minor (54.2)
13:47 – 2nd		E. Williams	2	Tripping – minor (57.2)
17:24 – 2nd		J. Lambert	2	Slashing – minor (61.2)
19:52 – 2nd		G. Lunn	2	Cross-Checking Minor (59.2)

Friday Notes

• Worcester scratches: Brendan van Riemsdyk, Kenny Hausinger, Nick Schaus, and Todd Burgess.
• Norfolk scratches: Anthony Repaci, Blade Jenkins, Bobby Butler, and Jared Brandt.
• Blade Jenkins was recalled to Bridgeport on Friday morning. The 21-year-old forward has had a significant impact on the Railers’ season, leading the team with 18 points (7-11-18) in fourteen games with the club. It is Jenkin’s first recall of the 2022-23 season. Jenkin’s recall comes days after Simon Holmstrom was recalled to New York while Kyle Palmieri remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Bridgeport played against Rochester Friday night so it was a travel day from Norfolk for Jenkins. Bridgeport will play at home Sunday against Springfield.
• At some point over the summer, the time of this game was changed from 7:05 pm to 6:05 pm with Thanksgiving holiday/Black Friday a likely factor in the time change. All of Norfolk’s Saturday games this season are scheduled for 6:05, including tomorrow’s game.
• Derek Osik was signed to his second SPC with the Railers on Monday. Conor Breen, who was a minus-1 in his one regular season game with the club, was also released the same day.
• The Admirals wore “Newport News Admirals” themed jerseys as a part of their ongoing City Series theme for all of their specialty jerseys this season. The team’s original announcement had listed Norfolk facing Adirondack, not Worcester for the weekend.
• Norfolk Trades
• Nolan Vesey played in his 150th professional game on Friday, his 75th as a Railer.
• 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

Admirals Lines

On-Ice Officials

Saturday Notes

• Railers scratches: Anthony Repaci, Bobby Butler, and Jared Brandt.
• Thunder scratches: Brendan van Riemsdyk, Callum Fryer, Nick Schaus, and Todd Burgess.
• 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. We’re also back on Instagram – @WooHockey

Railers Lines

Opponent Lines

On-Ice Officials

Saturday Box Score

Scoring	1	2	3	OT	T
	1	2	0	1	4
	1	1	1	0	3

Shots	1	2	3	OT	T
	10	7	10	8	35
	12	11	8	1	32

Score	Team	Time	Scored by	Assisted by	Type
0 – 1		0:42 – 1st	L. MacDougall (1)	G. Lunn, C. Musser
1 – 1		6:45 – 1st	J. Lambert (7)	B. Beaudoin	PP
1 – 2		11:44 – 2nd	T. Bertuzzi (5)	R. Foss
2 – 2		14:26 – 2nd	N. Vesey (4)	C. Adams
3 – 2		19:58 – 2nd	B. Christensen (4)	C. Adams	PP
3 – 3		5:53 – 3rd	D. Katic (3)	R. Foss, K. Hausinger	PP
4 – 3		2:57 – 1st OT	R. Newkirk (6)	B. Beaudoin, P. Beaulieu

Rosters

	#	Player	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	1	0
F	7	L. Coughlin	0	0	-1	0	0
D	9	N. Delmas	0	0	-2	1	0
F	10	D. Osik	0	0	0	1	0
F	11	N. Vesey	1	0	0	3	0
F	12	B. Beaudoin	0	2	+1	0	0
D	15	C. Evers	0	0	0	3	2
F	18	B. Christensen	1	0	-1	4	0
F	19	Q. Ryan	0	0	0	1	0
F	21	C. Adams	0	2	0	5	2
D	22	J. Solow	0	0	+1	1	0
F	23	J. Lambert	1	0	0	7	0
F	24	J. Quinlivan	0	0	0	2	0
D	25	P. Beaulieu	0	1	-1	1	0
D	27	M. McGurty	0	0	0	0	0
F	29	Z. Bross	0	0	-1	0	2
F	37	R. Newkirk	1	0	+1	5	2
		Team:
		Totals:	4	5	-2	35	8

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GA	SV%
35	K. Appleby (W)	–	32	29	3	–
	Totals:	–	32	29	3	–

	#	Player	G	A	+/-	SH	PIM
G	31	T. Vomacka	0	0	0	0	0
G	35	M. Bullion	0	0	0	0	0
D	2	D. Louis-Jean	0	0	0	0	0
D	3	D. King	0	0	0	4	2
D	4	C. Musser	0	1	+1	1	2
F	7	K. Hausinger	0	1	0	1	0
F	8	D. Smirnov	0	0	0	3	2
F	10	T. Schachle	0	0	0	1	0
F	12	D. Katic	1	0	-1	4	0
F	15	B. Ouderkirk	0	0	0	0	0
D	20	E. Williams	0	0	0	1	0
F	21	T. Bertuzzi	1	0	0	3	0
F	23	C. Milan	0	0	+1	1	0
F	25	G. Lunn	0	1	+1	6	2
D	26	A. Pommerville	0	0	0	0	0
F	27	R. Foss	0	2	0	1	0
D	88	E. Vilio	0	0	0	2	0
F	93	L. MacDougall	1	0	+1	3	0
F	94	B. Van Os	0	0	-1	1	0
		Team:
		Totals:	3	5	2	32	8

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GJ	SV%
35	M. Bullion (L)	–	35	31	4	–
	Totals:	–	35	31	4	–

Penalties

Time	Team	Player	Mins	Infraction
4:49 – 1st		D. Smirnov	2	Boarding – minor (41.2)
12:30 – 2nd		Z. Bross	2	Roughing – minor (51.2)
12:30 – 2nd		D. King	2	Roughing – minor (51.2)
14:58 – 2nd		R. Newkirk	2	Cross-Checking Minor (59.2)
19:52 – 2nd		C. Musser	2	Interference on the Goalkeeper – minor (69.2)
1:50 – 3rd		C. Adams	2	Tripping – minor (57.2)
4:47 – 3rd		C. Evers	2	Holding – minor (54.2)
7:18 – 3rd		G. Lunn	2	Hooking – minor (55.2)

Friday Night’s Highlights

Saturday Night’s Highlights

The Norfolk Admirals did not upload this video to their YouTube channel, but the highlights can be found on the ECHL website here.

Notable Tweets During Friday Night’s Game

QUINN RYAN strikes first for the Railers! Railers 1-0. #AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/KtWclcWFr7

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 25, 2022

Quinn Ryan First Goal

QUINN RYAN gets his SECOND of the night on the breakaway!!! Railers trail 3-2 in the 3rd period. #AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/YNSEXLLr3S

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 26, 2022

Quinn Ryan Second Goal

CHRISTENSEN SCORES!!! Railers down 4-3 with 6:19 left to go in the game. #AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/JqMQf5uWgv

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 26, 2022

Blake Christensen

RAILERS HAVE LIFE! LAMBERT ties the game off a deflection with just 1:39 left in the third period! 4-4. #AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/2OGb3Ye0go

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 26, 2022

Jimmy Lambert Goal

Notable Tweets During Saturday Night’s Game

.@UMichAthletics stays winning today… Jimmy Lambert ties the game 1-1 on the power play in the First!#AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/yDUuW5cbn2

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 27, 2022

Jimmy Lambert Goal

Railers have hit the ice and the 8 minute clock has started.

— Woo Hockey (@WooHockeyNews) November 27, 2022

Ice Conditions Update Thread

ADAMS TO VESEY! Nolan Vesey Ties the game in the second 2-2!#AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/nYnwcw2Rjn

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 27, 2022

Noal Vesey Goal

RAILERS GRAB THE LEAD WITH 2 seconds left in the 2nd period!! Railers up 3-2. #AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/ve6A6hEst5

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 27, 2022

Blake Christensen Goal

Second Period highlights from Norfolk:#AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/uLEo1wRwA8

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 27, 2022

Railers Second Period Highlight Meme

NEWKIRK FINISHES IT IN OVERTIME!!! Railers 4-3!#AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/rFo6DqzZnx

— Worcester Railers (@RailersHC) November 27, 2022

Newkirk OT Game-Winning Goal