Game Story

Worcester – Dawning Captain America Specialty Jerseys, the Worcester Railers HC returned home for the first of three games this weekend with a matchup against the Wheeling Nailers. Coming home from a 3-3-0-1 road trip the boys took no chances getting on the board.

Railers scored three goals on their first three shots of the game, giving them an early 3-0 lead in the first period. Forward Barry Almeida scored his eighteenth of the season off a pass from the right-side of Wheeling Goaltender Matt O’Connor. Chris Langkow extended that lead with a shorthanded goal five minutes later on a breakaway shot which snuck through the legs of forward Nick Sorkin and Matt O’Connor. Nick Saracino scored the last goal of the period off a rebound in-font of the Wheeling net and was able to tip the puck in. Railers held a significant lead but trailed in shots 10-6 heading into the second period.

Forward TJ Syner netted his sixth of the season in the closing minutes of the second period with a rebounded shot from Matt Lane giving the Railers a 4-0 lead after forty minutes. Railers held their lead and while trailing in shots 22-21 heading into the final frame.

Rookie forward Ryan MacKinnon his first professional goal in the final period from the blue line, with the puck findings its way to the top right corner of the Wheeling net.

The game’s three stars were Chris Langkow (1 goal, 2 assists), Mitch Gillam (30 saves, shutout), and Nick Saracino (1 goal, 1 assist). The game’s listed attendance was 3769. Goaltender Mitch Gillam earned his third shutout of the season and is the third goalie to reach that mark.

With three games in hand, the Railers are within 7 points of the closest playoff position that is held by the Wheeling Nailers. Fortunately, the Railers and Nailers face off again tomorrow night.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
Wheeling Nailers 0 0 0 0
Worcester Railers 3 1 1 5
Shots 1 2 3 T
Wheeling Nailers 10 11 9 30
Worcester Railers 6 16 13 35
Railers Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 35 M. Gillam 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 W. King 0 0 0 0 0
D 3 B. Masella 0 0 0 1 2
D 5 K. McKenzie 0 0 +1 0 2
F 10 M. Lane 0 1 +2 3 0
F 11 B. Bowen 0 1 +1 0 2
F 14 T. Syner 1 0 +1 2 0
F 16 J. Kubiak 0 0 0 2 0
LW 17 F. DiChiara 0 1 +2 3 0
LW 18 N. Saracino 1 1 +2 6 0
F 19 B. Almeida 1 1 +2 2 0
F 21 C. Langkow 1 2 +3 4 0
D 22 J. Hamonic 0 0 0 3 0
F 23 W. Hudson 0 0 0 2 2
D 24 R. MacKinnon 1 0 +3 3 0
D 28 C. Doherty 0 1 +1 2 0
F 37 T. Kelley 0 0 +1 1 0
D 41 B. Beukeboom 0 0 +5 1 0
Team:
Totals: 5 8 24 35 8
Nailers Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 1 J. Pucciarelli 0 0 0 0 0
G 31 M. O’Connor 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 N. Descoteaux 0 0 -3 0 0
D 3 R. McMullan 0 0 -2 2 0
D 4 K. Thacker 0 0 -1 0 0
D 5 D. Fick 0 0 -2 1 0
D 6 D. Milan 0 0 0 0 2
F 7 F. Tiffels 0 0 0 8 0
F 8 N. Sorkin 0 0 -3 0 2
F 9 A. Schmit 0 0 -1 0 0
F 10 T. Josephs 0 0 -2 1 0
F 11 C. Wydo 0 0 -3 0 0
D 12 A. Valente 0 0 0 0 0
F 14 R. Bourbonnais 0 0 -1 1 0
F 15 C. Francis 0 0 -2 3 0
F 16 D. Army 0 0 -1 4 0
F 24 R. Gardiner 0 0 -3 7 0
F 37 M. Basara 0 0 -1 3 2
Team:
Totals: 0 0 -25 30 6
P T Player M Offense Time
1st H W. Hudson 2.00 Elbowing – minor (45.2) 5:19
1st H K. McKenzie 2.00 High-sticking – minor (60.2) 14:00
2nd H B. Masella 2.00 Hooking – minor (55.2) 1:34
2nd V D. Milan 2.00 High-sticking – minor (60.2) 5:50
2nd V N. Sorkin 2.00 Kneeing – minor (50.2) 12:55
2nd V M. Basara 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 18:47
3rd H B. Bowen 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 4:16
No Name Min SH SVS GA
35 M. Gillam (W) 60:00 30 30 0
Totals: 60:00 30 30 0
No Name Min SH SVS GA
31 M. O’Connor (L) 59:48 35 30 5
Totals: 59:48 35 30 5

Notes

  • Railers Scratches: Josh Monk (21-day injury reserve), Vinny Muto, Ashton Rome (21-day injury reserve), and Yanick Turcotte.
  • Nailers Scratches: Kenny Ryan, JC Campagna, Jeremy Beirnes, Garrett Meurs, Reid Gardiner, Zach Tolkinen, Daniel Tedesco, Dalton Reum, Adam Morrison, and Colin Stevens.
  • With Friday’s win, the Railers extend their Specialty Jersey win streak to 4 Games (4-0-0). Railers will continue to wear their Captain America jerseys on Saturday.
  • Railers acquired Goaltender Will King on Thursday from the Brampton Beast. King wore number 39 (Eamon McAdam’s number) due to a specialty jersey not being readily available. King will wear number 29 for the Railers in future games.
  • Defenseman Ryan MacKinnon wore number 24, not the number 4 that he normally wears. This was due to the Railers not having a jersey prepared in time for the game. The number 24 was likely prepared for Sean Gammage who was released two weeks ago.
  • Ben Masella left the game for unknown reasons during the second period and did not return.
  • Per Bill Ballou, Brock Beukeboom had a +5 rating in Friday’s game, which is now second to Peter Smrek in Worcester Pro Hockey History for the highest rating in a single game.
  • Per Darryl Hunt, With Mitch Gillam’s 3rd shutout of the season, he ties former Worcester Sharks goaltender Troy Grosenick for 10th place for most all-time Worcester Pro Hockey Shutouts.
  • Railers auctioned off a game-issued Slapshot Jersey from earlier this season. Jersey had number 24 on the back and did not have a nameplate on it, as no player was issued that number at that point in the season.
  • For fans looking to bid on the Railers’ Captain America Jerseys, you can do so through the HandBid Mobile App. Fans do not need to be in attendance to bid and the auction will end 15 minutes after Saturday’s game. There is only one set of Captain America Jerseys. Links to the mobile apps are as follows:

Railers Lines (Observed by order in which they appeared):

LW C RW
Forward Line 1  F. DiChiara #17  J. Kubiak #16  W. Hudson #23
Forward Line 2  N. Saracino #18  C. Langkow #21 “C”  B. Almeida #19 “A”
Forward Line 3  B. Bowen #11  M. Lane #10  T. Kelley #37 / T. Syner #14
LD RD
Defense Line 1  B.Masella #3 K.McKenzie #5
Defense Line 2  C. Doherty #28  J. Hamonic #22 “A”
Defense Line 3  B. Beukeboom #41  R. McKinnon #24
G
Starting Goaltender Mitch Gillam #35
Backup Goaltender Will King #39