Game Story

Parker Gahagen made 17 saves in his fifth start of the season, taking his fourth consecutive loss. Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped 27 shots to earn his first win of the season and his first career victory against Worcester. Caige Sterzer scored the Railers’ lone goal, while Denis Smirnov, Dustin Geregach, and Justin Taylor scored for Wheeling. The Railers wore Lavender specialty jerseys as part of their annual Railers Fight Cancer night, which were auctioned off during and after the game to benefit Why Me and Sherry’s House, a Worcester non-profit that supports families facing childhood cancer.

Neither team found the back of the net through the opening forty minutes. Worcester controlled possession for much of the first period and outshot Wheeling 11-4. A potential Railers power-play goal went to video review at 13:48 after Nikita Susuyev and Ryan Wheeler attempted to jam the puck through Kaskisuo’s pads, but the play was ruled no goal. Wheeling held a 7-5 edge in shots during a scoreless second period.

The third period brought all four goals and a pair of altercations. Smirnov opened the scoring at 1:16, taking a pass from Tristan Thompson and lifting a backhander over Gahagen’s shoulder. Just sixteen seconds later, Craig Armstrong went after Declan McDonnell in retaliation for a hit moments earlier. Armstrong’s night came to an end, and Worcester received a five-minute power play.

Caige Sterzer needed just 49 seconds of that advantage to tie the game, burying a rebound off a shot from Wheeler. Wheeling regained the lead at 10:27 when Dustin Geregach scored on a shot that went in off the crossbar. Justin Taylor extended the lead to 3-1 at 13:03, getting past Anthony Kehrer and beating Gahagen with a backhander.

Lincoln Hatten dropped the gloves with Denis Smirnov at 14:30 in one of his better bouts as a Railer, keeping his footing this time around. Worcester had a late opportunity when Justin Taylor was sent off for high-sticking, and Gahagen headed to the bench to give the Railers a six-on-four advantage. That opportunity ended when Worcester was caught with seven skaters on the ice, taking a too-many-men penalty as Wheeling closed out the 3-1 win.

The three stars of the game were:

1. Kasmir Kaskisuo (Wheeling) – win, 27 saves, 0.964 SV%
2. Dustin Geregach (Wheeling) – game-winning goal, assist
3. Caige Sterzer (Worcester) – 1 goal

Around the Division, the Adirondack Thunder beat the Trois-Rivieres Lions 5-4 in overtime. The Maine Mariners shutout the Greensboro Gargoyles 2-0 in Greensboro. The Trenton Ironhawks beat the Norfolk Admirals 4-2. Trenton and Norfolk are the only other game in the division being played on Sunday.

The Springfield Thunderbirds beat the Hershey Bears 4-2 on Friday night, and fell 6-1 in their rematch on Saturday night. They’re off until Tuesday, when they’ll host the Hartford Wolf Pack for a school day game at 10:35 AM.

Railers and Nailers meet again Sunday afternoon at the DCU Center for a 3:05 p.m. puck drop.

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Box Score

Scoring	1	2	3	T
	0	0	3	3
	0	0	1	1

Shots	1	2	3	T
	4	7	9	20
	11	5	12	28

Score	Team	Time	Scored by	Assisted by	Type
1 – 0		1:16 – 3rd	D. Smirnov (1)	T. Thompson
1 – 1		2:22 – 3rd	C. Sterzer (1)	R. Wheeler, N. Susuyev	PP
2 – 1		10:27 – 3rd	D. Geregach (1)	R. Parker, R. Drazner	PP
3 – 1		13:03 – 3rd	J. Taylor (2)	M. Haight, D. Geregach

Rosters

	#	Player	G	A	+/-	SH	PIM
G	35	P. Svedebäck	0	0	0	0	0
G	73	K. Kaskisuo	0	0	0	0	0
D	5	H. Sansbury	0	0	+1	0	0
D	7	R. Drazner	0	1	0	2	0
F	8	K. Gursoy	0	0	+1	0	2
F	10	C. Cook	0	0	0	1	0
F	11	D. Smirnov	1	0	+1	4	7
F	12	M. Posma	0	0	+1	1	0
F	21	C. Armstrong	0	0	0	2	15
D	22	M. Smith	0	0	0	0	2
D	24	T. Thompson	0	1	+1	1	0
D	25	M. Haight	0	1	+1	0	0
D	26	D. Geregach	1	1	+1	1	0
F	27	R. Parker	0	1	0	1	0
F	28	T. Hartman	0	0	+1	2	0
F	29	M. Crasa	0	0	+1	0	0
F	36	R. Pitoscia	0	0	0	0	0
F	80	D. Sheriff	0	0	0	2	0
F	81	K. Johnson	0	0	0	0	2
F	93	J. Taylor	1	0	+1	3	2
		Team:	0			0

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GA	SV%
73	K. Kaskisuo (W)	60:00	28	27	1	0.964

	#	Player	G	A	+/-	SH	PIM
G	30	G. Carriere	0	0	0	0	0
G	31	P. Gahagen	0	0	0	0	0
D	6	C. McDonald	0	0	0	1	0
D	8	V. Corcoran	0	0	-2	0	0
F	10	J. Kaplan	0	0	-1	2	0
F	11	L. Hatten	0	0	0	4	5
F	12	S. Moses	0	0	-1	0	0
D	14	A. Samuelsson	0	0	0	0	2
F	19	R. Piercey	0	0	0	3	2
RW	21	N. Susuyev	0	1	0	3	0
D	22	C. Moore	0	0	0	2	0
D	23	A. Kehrer	0	0	-2	1	0
F	25	D. McDonnell	0	0	0	1	0
D	27	R. Wheeler	0	1	0	3	0
F	28	S. Stange	0	0	-1	2	0
F	29	C. Donhauser	0	0	-1	3	0
F	37	M. DeMelis	0	0	-1	0	0
F	55	C. Sterzer	1	0	0	1	2
F	74	M. Carson	0	0	0	0	2
F	81	A. Repaci	0	0	-1	2	0
		Team:	0			0	2

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GA	SV%
31	P. Gahagen (L)	–	20	17	3	–

Penalties

Time	Team	Player	Mins	Infraction
6:06 – 1st		M. Smith	2	Tripping – minor (57.2)
11:24 – 1st		K. Johnson	2	Roughing – minor (51.2)
11:24 – 1st		R. Piercey	2	Roughing – minor (51.2)
12:29 – 1st		D. Smirnov	2	Hooking – minor (55.2)
1:48 – 2nd		K. Gursoy	2	Tripping – minor (57.2)
5:00 – 2nd		M. Carson	2	High-sticking – minor (60.2)
6:50 – 2nd		A. Samuelsson	2	Tripping – minor (57.2)
17:14 – 2nd		C. Sterzer	2	Roughing – minor (51.2)
1:32 – 3rd		C. Armstrong	5	Fighting – Major (46.14)
1:32 – 3rd		C. Armstrong	10	Game misconduct – Aggressor (46.2)
14:30 – 3rd		D. Smirnov	5	Fighting – Major (46.14)

Notes

• Worcester Scratches: Connor Federkow, Gabe Blanchard, Michael Suda, Riley Ginnell, Tyson Fawcett, and William Lavallière.
• Wheeling Scratches: Alexander Kuqali, Kishaun Gervais, Nick McCarry, Nolan Lalonde, Scott Cremen, and Zach Krajnik.
• Anthony Repaci made his season debut for the Railers on Saturday night after spending the first six games of the season on injured reserve as he was still recovering from surgery that occurred back in May. Repaci was behind the bench for the first six games of the season alongside the coaching staff.
• Matthew Hobbs has seemingly opted to return to the Evansville Thunderbolts of the SPHL, where he was captain for the past two seasons. It is rare for a player to leave the ECHL to head back to a lower level of hockey, but it does happen. Should Hobbs want to return to the ECHL, the Railers have suspended him to hold his playing rights.
• Michael Suda was placed on 7-day injured reserve after taking a puck to the head on Monday’s game.
• The results of the Dash Auction for the Railers Fights Cancer jersey was:
  • William Lavalliere #1 – $250
  • Connor Federkow #3 – $250
  • Cam McDonald #6 – $300
  • Vinny Corcoran #8 – $300
  • Riley Ginnell #9 – $425
  • Jordan Kaplan #10 – $300
  • Tyson Fawcett #13 – $275
  • Adam Samuelsson #14 – $400
  • Michael Suda #18 – $400
  • Riley Piercey #19 – $375
  • Nikita Susuyev #21 – $375
  • Cooper Moore #22 – $250
  • Anthony Kehrer #23 – $250
  • Declan McDonnell #25 – $250
  • Ryan Wheeler #27 – $750
  • Sam Stange #28 – $350
  • Cole Donhauser #29 – $375
  • Gabe Carriere #30 – $250
  • Matt DeMelis #37 – $600
  • Caige Sterzer #55 – $275
  • MacAuley Carson #74 – $325
  • Gabe Blanchard #88 – $275
  • Trax #7 – $350
• The results of the post game live auction for the Railers Fights Cancer jersey was: (via Nick Eaton)
  • Lincoln Hatten #11 – $1025
  • Stevie Moses #12 – $350
  • Parker Gahagen #31 – $350
  • Anthony Repaci #81 – $500
• Following Saturday night’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks and droughts:
  • Cam McDonald is without a point in his last seven games.
  • Vinny Corcoran is without a point in his last seven games.
  • Stevie Moses’ scoring streak came to an end at three games. (3-2-5)
  • Riley Piercey is without a point in his last three games.
  • Cooper Moore is without a point in his last three games.
  • Anthony Kehrer is without a point in his last seven games.
  • Declan McDonnell is without a point in his last six games.
  • Cole Donhauser is without a point in his last five games.
  • MacAuley Carson without a point in his last five games.

Railers Lines

Opponent Lines

On-Ice Officials

Notable X Posts as the Game Happened

Railers Lines

Nailers Lines

Craig Armstrong’s retaliation punches on Declan McDonnell

Parker Gahagen save

Denis Smirnov goal

Caige Sterner first pro goal

Dustin Geregach goal

Justin Taylor goal

Lincoln Hatten vs Denis Smirnov fight

Caige Sterzer first pro goal photos