Game Story


Glens Falls, NY — The Worcester Railers went .500 on their four-game road trip, closing out with a 7-4 loss to the Adirondack Thunder on Wednesday night.

Michael Bullion made his ninth start of the season, recording 41 saves on 47 shots from Adirondack. Jeremy Brodeur stopped 33 of 37 shots faced from Worcester. The Railersโ€™ goals came from Anthony Repaci, Jordan Kaplan, Matt Kopperud, and Kolby Johnson, who scored his first ECHL goal. Adirondackโ€™s seven goals were netted by Alex Young (twice), Chase Brand (twice), Andre Ghantous, Ryan Smith, and Zach Bannister.

Red hot Anthony Repaci scored his 15th goal of the season and his 80th as a Railer, surpassing Marc Brown (79) to become the all-time leading goal scorer in Worcester history. Repaci has matched his total from last season in 22 fewer games. He was named ECHL Player of the Month for November after tallying 13 goals and 5 assists in 14 games.

The Railers got off to a fast start, with Anthony Repaci scoring just 1:23 into the first period on a rebound to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. Jordan Kaplan quickly followed with a tipped shot at 5:24 to extend the lead to 2-0. Adirondack answered late, with Alex Young scoring on a rush down the right wing with 18 seconds left in the period, making it 2-1 Worcester. Adirondack outshot Worcester 16-15 in the first.

The Railers extended their lead to 3-1 early in the second period with Matthew Kopperud scoring on the power play just 53 seconds in. Adirondack responded with four unanswered goals, starting with Chase Brandโ€™s power-play goal at 15:20. Andre Ghantous, Brand, and Alex Young added three more goals within 1:18, giving Adirondack a 5-3 lead heading into the third. Adirondack outshot Worcester 21-12 in the second.

The turning point for this game came at 10:07 in the second period when Ryan Wheeler skated across Michael Bullion’s crease and made direct contact with his head. Riley Piercey fought Ryan Wheeler while Bullion was looked at by athletic trainer Jake Reardon. Bullion stayed in the game, but there was a shift in momentum that led to those four unanswered goals five minutes later in the period.

Three goals were scored in the last three minutes of the game. Ryan Smith sealed the win with an empty-net goal for Adirondack, making it 6-3. The Railers responded with Kolby Johnsonโ€™s power-play goal with a minute left. Adirondack capped it off with a goal from Zach Bannister, making it 7-4. Adirondack outshot Worcester 11-10 in the third and 48-37 for the game.

The three stars of Wednesday nightโ€™s game were:

  1. Chase Brand (Adirondack) – 2 goals
  2. Alex Young (Adirondack) – 2 goals
  3. Andre Ghantous (Adirondack) – 1 goal, 1 assist

The Trois-Rivieres Lions fell 3-2 to the Idaho Steelheads on Wednesday night in overtime. Reading has Friday night off while the other six North Division teams play on Friday night. Up in the AHL, the Bridgeport Islanders fell 6-1 to the Hartford Wolf Pack. Blade Jenkins was in the line-up for Hartford, Justin Gill for Bridgeport. Neither had any scoring contributions. The Baby Islanders head to Springfield on Friday.

The Railers are back on home ice to begin a season-high eight-game homestand this Friday night, facing off against the Maine Mariners at 7:05 p.m.

—

Stay in the loop and never miss an update on Worcester Railers hockey by following Woo Hockey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also get involved and connect with other fans of the team in the Worcester Railers Fan Club Facebook group, where you can share your thoughts on the team and discuss all things hockey.

Box Score


Scoring 1 2 3 T
2 1 1 4
1 4 2 7
Shots 1 2 3 T
15 12 10 37
16 21 11 48
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
1 – 0 1:23 – 1st A. Repaci (15)
2 – 0 5:24 – 1st J. Kaplan (2) C. Welsh, G. Luce
2 – 1 19:42 – 1st A. Young (3) K. O’Neil
3 – 1 0:53 – 2nd M. Kopperud (5) J. Kaplan, C. Welsh PP
3 – 2 15:20 – 2nd C. Brand (1) K. Gosselin, D. Wendt PP
3 – 3 18:21 – 2nd A. Ghantous (7)
3 – 4 18:51 – 2nd C. Brand (2) R. Smith, R. Conroy
3 – 5 19:39 – 2nd A. Young (4) A. Ghantous, B. Less
3 – 6 17:55 – 3rd R. Smith (5) EN.SH
4 – 6 3rd – 19:00 K. Johnson (1) R. Dickinson, L. Hatten
4 – 7 3rd – 19:25 Z. Bannister (2)

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 32 M. Bullion 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 H. Tikkanen 0 0 0 0 0
D 8 C. Krygier 0 0 0 3 0
F 10 J. Kaplan 1 1 0 1 0
F 12 K. Johnson 1 0 +1 1 0
D 14 M. Rajaniemi 0 0 0 1 0
F 16 G. Loughran 0 0 0 2 0
F 18 M. Kopperud 1 0 -3 5 0
F 19 R. Piercey 0 0 -4 3 5
D 22 G. Luce 0 1 +1 0 0
C 23 C. Jacobs 0 0 -2 3 2
D 24 M. Klee 0 0 -2 0 0
D 25 R. Dickinson 0 1 +1 0 0
D 26 C. Welsh 0 2 -1 4 12
D 27 C. McDonald 0 0 -2 3 2
F 29 C. Donhauser 0 0 -1 3 2
F 33 L. Hatten 0 1 +1 1 0
F 37 M. DeMelis 0 0 -3 0 0
F 44 A. Callin 0 0 -2 1 0
F 81 A. Repaci 1 0 +1 6 2
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
32 M. Bullion (L) – 47 41 6 –
Empty Net – 1 1 –
Totals: – 48 41 7 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 35 J. Brodeur 0 0 0 0 0
G 41 D. Fessenden 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 B. Less 0 1 +3 3 0
D 4 K. Gosselin 0 1 +2 1 0
F 6 R. Wheeler 0 0 0 2 9
F 7 C. Brand 2 0 +2 3 12
D 8 R. Conroy 0 1 0 4 0
D 9 T. Gibson 0 0 0 2 0
F 10 R. Smith 1 1 0 3 0
F 12 A. Ghantous 1 1 +3 3 0
F 13 A. Young 2 0 +3 7 0
F 17 K. O’Neil 0 1 +3 4 0
F 20 Z. Bannister 1 0 +2 2 2
F 23 G. Loven 0 0 +1 1 0
F 24 J. Filmon 0 0 -1 2 0
F 27 P. Polino 0 0 -2 2 0
F 29 K. Stewart 0 0 +1 4 0
F 37 D. Wendt 0 1 -2 3 0
D 44 D. Skeoch 0 0 +1 1 0
D 46 J. Marooney 0 0 0 1 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
35 J. Brodeur (W) – 37 33 4 –
Totals: – 37 33 4 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
2:20 – 1st C. Donhauser 2 Delay of Game (63.2)
19:59 – 1st R. Wheeler 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
10:07 – 2nd R. Piercey 5 Fighting – Major (46.14)
10:07 – 2nd R. Wheeler 2 Interference on the Goalkeeper – minor (69.2)
10:07 – 2nd R. Wheeler 5 Fighting – Major (46.14)
12:41 – 2nd C. McDonald 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
13:40 – 2nd A. Repaci 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
5:07 – 3rd C. Jacobs 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
17:01 – 3rd Z. Bannister 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
17:55 – 3rd C. Brand 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
17:55 – 3rd C. Brand 10 Misconduct – Continuing Altercation (46.5)


Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Brenden Rons, Jack Randl, JD Dudek, John Muse, and Zachary Nazzarett.
  • Adirondack Scratches: Mitch Walinski, Shaw Boomhower, Stephen Calisti, T.J. Friedmann, and Taylor Ford.
  • On Monday, the Worcester Railers traded defenseman Andrew Nielsen to the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for forward Reed Morison. By Tuesday, the Railers had suspended Morison, indicating he likely did not plan to report to the team. While the Railersโ€™ press release described the deal as a Future Considerations trade, the ECHL website and Utahโ€™s announcement confirmed it was a trade for Morison. Regardless, Morison did not report to Worcester, leaving the situation unresolved.
  • On Tuesday, the Railers also lifted the team suspension of Andrei Bakanov and subsequently released him. With no announcement of Bakanov signing in Europe, it appears the suspension was intended to retain his contract while exploring trade options, which ultimately fell through. Additional moves included the reassignment of Christian Krygier and Cam McDonald from Bridgeport to Worcester, goaltender John Muse being placed on the 3-day injured reserve, and defenseman Brenden Rons landing on the 14-day injured reserve. The Railers also signed forward Zachary Nazzarett, who has been productive with the Fayetteville Marksmen, posting 7 goals and 5 assists in 12 games this season.
  • On Wednesday, Andrei Bakanov was claimed off waivers by the Bloomington Bison.
  • Following Wednesday night’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks and droughts:
    • Matias Rajaniemi is without a point in all 16 games he’s played in this season.
    • Griffin Loughran is without a point in his last four games.
    • Matt Kopperud is on a three-game point streak. (1-2-3)
    • Griffin Luce snapped a four-game scoring drought with an assist.
    • Mason Klee is without a point in his last four games.
    • Connor Welsh is on a three-game point streak. (0-4-4)
    • Cam McDonald is without a point in his last three games.
    • Cole Donhauser is without a point in his last six games.
    • Anthony Callin is without a point in his last eight games.
    • Anthony Repaci is on a 3-game goal streak. (4-0-4)

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Anthony Repaci #81 Jordan Kaplan #10 Griffin Loughran #16
Forward Line 2 Matthew Kopperud #18 Anthony Callin #44 Cole Donhauser #29
Forward Line 3 Riley Piercey #19 Colin Jacobs #23 Matt DeMelis #37
Forward Line 4 Kolby Johnson #12 Ryan Dickinson #25 Lincoln Hatten #33
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Griffin Luce #22 Connor Welsh #26
Defense Pair 2 Cam McDonald #27 Mason Klee #24
Defense Pair 3 Matias Rajaniemi #14 Christian Krygier #8
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Michael Bullion #32
Backup Goaltender Henrik Tikkanen #39

Thunder Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Alex Young #13 Kevin O’Neil #17 Andre Ghantous #12
Forward Line 2 Ryan Wheeler #6 Ryan Smith #10 Dylan Wendt #37
Forward Line 3 Josh Filmon #24 Grant Loven #23 Patrick Polino #27
Forward Line 4 Keanan Stewart #29 Chase Brand #7 Zach Bannister #20
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 James Marooney #46 Darian Skeoch #44
Defense Pair 2 Ryan Conroy #8 Ty Gibson #9
Defense Pair 3 Kurt Gosselin #4 Brendan Less #2
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Jeremy Brodeur #35
Backup Goaltender David Fessenden #41

On-Ice Officials

โ€“ โ€“
Referee Rocco Stachowiak (28)
Referee –
Linesman Matthew Heinen (93)
Linesman Nicolas Boivin (82)


Highlights

Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Thunder Lines


Anthony Repaci goal


Jordan Kaplan goal


Michael Bullion save


Alex Young goal


Chase Brand goal


Andre Ghantous goal


Chase Brand goal


Alex Young goal

–
Ryan Smith goal


Kolby Johnson goal

–
Zach Bannister goal