Game Story

Norfolk, VA — It was a back-and-forth battle between the Worcester Railers and the Norfolk Admirals on Friday night at the Norfolk Scope. The Railers prevailed and forced overtime, where Anthony Repaci netted the game-winning goal just forty seconds into the extra period.

Michael Bullion made his third start of the season, facing 48 shots. While this wasn’t a career-high, it was close, as he faced 49 shots during Savannah’s 3-2 win over Fort Wayne on February 24, 2023. Dante Giannuzzi made his second start in the series, facing 23 shots from Worcester. Riley Piercey extended his point streak to five games with a goal and has now scored in three consecutive games. Matt Kopperud also continued his strong performance, extending his point streak to four games with a goal and an assist. The game featured more lead changes than a NASCAR race—well, not really, but it was a tightly contested match with six lead changes throughout. For Norfolk, Marko Reifenberger, Sanghoon Shin, Carson Golder, Brady Fleurent, and Sean Montgomery each scored, while Matt Kopperud, Griffin Loughran, Andrei Bakanov, Riley Piercey, Connor Welsh, and Anthony Repaci found the net for Worcester. Carson Golder had 11 shots on goal for Norfolk, while Anthony Repaci led Worcester with 5.

The Railers got off to a slow start, with their first shot on goal not coming until 13:10 into the period. They faced three penalties early on but managed to kill them all successfully. Carson Golder appeared to score during the second power play, but the goal was overturned due to a high stick. Norfolk eventually broke the scoreless tie at 13:17, with Marko Reifenberger tapping in a loose puck at the crease after a cross-ice pass from Golder. At 15:53, the Railers earned a power play when Keegan Iverson jumped into a scrum between Reifenberger and Riley Piercey. Matt Kopperud took advantage, tying the game with a shot from the left circle that beat Dante Gianuzzi. Norfolk led in shots, 18-5, by the first intermission.

Sanghoon Shin restored Norfolk’s lead early in the second period, scoring on a long-range shot from the right circle to notch the team’s only power-play goal of the game. Seven minutes later, Griffin Loughran equalized for the Railers during their own power play, tapping in a loose puck close to Dante Giannuzzi. However, the tie was brief, as Andrei Bakanov scored his first goal of the season moments later, sneaking one past Giannuzzi from the left side. Norfolk again outshot Worcester in the second period, 17-10.

A skirmish at the end of the period gave Worcester a 4-on-3 power play to start the third, but they only managed a single shot on goal. As play returned to even strength, Carson Golder, just out of the penalty box, tied the game at 2:06. Norfolk quickly answered, with Brady Fleurent scoring at 3:45 to reclaim the lead. At 9:50, Riley Piercey converted a setup from Matt Kopperud and Anthony Repaci, extending his point streak to five games and initiating a three-game goal streak. Later, at 14:55, Sean Montgomery tipped in a shot from Carson Golder, making it 5-4. But Connor Welsh responded less than two minutes later, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra frame, Anthony Repaci clinched the Railers’ third road win 40 seconds in, capitalizing on a two-on-one opportunity.

The three stars of Friday’s game were:

  1. Anthony Repaci (Worcester) – game-winning goal, assist
  2. Justin Gill (Worcester) – 3 assists
  3. Sean Montgomery (Norfolk) – 1 goal, 1 assist

The Railers and Admirals will have Saturday night off, as the Norfolk Scope will be hosting a Blues Festival. The teams will resume play on Sunday and close out the Railers’ road trip at 3 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 OT T
1 2 2 1 6
1 1 3 0 5
Shots 1 2 3 OT T
5 10 7 1 23
18 17 13 0 48
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
0 – 1 13:17 – 1st M. Reifenberger (1) C. Golder, S. Shin
1 – 1 16:22 – 1st M. Kopperud (3) J. Gill, C. Jacobs PP
1 – 2 5:08 – 2nd S. Shin (1) J. McDougall, S. Montgomery PP
2 – 2 13:24 – 2nd G. Loughran (1) M. Klee PP
3 – 2 14:23 – 2nd A. Bakanov (1) J. Gill
3 – 3 2:06 – 3rd C. Golder (2) B. Fleurent
3 – 4 3:45 – 3rd B. Fleurent (2) D. Smirnov, S. Timofeyev
4 – 4 9:50 – 3rd R. Piercey (3) M. Kopperud, A. Repaci
4 – 5 14:55 – 3rd S. Montgomery (1) C. Musser, J. McDougall
5 – 5 16:44 – 3rd C. Welsh (2) G. Luce, J. Gill
6 – 5 0:39 – OT A. Repaci (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
F 7 J. Gill 0 3 0 1 0
F 10 J. Kaplan 0 0 -2 1 0
F 11 J. Randl 0 0 0 1 0
F 13 A. Bakanov 1 0 +1 1 0
D 14 M. Rajaniemi 0 0 0 0 2
F 16 G. Loughran 1 0 -1 2 0
F 18 M. Kopperud 1 1 +1 2 4
F 19 R. Piercey 1 0 -1 1 4
D 22 G. Luce 0 1 0 0 2
C 23 C. Jacobs 0 1 0 1 0
D 24 M. Klee 0 1 0 0 0
D 25 R. Dickinson 0 0 -1 1 2
D 26 C. Welsh 1 0 +1 3 0
D 27 C. McDonald 0 0 -1 2 2
F 29 C. Donhauser 0 0 +1 1 0
F 33 L. Hatten 0 0 0 0 0
F 55 C. Crowder 0 0 0 1 2
F 81 A. Repaci 1 1 0 5 0
Team: 2
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
32 M. Bullion (W) – 48 43 5 –
Totals: – 48 43 5 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 1 J. Cannata 0 0 0 0 0
G 31 D. Giannuzzi 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 D. Louis-Jean 0 0 +1 1 0
D 4 C. Musser 0 1 0 2 2
F 8 D. Smirnov 0 1 0 5 0
F 11 K. Nault 0 0 -1 2 2
F 13 K. Iverson 0 0 -2 2 2
D 14 C. Fedorek 0 0 0 1 0
D 15 G. Sward 0 0 +1 3 2
F 16 M. Reifenberger 1 0 0 1 2
F 19 S. Montgomery 1 1 +1 4 0
F 20 R. Chyzowski 0 0 +1 2 0
F 21 J. Young 0 0 +1 2 0
F 22 S. Timofeyev 0 1 +1 1 2
D 23 J. McDougall 0 2 0 1 0
F 24 C. Golder 1 1 0 11 2
F 25 B. Osmundson 0 0 -1 2 6
D 27 LA Grissom 0 0 -1 0 0
F 74 S. Shin 1 1 0 5 0
F 94 B. Fleurent 1 1 +2 3 0
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
31 D. Giannuzzi (L) – 23 17 6 –
Totals: – 23 17 6 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
2:46 – 1st C. McDonald 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
5:17 – 1st Served by J. Gill 2 Bench minor – Too many men (74.2)
9:04 – 1st M. Rajaniemi 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
15:53 – 1st R. Dickinson 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
15:53 – 1st R. Piercey 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
15:53 – 1st K. Iverson 2 Unsportsmanlike conduct – minor (75.2)
15:53 – 1st C. Musser 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
15:53 – 1st M. Reifenberger 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
2:18 – 2nd B. Osmundson 2 Interference – minor (56.2)
3:29 – 2nd R. Piercey 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
10:47 – 2nd C. Crowder 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
12:37 – 2nd G. Sward 2 Holding – minor (54.2)
15:09 – 2nd S. Timofeyev 2 Unsportsmanlike conduct – minor (75.2)
19:34 – 2nd G. Luce 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
19:34 – 2nd  K. Nault 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
19:55 – 2nd  M. Kopperud 4  Double Minor – Roughing
19:55 – 2nd C. Golder 2 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2)
19:55 – 2nd  B. Osmundson 4  Double Minor – Roughing

Notes

  • Worcester scratches: Anthony Callin, JD Dudek, Matt DeMelis, and Ryan Verrier.
  • Norfolk scratches: German Yavash, Kristian Stead, Lordanthony Grissom, Nathan Kelly, Pavel Padakin, and Spencer Kennedy.
  • On Thursday, the Railers activated Griffin Loughran and Ryan Dickinson from the 14-day injured reserve, placed J.D. Dudek on the 14-day injured reserve, moved Anthony Callin to the 3-day injured reserve, and placed the injured Matt DeMelis on reserve. Loughran and Dickinson made their season debuts on Friday.
  • On Friday, the Bridgeport Islanders signed John Muse to a PTO. Muse was the backup for Jakub Skarek on Friday night. It is believed that Muse was signed as he wasn’t with the team in Norfolk and that’s why he got the call instead of calling up Tikkanen from Worcester. This would have put Worcester in a bind to get Muse down to Norfolk and Tikkanen up to Bridgeport.
  • The Railers had the following scoring streaks:
    • Jordan Kaplan is without a point in his last five games.
    • Andrei Bakanov snapped a four-game scoreless streak with a goal.
    • Matias Rajaniemi is without a point in his last six games.
    • Matt Kopperud is on a four-game point streak. (3-3-6)
    • Riley Piercey is on a five-game point streak. (3-2-5)
    • Colin Jacobs snapped a five-game scoreless streak with an assist.
    • Lincoln Hatten is without a point in his last three games.
    • Cole Crowder is without a point in his last four games.
  • 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 Riley Piercey #19 Matthew Kopperud #18 Anthony Repaci #81
Forward Line 2 Jack Randl #11 Justin Gill #7 Cole Donhauser #29
Forward Line 3 Andrei Bakanov #13 Jordan Kaplan #10 Colin Jacobs #23
Forward Line 4 Cole Crowder #55 Griffin Loughran #16 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 Ryan Dickinson #25
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Henrik Tikkanen #39
Backup Goaltender Michael Bullion #32

Opponent Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Stepan Timofeyev #22 Denis Smirnov #8 Brady Fleurent #94
Forward Line 2 Carson Golder #24 Brandon Osmundson #25 Sanghoon Shin #74
Forward Line 3 Ryan Chyzowski #20 Sean Montgomery #19 Justin Young #21
Forward Line 4 Kamerin Nault #11 Marko Reifenberger #16 Keegan Iverson #13
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Graham Sward #15 Darick Louis-Jean #2
Defense Pair 2 Carson Musser #4 Josh McDougall #23
Defense Pair 3 Connor Fedorek #14 Lord-Anthony Grissom #27
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Dante Giannuzzi #31
Backup Goaltender Joe Cannata #1

On-Ice Officials

– –
Referee Austin O’Rourke (10)
Referee –
Linesman Matt Fox (63)
Linesman Colin Gates (52)

Highlights

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Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Admirals Lines


Marko Reifenberger goal


Matt Kopperud goal


Sanghoon Shin goal


Griffin Loughrin goal


Andrei Bakanov goal


Carson Golder goal


Brady Fleurent goal


Riley Piercey goal


Sean Montgomery goal


Connor Welsh goal


Anthony Repaci goal