Game Story

Tristan Lennox made 19 saves in his second start of the season and fourth career appearance against Norfolk (1-3-0), his first since December 2, 2023. Isaac Poulter earned the win for Norfolk, stopping all but one of Worcester’s 32 shots in his sixth career outing against Worcester (3-2-0), and first since April 1, 2023.

Anthony Repaci scored the lone goal for Worcester, while Grant Hebert, Marko Reifenberger, Ben Zloty, and Connor Fedorek found the back of the net for Norfolk. The Railers were perfect on the penalty kill (3-for-3) but went 0-for-2 on the power play despite outshooting the Admirals on both opportunities.

Anthony Repaci gave Worcester a 1-0 lead at the ten-minute mark on a breakaway to give Worcester their first lead of the season.Repaci opened the scoring at the 10-minute mark with a breakaway goal to give Worcester its first lead of the season. Just moments earlier, Norfolk’s Jack O’Leary had a breakaway chance of his own, Brandon Osmundson recovered O’Leary’s missed shot and turned the puck over to Ross Mitton, who then fed the puck up-ice to Repaci, who buried it. Grant Hebert scored 4:18 later on the doorstep of Tristan Lennox to tie the game at 1. At one point shots were 11-2 Worcester, shots were 12-6 Worcester after one period of play.

A late first-period penalty to Ross Mitton carried over into the second, and a cross-checking call on Anthony Callin midway through the frame gave Norfolk momentum once the Railers killed it off. The Admirals controlled the puck, often doing laps around the Railers defense and that eventually led to Norfolk scoring to take a 2-1 lead with Marko Reifenberger scoring at 16:31.

The Railers went shorthanded again just 17 seconds into the third when Ryan Miotto headed to the box for closing hand on puck, but they successfully killed off the penalty. Norfolk added insurance goals from Ben Zloty (3:37) and Connor Fedorek (8:34) to seal the 4-1 win. Turnovers and extended defensive-zone shifts cost Worcester as they dropped their third straight game to open the season.

The three stars of the game were:

1. Ben Zloty (Norfolk) – 1 goal, 1 assist, +2
2. Issac Poulter (Norfolk) – win, 31 saves, 0.969 SV%
3. Grant Hebert (Norfolk) – 1 goal +2

Around the North Division, the Reading Royals beat the Greensboro Gargoyles 4-1 on the road, while the Trois-Rivières Lions topped the Adirondack Thunder 3-1. All eight North Division teams are in action on Saturday.

In the AHL, the Bridgeport Islanders earned their first win of the season with a 3–0 shutout over the Hartford Wolf Pack. Former Railer Daylan Kuefler registered two shots on goal, while former Railers opponent Marcus Högberg stopped all 33 shots for his fourth career shutout, and first since the 2018-19 season. Bridgeport returns to action Sunday in Providence.

The Railers and Admirals wrap up their weekend series at the Norfolk Scope on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 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
	1	0	0	1
	1	1	2	4

Shots	1	2	3	T
	12	11	9	32
	6	9	8	23

Score	Team	Time	Scored by	Assisted by	Type
1 – 0		10:00 – 1st	A. Repaci (1)	R. Mitton
1 – 1		14:18 – 1st	G. Hebert (2)	J. Dureau, B. Zloty
1 – 2		16:31 – 2nd	M. Reifenberger (1)	G. Yavash, B. Engum
1 – 3		3:37 – 3rd	B. Zloty (2)	J. Young
1 – 4		8:34 – 3rd	C. Fedorek (1)	B. Osmundson

Rosters

	#	Player	G	A	+/-	SH	PIM
G	30	T. Lennox	0	0	0	0	0
G	39	H. Tikkanen	0	0	0	0	0
D	3	A. Hora	0	0	-1	0	0
D	4	C. Odelius	0	0	-2	0	0
D	6	C. McDonald	0	0	-2	1	0
F	7	M. Dorrington	0	0	-1	1	0
D	8	M. Ferrandino	0	0	0	1	0
F	10	R. Miotto	0	0	0	2	2
F	11	L. Hatten	0	0	0	3	0
F	13	T. Kobryn	0	0	-1	5	0
F	16	R. Mitton	0	1	-1	0	2
F	19	R. Piercey	0	0	-1	2	0
F	26	T. Walsh	0	0	0	0	0
D	27	M. Stief	0	0	0	0	0
F	29	C. Donhauser	0	0	0	2	0
F	37	M. DeMelis	0	0	0	2	0
F	44	A. Callin	0	0	-2	7	2
D	74	C. Fraser	0	0	-1	2	0
F	77	D. Callin	0	0	-1	1	0
F	81	A. Repaci	1	0	-2	3	0
		Team:	0			0

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GA	SV%
30	T. Lennox (L)	60:00	23	19	4	0.826
	Totals:	60:00	23	19	4	0.826

	#	Player	G	A	+/-	SH	PIM
G	30	I. Poulter	0	0	0	0	0
G	31	A. Worthington	0	0	0	0	0
F	7	T. Andrew	0	0	0	2	0
F	9	J. O’Leary	0	0	-1	3	0
D	10	B. Engum	0	1	+2	2	0
F	11	A. Bakanov	0	0	+1	0	0
D	12	D. Geregach	0	0	-1	0	0
D	14	C. Fedorek	1	0	+2	1	0
F	16	M. Reifenberger	1	0	+1	1	0
F	17	J. Dureau	0	1	+1	4	0
F	18	J. Isley	0	0	+1	1	0
F	21	J. Young	0	1	+2	0	0
D	23	J. McDougall	0	0	+2	1	0
F	24	K. Papp	0	0	-1	2	0
F	25	B. Osmundson	0	1	0	1	0
F	28	G. Yavash	0	1	+1	0	2
D	44	B. Zloty	1	1	+2	3	0
D	55	D. Drake	0	0	-1	0	0
F	93	G. Hebert	1	0	+2	2	2
F	94	B. Fleurent	0	0	+2	0	0
		Team:	0			0

	Player	MIN	SH	SVS	GA	SV%
30	I. Poulter (W)	60:00	32	31	1	0.969
	Totals:	60:00	32	31	1	0.969

Penalties

Time	Team	Player	Mins	Infraction
2:44 – 1st		G. Hebert	2	Delay of Game (63.2)
18:21 – 1st		R. Mitton	2	Interference – minor (56.2)
9:55 – 2nd		A. Callin	2	Cross-Checking Minor (59.2)
0:17 – 3rd		R. Miotto	2	Closing Hand on Puck (67.2)
9:48 – 3rd		G. Yavash	2	High-sticking – minor (60.2)

Notes

• Worcester Scratches: Jason Horvath, Kabore Dunn, Kolby Johnson, Porter Schachle, Riley Ginnell, Tanner Schachle, and Thomas Gale.
• Norfolk Scratches: Brayden Nicholetts, Carson Musser, Eric Parker, Matt Crasa, and Will Magnuson.
• Colten Ellis made his NHL debut on Wednesday with the Buffalo Sabres. He made 27 saves in the Sabres’ 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Ellis becomes the fourth former Railers goalie to play in the NHL (Tristan Lennox, Jakub Skarek, Ken Appleby) , third of which to make their pro debut after playing in Worcester (Ken Appleby played three games for New Jersey in 2017-18). The Railers raffled off a game-issued 2021–22 New England Football specialty jersey (Red) to commemorate his NHL debut.
• The Railers wore their navy jerseys, Admirals wore their home whites. Under normal circumstances, home teams will wear their white jerseys and away teams will wear their dark jerseys through the first half of the season. The official jersey reversal date this season is January 23, 2026.
• The Norfolk Admirals were without broadcaster Weston DeWitt for this game and Director of Operations Brad Jones provided commentary on the Norfolk side for this game, which Jones had previously provided during Admirals home games. DeWitt was Director of Communications and Broadcasting for the team, and is no longer listed on the Admirals’ website. DeWitt was a finalist for ECHL Broadcaster of the Year last season, and provided commentary for the 2023 ECHL All-Star Game. The Norfolk Admiral’s X account has gone quiet since their last game on October 18.
• The video and audio feeds had their fair share of issues Friday night. There was no audio on the Railers side for the first couple of minutes of the first period, and the video was choppy on both feeds throughout the entirety of the game. A good portion of Friday night’s game had the Worcester and Norfolk scores swapped as well.
• Anthony Repaci’s Military Appreciation Night jersey is currently up for auction on Meigray Auctions as a part of their annual “Captain’s Club” auction. There is some discrepancy on whether this was the jersey worn during that night, as there his jersey was in the live auction after that game, which sold for $1300. The link to that auction can be found here.
• Following Friday night’s game, the Railers have the following scoring droughts:
  • Anthony Hora is without a point in his last three games.
  • Cam McDonald is without a point in his last three games.
  • Max Dorrington is without a point in his last three games.
  • Lincoln Hatten is without a point in his last three games.
  • Riley Piercey is without a point in his last three games.
  • TJ Walsh is without a point in his last three games.
  • Cole Fraser is without a point in his last three games.

Railers Lines

On-Ice Officials

Highlights

Notable X Posts as the Game Happened

Railers Lines

Anthony Repaci goal