WORCESTER, MA – The Worcester Railers HC (1-0-0-0, 2 points) opened up their third season of ECHL action with a commanding 5-1 victory over the visiting Adirondack Thunder(1-1-0-0, 2 points) in front of 8,137 fans at the DCU Center on Saturday evening. The Railers are back in action on Friday, October 18 with a 7pm battle on home ice vs. the Maine Mariners with a Halloween Celebration on a 2-3-4 Friday night.
Worcester came out strong with three first period goals and Kyle Thomas recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick while 19-year-old Jakub Skarek made 24 saves on 25 shots in net in his first professional start in North America for the Railers. Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1 goal, 1 assist), Barry Almeida, Ryan Hitchcock, and JD Dudek (1 goal, 1 assist) also scored for Worcester in the victory. Michael McNiven made 26 saves in net for the Thunder and Ryan Walker scored the only goal for Adirondack.
Worcester charged out to a 3-0 first period lead as Samuels-Thomas (1st goal of season) slammed home a rebound after an initial shot by Tanner Pond at 4:10. Kyle Thomas (1st goal) gave Worcester a 2-0 lead with a one timer from the right slot past netminder McNiven assisted buy Bo Brauer and Connor Doherty at 7:57. Almeida (1st goal) would then strike with a goal on a two man advantage at 11:34 to put the Railers ahead by three. Thomas (1st fighting major) would win a one-sided fight at 17:36 with a series of rights vs. Brent Thompson as everything went Worcester’s way in the opening frame. The Railers outshot the Thunder 13-3 through 20 minutes of play.
Hitchcock (1st goal) jammed home a loose rebound just 19 seconds in the second period with Nic Pierog and Matt Schmalz. The Thunder finally got on the board after a turnover in the Worcester zone as Walker (1st goal) deflected home a score from inside the crease to cut the Railers lead to 4-1. Rookie goaltender Skarek was sharp in the middle frame with 15 saves as Worcester took a three-goal lead into the second intermission with Worcester holding a 22-19 shot advantage.
Dudek (1st goal) scored his first professional goal at 5:22 of the third period and Skarek shut the door the rest of the way with six more saves as Worcester controlled the rest of the game for a commanding 5-1 victory.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star: Jordan Samuels-Thomas (1-1-2) 2nd star: Jakub Skarek (24 saves, Win) 1st star: Kyle Thomas (1-1-2, fight) … Final shots were 31-25 in favor of Worcester… Michael McNiven (0-1-0) made 26 saves on 31 shots Adirondack… Jakub Skarek (1-0-0) made 24 saves on 25 shots for Worcester while Evan Buitenhuis served as the backup… Worcester went 1-for-4 on the power play while Adirondack went 0-for-6… Anthony Florentino (injury), Henrik Samuelsson (injury), Chris Rygus, and Cody Payne did not dress for Worcester… Barry Almeida fired a game high five shots on goal… Tanner Pond, Bo Brauer, Connor Doherty, Nic Pierog (2), Matt Schmalz, Jordan Samuels-Thomas, and JD Dudek all added assists for Worcester… Defenseman Justin Murray made his professional debut for the Railers and finished plus-2… Barry Almeida wore the C while Mike Cornell and Connor Doherty wore A’s for the Railers… Worcester dressed four rookies and four veterans… Kyle Thomas finished +3….10 different Railers recorded a point… Terry Virtue, Shaun Heaphy, Bill Ballou, and George Brown dropped the ceremonial first pucks of the game in honor of the 25 year anniversary of the first pro hockey game played in Worcester… The Railers will paly the Thunder six times in the first 10 games this season… Worcester is now 16-6-2-0 all-time vs. the Thunder… The Railers are back in action on Friday, October 18 with a 7 p.m. battle on home ice vs. the Maine Mariners.
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