1995 vs Saint John 5-2 loss
The Worcester IceCats fell behind by a couple of goals and never really got on track in a 5-2 loss to the Flames. Ladislav Kohn got Saint John on the board at 18:14 of the opening period, and Sheldon Kennedy made it 2-0 at :13 of the middle period. Christer Olsson got one back for the ‘Cats at 8:09, assisted by Derek Armstrong, but Joel Bouchard made it 3-1 with a goal at 9:13. Craig Darby made it a one-goal game again at 17:27 on the power play, with Alex Vasilevskii and Andreas Johansson providing the helpers, but less than a minute later Marty Murray had a shorthanded goal for the Flames to make it 4-2. At 12:41 of the third, with referee Brad Watson holding his arm up to call a penalty on Bouchard, Fred Knipscheer threw a pass toward defenseman Jamie Rivers that wasn’t anywhere close to Rivers, and the puck slid down the ice and into the net vacated by Worcester netminder Eric Fichaud. Bouchard was the last Flames player to touch it, so he was credited with the goal that made it 5-2 as he skated to the penalty box to serve his tripping minor. Fichaud had 23 saves in the loss. [210Sports note: The game was delayed in the second period when linesman Frank Fergola broke his left leg after a fall in front of the Saint John bench. The game continued about 20 minutes later with just referee Watson and linesman Joe Ross officiating.]
1996 vs Adirondack 7-2 win
The Worcester IceCats got points from 11 different players as they routed the Red Wings 7-2. Defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick was on the ice for all seven Worcester goals, finishing the game at a then franchise record tying +5. Bob Lachance opened the scoring at 15:27, assisted by Fitzpatrick. Alex Vasilevskii made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal at 17:42. In the second period Vasilevskii scored again, this time shorthanded at 3:44 with Terry Virtue and Lachance picking up points. Jason Zent made it 4-0 at 5:24, with Lachance and Stephane Roy earning points on the play. Fitzpatrick then added a power play goal at 14:56, from Konstantin Shafranov and Robert Petrovicky. The ‘Cats fell asleep a bit in the middle of the third period, allowing Mark Major (9:52) and David Matsos (unassisted at 13:32) to score, but Shafranov got them back in track at 17:05, assisted by Craig Conroy and Jamal Mayers. Petrovicky made it the 7-2 final at 17:36, assisted by Chris Kenady. Jamie McLennan had 26 saves on the night. [210Sports note: Daniel Guerard dressed for the game to get the ‘Cats to 18 skaters, but did not take a shift]
1997 vs New Haven 4-2 win
The IceCats came back from two one-goal deficits and then finally put away the Beast of New Haven with the final two goals of the game in a 4-2 victory. Filip Kuba gave the Beast the lead 4:55 into the game, and at 16:01 Mike Prokopec got Worcester even with assists going to Nick Naumenko and Chris Kenady. Dave Duerden gave New Haven its lead back at 7:55 of the second, but once again the IceCats tied it on a goal by Michal Handzus at 10:07. Kenady and Prokopec had the helpers on that goal. Worcester then took the lead at 10:54 on a goal by Libor Zabransky, assisted by Robert Petrovicky. Prokopec added an insurance goal, assisted by Bob Lachance and Terry Virtue, at 12:52. Brent Johnson had 25 saves in the win.
2003 at Hershey 3-3 tie
The Worcester IceCats overcame two one-goal deficits but couldn’t hold the lead once they got one in a 3-3 tie against the Hershey Bears. Agris Saviels gave Hershey the lead at 6:24 of the opening period, but Ernie Hartlieb scored at 9:26 to knot the game 1-1. Tom Koivisto and Marc Brown had the assists. In the second period Steve Brule scored unassisted at 13:11 to give the Bears their lead back, but Johnny Pohl’s power play goal, assisted by Koivisto and Sergei Varlamov, at 9:07 of the third made it 2-2. The ‘Cats grabbed the lead 14:22 with an unassisted tally by Varlamov, but 48 seconds later Eric Perrin would have a power play goal for the eventual 3-3 tie. Peter Budaj had 36 saves for Hershey while Reinhard Divis made 31 for the IceCats.
2008 at Lowell 4-2 win
(WORSHARKS) The Sharks fired 45 shots in a 4-2 win over the Lowell Devils in Lowell on Saturday night. Four different goal scorers and solid goaltending by Thomas Greiss gave the Sharks their second win in three tries over the Devils this season. The Sharks and Devils played a high tempo first period with the Sharks striking first with a shorthanded goal. Derek Joslin intercepted a pass inside of the Sharks blue line and broke away on goaltender Jeff Frazee and scored at 10:59. It was Joslin’s 6th goal of the season, the Sharks 5th shorthanded goal of the season for Worcester. On the same penalty kill, Steven Zalewski would be awarded a penalty shot after being hooked from behind on a breakaway, but Zalewski was stopped by Frazee at 11:34. The Devils would find the back of the net on their next power play, as Petr Vrana connected after an initial stop by Thomas Greiss. The goal was Vrana’s 1st of the year. The Sharks would score on their first power play chance, as Cory Larose found the back of the net after he was set up Claude Lemieux at 19:55. Mike Moore added the other assist. The Sharks went into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead and a 17-12 shot advantage. Brad Staubitz and Pierre-Luc Leblond would exchange blows at 3:21 after Leblond hit Patrick Traverse with a big check in the Sharks zone. Moments later, Steven Zalewski would get revenge on Frazee and score his 7th goal of the season firing a puck through the pads of the Lowell netminder and in the net. Jamie McGinn assisted on the Sharks third goal at 3:32. The Sharks would be shorthanded for almost six minutes of the second period but controlled much of the action. Worcester took a 3-1 lead into the 2nd intermission outshooting the Devils 33-19 through 40 minutes. Captain Ryan Vesce would give the Sharks insurance with his 7th goal of the season with a nice wrist shot from the right circle to give the Sharks a 4-1 lead at 2:01. The Devils would then pour it on the rest of the way, firing 18 shots on Thomas Greiss in the final frame and only finding the back of the net once, as Brad Mills connected at 9:38. Greiss was spectacular in the third period, making 35 saves in net for the Sharks picking up his 8th win of the season.
2011 at Springfield 2-1 win
(WORSHARKS) Tommy Wingels scored his third straight game winning goal for the Sharks in a 2-1 victory over the Springfield Falcons at the Mass Mutual Center on Tuesday night. The Sharks improved to 3-0-0-1 on their season long seven game road trip. The Sharks carried off their momentum from back-to-back wins in St John’s and came out flying in the opening frame aided by four power plays. But first, the Sharks engaged in their AHL best 37th fighting major as Jimmy Bonneau (7th FM) fought tough guy Tim Spencer (2nd FM) for a long battle at center ice at 2:06. Benn Ferriero extended his point streak to three games with a power play strike with a quick snap shot from on top of the left circle through traffic and past veteran Manny Legace at 17:35 to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. Tony Lucia extended his point streak to six games with a terrific centering feed on a 2-on-2 shorthanded rush at 19:21. Tommy Wingels (8th) deflection was stopped by Legace but Wingels slapped home a loose rebound to give Worcester a 2-0 lead. Cody Bass (2nd FM) instigated a fight with Curt Gogol (7th FM) at 19:31 to put Worcester on another power play to end the period. Worcester hit three posts and outshot Springfield 16-4 through 20 minutes of play. Speedy Springfield rookie Cam Atkinson (13th) drew a penalty shot call at 1:40 and scored past Tyson Sexsmith to get the Falcons on the board early in the 2nd period. Springfield was able to slow down the Sharks in the middle frame as Worcester was only able to fire eight shots on goal. Matt Pelech (4th FM) challenged Cody Bass (3rd FM) late in the 2nd period and the two exchanged right hands in a lengthy battle at 17:15. Sharks led 2-1 after 40 minutes of play. Neither team scored in a tight checking third period as Tyson Sexsmith made 12 more saves for his 6th victory of the season. The Sharks record improves to 11-6-3-3 with 28 points through 23 games and now 4-1-3-2 on the road.
2013 vs Manchester 3-1 loss
(WORSHARKS) Daniil Tarasov scored his team leading 9th goal late in the first period but it was the only strike for the Worcester Sharks (10-9-1-1, 22pts) in a 3-1 loss to the Manchester Monarchs (17-5-1-4, 40pts) at the DCU Center on Friday evening. Andrew Campbell tied the score late in the second period for Manchester and AJ Gale scored twice in the third while goaltender JF Berube was fantastic in net making 39 saves for the victory. The Sharks had five power play chances in the opening period and grabbed a 1-0 lead after outshooting the Monarchs by the count of 12-4. Worcester scored on their 4th power play after a terrific individual score by Daniil Tarasov (9th) as he maneuvered around a pair of Monarchs players and snapped a quick low shot from 45 feet past JF Berube at 19:04 to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes. Manchester would tie the game at 16:04 of the second period after the Sharks had a sloppy line change in front of their bench which led to a 3-on-1 for the Monarchs the other way. Defenseman Andrew Campbell (1st) ripped a shot from on top of the circle center that deflected off Taylor Doherty’s stick and over the shoulder of goaltender Troy Grosenick. Worcester had three more power plays in the middle frame and outshot Manchester 15-8 but the two teams headed into the 2nd intermission tied 1-1. A recent call-up from the CHL, AJ Gale would score two goals early in the third period to put Manchester ahead 3-1. Gale (2nd) swept home a loose rebound at 3:28 past Troy Grosenick and was set up in front of the net (3rd) by Scott Sabourin at 6:49 for an insurance strike. Brodie Reid hit the crossbar midway through the third period and Berube made 12 more saves for a 39 save performance in the Sharks 3-1 loss on home ice. The Sharks overall record falls to 10-9-1-1, 22pts and 5-6-0-1, 11pts on home ice this season.
2014 vs Manchester 2-1 loss
(WORSHARKS) The Worcester Sharks (10-12-2-0, 22pts) wearing Worcester IceCats jerseys suffered a 2-1 loss to the red hot Manchester Monarchs (17-5-1-1, 36pts) in front of 4,116 fans at the DCU Center on Saturday evening. Freddie Hamilton scored the only goal for the Sharks while Troy Grosenick was solid with 27 saves in net in the loss. David Van der Gulik and Andrew Bodnarchuk scored for Manchester and JF Berube had to make just 14 saves in net as the Monarchs won their 4th straight game. Worcester was outshot 29-15 and the Sharks went 0-for-9 on the power play as Team Teal dropped their third straight game. Worcester struck first just 62 seconds into the period as Freddie Hamilton (6th) fired a snap shot on the rush from the left circle off the post and past goaltender JF Berube to give the Sharks an early 1-0 lead. Manchester tied the score late with a power play marker at 19:10 as a back door pass from Zach O’Brien found David Van der Gulik (5th) for the equalizer. Each team fired eight shots in the opening frame. Neither team scored in the second period as Manchester outshot Worcester 10-6 in the middle frame. Seven minor penalties were called in a rather chippy middle twenty minutes of play as the two teams headed to the dressing room tied 1-1 through 40 minutes. The Sharks had four power plays in the third period but was unable to get a shot on goal with the man advantage. To make things worse, Andrew Bodnarchuk (1st) scored the game winner with a breakaway score after his exit from the penalty box at 7:51 of the third period. Worcester had just one shot on goal in the final frame, coming with just over a minute remaining and with Troy Grosenick on the ice for the extra attacker. Manchester outshot Worcester 11-1 in the third period and took home a 2-1 win over the Sharks. The Sharks overall record drops to 10-12-2-0, 22pts, and 6-5-2-0, 14pts at the DCU Center.
2017 at Adirondack 3-2 loss
(RAILERS) The Worcester Railers HC (8-9-2-2, 20pts) dropped a close 3-2 decision to the host Adirondack Thunder (13-9-1-1, 28pts) in front of an estimated 800 fans at the Cool Insuring Arena on Wednesday evening. Eamon McAdam made a season high 37 saves in net for Worcester while Kellen Jones and TJ Syner scored the Railers goals. Terrence Wallin broke a 2-2 tie at 5:03 of the third period for the eventual game winner. Eamon McAdam made 18 saves in the first period as neither team was able to find the back of the net in the opening frame. Goaltender Drew Fielding made nine saves for the Thunder in a quickly played first period of play. After a scoreless first half of the second period, the teams each scored twice in a six-minute span. Conor Riley (1st) gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead at 10:52 but the Railers would tie it at 12:10 as Kellen Jones (5th) followed home a Matty Gaudreau shot that was originally stopped by goaltender Drew Fielding. Adirondack went ahead 2-1 at 15:22 as Eric Neiley (8th) took a feed from behind the net and zipped it past Eamon McAdam from on top of the crease. Worcester would tie the score again at 16:54 as TJ Syner (3rd) snapped a shot from the left circle with Jeff Kubiak in front providing a screen. The score was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes with shots 36-24 in favor of Adirondack. Terrence Wallin (7th) gave the Thunder the lead for good at 5:03 of the third period after he converted a 3-on-2 rush from 28 feet to give Adirondack the 3-2 advantage. Worcester would fire seven shots on goal and had a power play midway through the third period but was unable to convert as the Railers fell 3-2 on the road.
2019 vs Maine 4-2 Loss
(RAILERS) The Worcester Railers HC (6-15-1-0, 13pts) returned home to the DCU Center for four straight games but fell 4-2 to the Maine Mariners (12-9-0-1, 25pts) on Friday evening in front of 2,385 fans at the DCU Center. The Railers will be back in action at the DCU Center Saturday, Dec. 14 vs. the Maine Mariners on DC Comics Night featuring Batman themed jersey’s as well as the annual Teddy Bear Toss at 7pm. Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Barry Almeida scored goals for Worcester while Evan Buitenhuis made 22 saves in net. Michael McNicholas (2-0-2) scored a penalty shot goal in the second period while Connor Lacouvee stood tall in net making 27 saves in net for his sixth win of the season. Maine would get on the board in the first period at 10:42 when Greg Chase found Michael McNicholas (3rd) back door sneaking one past Evan Buitenhuis to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. The lead would not last for long when Kyle Thomas (6th) collected the puck in the high slot and snapped one by the blocker of Connor Lacouvee to tie things at 1-1 at 11:01. After a wraparound effort from Jake Elmer denied from Evan Buitenhuis, Alex Kile (5th) was able to bang home a rebound to give the Mariners their second lead of the night at 13:19. Maine took a 2-1 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes of play and outshot the Railers 12-8. The only goal in the second period would come from Michael McNicholas (4th) on a short-handed penalty shot where he zipped one over the glove of Evan Buitenhuis at 11:58 giving Maine a 3-1 lead. Worcester outshot Maine 10-7 in the frame but the Mariners held the slight edge 19-18 through 40 minutes of play and a 3-1 lead. After a scrum in front of the Maine net and a review on the play it was ruled that Barry Almeida (5th) had poked one past Connor Lacouvee at 7:43 of the third period to cut the deficit to 3-2. Maine would answer on the power-play for the first time in six games as Greg Chase (4th) walked down from the right point and ripped one bar down past the shoulder of Evan Buitenhuis at 15:26 to take a 4-2 lead. Despite multiple good chances from Worcester with Buitenhuis pulled they could not get one past Lacouvee as Maine took home a 4-2 victory. Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star…. Barry Almeida (1-0-1) 2nd star: Connor Lacouvee (27 saves, Win) 1st star Michael McNicholas (2-0-2) ….final shots were 30-26 for Maine…. Connor Lacouvee (6-5-1) 27 saves on 29 shots for Maine.… Evan Buitenhuis (3-8-0) made 22 saves on 26 shots for Worcester while Ian Milosz served as the backup…. Worcester went 0-for-3 on the power play while Maine 1-for-4…. Cody Payne, Ross Olsson, Ivan Chukarov, Anthony Florentino, and Tanner Pond (inj) did not dress for Worcester…. Mike Cornell, Jakub Skarek, and Linus Soderstrom are currently on recall with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers…. Barry Almeida scored in his return after missing the last seven games with an injury and led all skaters with five shots…. Evan Buitenhuis made his sixth straight start …. Kyle Thomas has goals in back to back games and extended his point streak to three games…. Worcester is now 5-5-4-3 all-time vs. the Mariners and 4-2-2-1 at the DCU Center.
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