1997 vs Providence 4-1 win
The Worcester IceCats got multiple point nights from three players and a big 36 save performance from goaltender Mike Buzak in the ‘Cats 4-1 win over the Bruins. Rob Pearson got Worcester on the board with a bad-angle goal at 3:39 of the middle stanza. Mike Maneluk and Marquis Mathieu had the assists on the play. Bob Lachance made it 2-0 at 16:21 when he and Chris Kenady broke into the Baby-Bs zone two on one. Kenady threw a deke that was so good both the defender and netminder Scott Bailey ended up down and out, and Lachance had all 24 square feet to shoot at once Kenady’s pass made it to him. Todd Elik beat the second period horn with a goal at 19:59 to make it a 2-1 game. Jamal Mayers made it a two goal game at 10:31 of the third with a goal assisted by Pearson. Maneluk made it the 4-1 final with a power play goal at 18:48, with Mayers and Rory Fitzpatrick collecting points on the goal.
2001 at Springfield 7-6 win
(TICKER) Justin Papineau and Andrei Troschinsky both had a pair of goals and an assist as the Worcester Ice Cats outlasted the Springfield Falcons, 7-6. Papineau opened the scoring 4:58 into the contest, supplied Worcester with a 6-2 lead on his seventh tally of the season with 6:45 remaining in the second stanza and assisted on Mike Peluso’s marker a minute later. Troschinsky, who assisted Doug Friedman’s first-period marker, scored back-to-back goals within a 5:46 span in the opening stanza. Mark Rycroft added four assists for the Ice Cats, who have won six of their last seven decisions (6-1-0). Curtis Sanford stopped 22 of the 27 shots he faced to improve to 2-0-1 overall. Eric Healey finished with a pair of goals and an assist and Frederic Bouchard added two late third-period scores for Springfield. Dan Murphy surrendered a pair of goals on 17 shots to suffer the loss in relief of Patrick DesRochers.
2002 at Lowell 5-3 loss
(ICECATS) Saturday night at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, the Worcester IceCats fell to the Lowell Lock Monsters, 5-3. Goaltender Reinhard Divis established a new IceCats franchise record for most consecutive starts with 14. Centers Justin Papineau and Andrei Troschinsky both notched one goal and one assist. Defenseman Barret Jackman added two assists, his first multi-point game as a pro.
2003 vs Saint John 2-2 tie
(ICECATS) The Worcester IceCats qualified for the post-season with a come-from-behind 2-2 tie versus the Saint John Flames Sunday at Worcester’s Centrum Centre. Jason Dawe scored the game-tying goal for the IceCats at 7:44 of the third, just 33 seconds after Ernie Hartlieb cut the Flames lead in half. Mike Mottau and Matt Lombardi gave the Flames a two-goal cushion with second and third period goals. Worcester goaltender Curtis Sanford stopped nine shots in the overtime session and 35 overall.
2007 at Hartford 5-2 win
The Worcester Sharks only had 18 shots in the game, but four of them went in during the second period as they defeated the Wolf Pack 5-2. Craig Weller got Hartford on the board at 15:35 of the first period, and Brandon Dubinsky made it 2-0 at 2:12 of the second. Graham Mink got Worcester on the board at 8:45 when he banged home the rebound of Brennan Evans’ shot. Garrett Stafford made it 2-2 on another rebound goal at 15:46 on the power play, with Tom Cavanagh and Craig Valette assisting. Cavanagh then scored on a backhander at 18:07, assisted by Mike Iggulden and Mathieu Darche. At that point Hartford coach Jim Schoenfeld pulled goaltender Al Montoya and put netminder Chris Holt in. That didn’t work out so well when Josh Prudden won the next face=off and sent Lukas Kaspar in all alone for a goal at 18:13. Mink added an empty net goal at 19:35, assisted by Prudden, for the 5-2 final. Thomas Greiss made 38 saves in net for the win. [210Soprts note: The six seconds between goals was the ending WorSharks record for two fastest goals, although it was tied on 3/7/2015, also against Hartford.]
2010 vs Syracuse 3-1 win
(WORSHARKS) Sharks netminder Alex Stalock set an AHL rookie record, collecting his 36th victory of the season and the Sharks set a franchise-record with their 44th victory of the season as they defeated the Syracuse Crunch, 3-1, at the DCU Center, Tuesday night. The line of Andrew Desjardins, Dan DaSilva, and John McCarthy continued its torrid streak as Desjardins had two goals, DaSilva had two assists, and McCarthy had an assist and was a plus-2 on the night. Stalock, making his first start in over a week, surpassed Corey Hirsch for wins in a rookie season. Hirsch won 35 games while with the Binghamton Rangers during the 1992-93 season. Worcester wasted no time jumping on the Crunch in the first period. Just 56 seconds into the period, Desjardins (17) streaked down the left wing, cut from backhand to forehand, and tucked one neatly past Dan Taylor. McCarthy and DaSilva assisted on Desjardins’ team-leading eighth first-goal of the game this season. The Sharks controlled much of the action for the remaining 19 minutes, but could not put one past Taylor and the teams went into the first intermission with Worcester ahead, 1-0. The Sharks outshot the Crunch, 11-6. The Sharks seemed to have a grasp on the game and earned a power play 4:19 into the period, but the Crunch collected their 14th shorthanded goal of the year when Greg Moore (17) broke in two-on-one, and beat Alex Stalock low, blocker-side. The tying goal, which came at the 4:37 mark, was assisted by Brendan Bell. Desjardins nearly had his second of the game later in the period, but his wrist shot went wide of an open net. Worcester outshot Syracuse, 13-6. For the second time in the game, the Sharks scored on the opening shift of a period as Desjardins (18) scored 11 seconds into the third period off a feed from DaSilva. Mike Moore picked up the other assist. The Sharks added insurance at the 9:05 mark when T.J. Trevelyan (25) knocked home a rebound off a Steven Zalewski drive. Win the win, Worcester’s record improves to (44-21-2-3, 91 points) and they now lead the Atlantic Division by five points over Portland. The Sharks magic number to clinch a playoff spot is three points.
2013 vs Providence 5-3 win
(WORSHARKS) Five different goal scorers led the Worcester Sharks (29-25-1-6, 66pts) to a 5-3 win over the Atlantic Division leading Providence Bruins (39-20-0-5, 83pts) on Saturday evening in front of 6,557 fans at the DCU Center. The Sharks broke a five game losing skid against the Bruins to finish the season series 6-3-0-3. Freddie Hamilton, Peter Sivak, Travis Oleksuk, Sebastian Stalberg, and Denny Urban all scored for Worcester while Harri Sateri made 28 saves in net in his 8th straight start. Matt Tennyson and John McCarthy added two assists in a game that saw only three minor penalties. A quick moving first period saw no penalties and a goal from each side. Freddie Hamilton (9th) gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead at 16:09 after Yanni Gourde found him all alone in front of Hutchinson’s crease. Hamilton wrapped the puck around a fallen Hutchinson after Matt Tennyson kept the puck in at the blue line. The Bruins tied the score late in the first period as Jamie Tardif (27th) sent a wicked snap shot from the center slot through a screen and past the glove of Harri Sateri at 19:17. Providence outshot Worcester 8-7 through 20 minutes of play. The Sharks broke out to a 3-1 lead after Peter Sivak’s (1st) first AHL goal at 3:33 followed by Travis Oleksuk (3rd) at 10:57 as the Sharks took the charge early. But the Bruins came barreling back to tie the score at 3-3. Carter Camper (7th) blasted a one timer at 16:04 and Torey Krug (10th) struck on the power play with 12 seconds left in the frame to set the score even through 40 minutes. It took over 10 minutes for the Sharks to register a shot in the third period but they would grab their third lead of the game with a power play strike at 15:04 to take a 4-3 lead. Sebastian Stalberg (10th) fired a swing-a-rama shot from on top of the circles for the game winner and Denny Urban (4th) added insurance with a tough angle score past Hutchinson at 18:39. Harri Sateri was perfect in the third period with 11 saves for his 14th win of the season. The Sharks overall record improves to 29-25-1-6 (65pts in 61gp) and 13-11-1-4 (31pts in 29gp) on home ice this season.
2014 at Providence 2-1 loss
(WORSHARKS) Head Coach Roy Sommer tied the American Hockey League record for most regular-season games by a head coach (1,256) but his Worcester Sharks (31-29-3-1, 66ts) dropped a hard fought 2-1 decision to the Providence Bruins (34-23-2-7, 77pts) in front of 8,869 fans at the Dunkin Donuts Center on Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Sharks are now 11 points behind the 8th place Bruins with two games in hand for the final playoff spot in the East with 12 games remaining. Dan DaSilva (16th) extended his point streak to seven games (4-5-9) and tied a franchise record with his 59th career goal for Team Teal, but it was the only shot that found its way past goaltender Malcolm Subban who finished with 38 saves. Harri Sateri was spectacular in net for Worcester with 28 saves but Justin Florek (16th) and Zach Trotman (6th) scored goals for Providence. Sunday’s game was the 1,256th of Sommer’s AHL head coaching career, tying the record held by Hockey Hall of Fame honored member Frank Mathers. Mathers coached the Hershey Bears from 1956-73 and again in 1984-85. Sommer, 56, has spent his entire 16-year AHL coaching career at the helm of the San Jose Sharks’ affiliates, the Kentucky Thoroughblades (1998-2001), Cleveland Barons (2001-06) and Worcester Sharks (2006-present). His 571 regular-season victories rank fourth all-time. Sommer will eclipse Mathers’ record on Wednesday night when the Sharks visit the Portland Pirates in Lewiston, Maine. As for the game, the majority of the play in a scoreless but feisty first period was in the Worcester end as the Sharks killed off two power plays and Harri Sateri made 12 saves. Rob Davison (6th FM) and Mike Moore (6th FM) had a great fight at 14:02 followed by John McCarthy (1st FM) and Anthony Camara (6th FM) at 15:41. Malcolm made 10 saves for the Bruins as the two teams headed into the first intermission tied 0-0. After five fighting majors in the ECHL, rookie Kyle Bigos (1st FM) handled himself well against Rob Flick (5th FM) at 10:32 of the second period as emotions continued to run high. Harri Sateri robbed Nick Johnson will an awesome glove save with the score still 0-0 midway through the game. But the Bruins got on the board as Justin Florek (16th) deflected home a Chris Casto shot from on top of the right circle off the post and past Harri Sateri at 18:00 as the Sharks trailed 1-0 into the second intermission. Bracken Kearns was robbed by Malcolm Subban moments before the Bruins went ahead 2-0 with a power play goal in the third period. Subban made a spectacular glove save on Kearns from ten feet which was followed by a power play blast from the point by Zach Trotman (6th) at 13:10. The Sharks battled back as Dan DaSilva (16th) banged home a Bracken Kearns rebound past Subban at 14:06 to get the Sharks back within a goal. But Subban and the Bruins were able to hold on as the Sharks dropped a 2-1 decision. The Sharks overall record falls to 31-29-3-1, 66pts and 15-16-3-0, 33pts on the road.
2018 at Reading 4-1 win
(RAILERS) Newcomer Josh Holmstrom broke a 1-1 tie late in the third period as the Worcester Railers HC (31-25-4-4, 70pts) defeated the host Reading Royals (34-23-8-0, 76pts) by the score of 4-1 in front of 3,701 fans at the Santander Arena on Friday evening. Mike Cornell, Josh Holmstrom, Barry Almeida, and Matt Lane scored for the Railers while Mitch Gillam was spectacular with 29 saves in net. Nick Saracino added two assists as the Railers extended their point streak to six games (5-0-0-1) with the road victory. Worcester came out with a quick a power play goal just 62 seconds in as Mike Cornell (3rd) fired a bullet from on top of the right circle assisted by Frankie DiChiara and Jake Randolph. Reading answered back with a power play goal of their own as Chris McCarthy (19th) sent a hard shot from 45 feet through a screen at 10:58 to tie the score at 1-1. Shots were 13-11 in favor of Reading. The Railers outshot the Royals 16-9 in a scoreless second period as goaltenders Mitch Gillam and Brendan Komm each stood tall. The two teams headed to the second intermission tied 1-1. Newcomer Josh Holmstrom (1st) broke a 1-1 tie with a great individual rush down the rightwing side and a charge towards the net with his shot that broke past Branden Komm at 15:31 of the third period. Barry Almeida (20th) added insurance at 17:35 with his shot from behind the goal line that banked off Komm and into the net as Almeida became the Railers 1st 20 goal scorer. Matt Lane (13th) added an empty netter at 19:51 as the Railers grabbed the 4-1 road win.
2019 at Manchester 4-1 loss
(RAILERS) The Worcester Railers HC (30-25-6-4, 70pts) dropped a 4-1 decision to the host Manchester Monarchs (34-27-2-2,72pts) in front of 4,102 fans at the SNHU Arenaon Saturday evening. With the loss, the Railers are now two points behind Manchester for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division with seven games remaining. Drew Callin scored hist first professional goal for Worcester while Mitch Gillam made 18 saves in net as the Railers scored just a single goal in their second straight game. Daniil Miromanov scored twice for Manchester while Charles Williams made 22 saves in net as Worcester fell to 14-15-1-3 on the road this season. Monarchs rookie Nic Pierog (32nd) sniped the only goal of the first period after the Monarchs won the puck along the wall and zipped the puck to the top of the crease at 10:39. It took over 12 minutes for Worcester to get their first shot on goal on netminder Charles Williams but would end up having an 8-7 shot advantage through 20 minutes of play. Manchester went ahead 2-0 as Daniil Miromanov (11th) tapped home a centering feed from on top of the crease at 16:17 of the second period. Bentley University Alum Drew Callin (1st) would fire home a rebound attempt from the right circle for his first pro goal in first professional game to get the Railers on the board at 18:40. Shots were 17-14 in favor of Worcester through 40 minutes of play. Daniil Miromanov (12th) added an insurance goal at 15:11 of the third period as his centering feed went off a Worcester stick and into the net. Pierre-Luc Mercier (12th) added an empty netter as Manchester grabbed the 4-1 home victory to hold onto the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. Shots were 8-6 in favor of the Monarchs in the third period.
2022 at Reading 3-2 loss
(RAILERS) The Worcester Railers HC (27-25-4-2, .517) lost to the Reading Royals (36-14-6-2, .690) on Wednesday night by the final score of 3-2 in front of a crowd of 2, 009 at Santander Arena. The Railers are in Glens Falls at Cool Insuring Arena on Friday, March 25nd to take on the Adirondack Thunder at 7:00 p.m. If you missed the first few minutes of the game you sure missed a lot. Both teams jumped out of the gate on Wednesday, and then settled into a quiet rhythm for the rest of the night. Four of the game’s five goals were all scored within the first 4:22 of play. Steve Jandric (1-1-2) got on the board first for the Railers just 1:19 into play. The Royals came back and scored the next three goals over a span of 2:26 to take the 3-1 lead early in the first. With only 36.4 seconds left in the game, Reece Newkirk (1-0-1) notched one late in the third as Colten Ellis was pulled for the extra attacker. Reading’s defense remained stout over the remaining seconds of play to secure the 3-1 victory for the Royals. Steve Jandric (2nd) got things started early for Worcester, scoring his second goal in as many days just 1:19 into the game. Reading was quick to respond, as Frank DiChaira (11th), Trevor Gooch (29th) and Thomas Ebbing (25th) all scored across a 2:26 second span on just four total shots, to push the Royals out to a 3-1 lead just 4:22 into the game. Neither team scored the rest of the frame, as Reading would hold the 3-1 lead going into the break. Shots in the period favored Worcester 9-8. It was a very quiet second period for the Railers. The Royals did get two chances on the powerplay, but were unable to solve Ellis, as the period came to a close with Reading still out in front 3-1. Reading outshot Worcester in the period 9-1. In the third period with Colten Ellis pulled and the extra attacker on, Reece Newkirk (10th) batted in a rebound from the right side to get Worcester back to within one with just 36.4 seconds left in regulation. Worcester jumped right back into the attacking zone after winning the following draw, but were unable to get another good chance on net as the final buzzer sounded. Reading held on to win by a final score of 3-2. Shots in the third favored Worcester 8-7, while Reading outshot the Railers 24-18 on the game. Notes: Three Stars: 3rd Star: Hayden Hawkey (16 saves, 2GA, .888 SV%) 2nd Star: Trevor Gooch (1-0-1, 5 shots) 1st Star: Trevor Gooch (1-0-1, 1 shot) Final shots were 24-18 in favor of Reading… Hayden Hawkey (10-3-1) made 16 saves on 18 shots for Reading… Colten Ellis (14-7-4) made 21 saves on 24 shots for Worcester, while Ken Appleby served as the backup… Worcester went 0-for-3 on the power play while Reading went 0-for-2… Bobby Butler (DNP), Ethan Price (DNP), Ross Olsson (DNP), Blake Christensen (INJ), Felix Bibeau (IR), Liam Coughlin (IR), Chris Ordoobadi (IR), and Grant Jozefek (IR) did not dress for Worcester… Reece Newkirk led the Railers in shots with 3… The Railers are now 18-22-2-1 all-time vs. the Royals and 7-13-1-1 at Santander Arena against Reading.
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