For the third time in as many days, the Worcester Railers hosted the Wheeling Nailers at the DCU Center, and were out-shot, out-played, and out- everything about hockey you can think of, but somehow weren’t out-scored as Anthony Callin’s first period goal was enough offense with Parker Gahagen saving all 34 shots he faced in the 1-0 win.
The only goal of the game came at 12:05 of the opening period when Calin one-timed a pass from Riley Ginnell past Wheeling goaltender Taylor Gauthier. Cam McDonald picked up the secondary assist.
From there, it was just about all Nailers, who had a 27-7 shot advantage after two periods and easily had three times the scoring opportunities the Railers had. But the only stats that matter are the final score, and the two points that come from winning.
The win gave them a weekend sweep, something they hadn’t done since Valentine’s Day weekend last season in Allen against the Americans.
The Railers’ last 1-0 victory came on November 27, 2024, in Wichita, taking on the Thunder. Jack Randl had the goal at 15:01 of the middle frame, assisted by Jordan Kaplan and Lincoln Hatten. Henrik Tikkanen with the 28 save shutout, and old friend Arron Dell had 45 for the Thunder.
You have to go all the way back to December 20, 2017, for the last time Worcester won 1-0 at the DCU Center. That game saw Barry Almeida connecting at 19:36 of the first period, with assists going to Frankie DiChiara and Patrick McNally. Mitch Gillam saved all 26 Reading shots.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were MacAuley Carson, Connor Federkow, Michael Ferrandino (14-day IR/Unknown), Thomas Gale, Hunter Hall (3-day IR), Anthony Hora (14-day IR/Lower body), and Ross Mitton (14-day IR/Upper body). Tristan Lennox was the backup goaltender.
The ECHL ultimately suspended Wheeling forward Bogdans Hodass three games for his match penalty for high-sticking Drew Callin Saturday night. League suspensions this season have been all over the place, but when you consider that Callin didn’t miss a shift and Hodass isn’t a repeat offender, it had all the markings of being just a one-game suspension. So now this writer has gone from saying he wouldn’t be surprised if there was no suspension to being surprised at how long the one Hodass got was. Welcome to ECHL hockey.
In an amazing stat, of the 182:31 of action against Wheeling the Railers and Nailers were tied for just 29:26 of it. The rest of the time Worcester was in the lead.
The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – #35 Parker Gahagen
2. WOR – #9 Riley Ginnell
3. WOR – #44 Anthony Callin
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Cam McDonald.
Even Strength Lines
Repaci / Miotto / Hatten
Donhauser / A.Callin / D.Callin
Piercey / DeMelis / Susuyev
Ginnell / Dorrington / Acosta
Pulkkinen / Samuelsson
McDonald / Suda
Odelius / Blanchard
Press Releases
RAILERS: Railers sweep weekend against Nailers in 1-0 shutout victory
NAILERS: Gahagen, Railers shutout Wheeling 1-0
Our affiliates last night
Bridgeport 4, Springfield 0
In the ECHL’s North Division last night
Adirondack 6, Maine 3
BOX SCORE
Wheeling 0 0 0 – 0
Worcester 1 0 0 – 1
1st Period-1, Worcester, Callin 14 (Ginnell, McDonald), 12:05. Penalties-Miotto Wor (slashing), 16:45.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Susuyev Wor (high-sticking), 11:02; Tymkin Whl (interference), 13:52; Pulkkinen Wor (roughing), 14:56; Repaci Wor (boarding), 19:37.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Andrew Whl (holding), 9:23; De St. Phalle Whl (tripping), 18:36.
Shots on Goal-Wheeling 12-15-7-34. Worcester 5-2-11-18.
Power Play Opportunities-Wheeling 0 / 4; Worcester 0 / 3.
Goalies-Wheeling, Gauthier 7-4-1-1 (18 shots-17 saves). Worcester, Gahagen 11-3-2-0 (34 shots-34 saves).
A-5,123
Referees-Sam Heidemann (22), Michael Zyla (34).
Linesmen-Sam Schildkraut (46), Noah Merrow (57).
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