The Worcester Railers have once again earned recognition for their work off the ice.
The team announced Monday that it has been named a finalist for the 2025-26 ECHL Community Service Team of the Year Award, marking the eighth consecutive season the organization has been among the finalists for the league honor.
The nomination continues a streak of community service recognition that has become a hallmark of the Railers organization since its return to Worcester in 2017. The team previously won the award in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
“It is an honor to once again be nominated for the ECHL’s Community Service Team of the Year Award,” Chief Operating Officer Michael G. Myers said in a team announcement. “This past season, we took our community initiatives to a new level that challenged our staff while delivering meaningful impact across our community and network of non-profit partners.”
The nomination reflects another year of extensive charitable giving and community engagement through the Worcester Railers HC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the organization established in 2016.
According to the team, the foundation has donated more than $2.1 million since its inception and partnered with more than 775 community organizations across Central Massachusetts. Its work focuses largely on youth-centered initiatives and efforts to make hockey more accessible throughout the region.
During the 2025-26 season alone, the foundation donated more than $325,000 to nonprofit organizations, contributed more than 2,600 volunteer hours and welcomed more than 2,000 children through its Skate to Success program, the organization’s flagship community initiative.
Myers said the organization remains committed to building on those relationships and continuing its community impact.
“We are proud of the connections we have maintained and the impact we will continue to make going forward,” he said in the announcement.
The Railers also received additional league recognition this year, earning nominations for Most Creative Revenue Generation of the Year, Corporate Partnerships Professional of the Year for Paul O’Leary, and the Joe Babik Award for Media/PR Director of the Year, recognizing Tim Foley.
The winners of the ECHL Team Awards will be announced June 24 during the league’s summer meetings in Nashville.
The ECHL Community Service Team of the Year Award recognizes organizations that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to charitable work, volunteerism and community engagement throughout the season.
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