The Worcester Railers are continuing to fill out their roster ahead of the 2026-27 season, bringing back a familiar forward while adding a veteran with nearly a decade of professional experience.
The Railers have signed Cole Donhauser and JC Campagna to ECHL contracts, the team announced Tuesday. The additions bring Worcester’s announced roster to 21 players — 13 forwards, seven defensemen and one goaltender.
For Donhauser, the signing means another season in a city where he has become one of the team’s more durable players.
The 26-year-old forward appeared in 68 games for Worcester last season, tied for third-most on the team, and recorded 27 points. It was his second full season with the Railers after playing 71 games during his rookie campaign in 2024-25.
Donhauser recorded 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points that season and established himself as a threat on the penalty kill. He led ECHL rookies with five shorthanded points, including two goals, according to the Railers’ announcement. His three shorthanded assists also led league rookies.
The 6-foot, 190-pound Donhauser initially joined Worcester after splitting 21 games during the 2023-24 season among the Idaho Steelheads and Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL and Coventry Blaze of Britain’s Elite Ice Hockey League.
Campagna, meanwhile, arrives with a considerably longer professional résumé — and a little previous familiarity with Worcester.
The 33-year-old forward participated in Railers training camp before the 2025-26 season but ultimately played three games for the Utah Grizzlies, recording one assist.
Now he returns to Worcester as he prepares for his 10th professional season.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Dallas native has played 214 ECHL games for 10 teams over nine seasons, totaling 77 goals and 70 assists for 147 points.
Campagna has also spent portions of the past two seasons playing in Europe, with stops at HC Presov and HC 19 Humenné in Slovakia and EHC Freiburg in Germany.
The two signings further define a Worcester roster that has steadily taken shape throughout the offseason under head coach and general manager Nick Tuzzolino.
Donhauser joins a group of returning Railers that includes Anthony Repaci, Riley Piercey, Jordan Kaplan, Cam McDonald and William Lavallière, while Campagna joins several newcomers brought aboard as Worcester prepares for the new season.
The Railers now have 21 players officially under contract: Donhauser, Campagna, McDonald, Kaplan, Tyson Fawcett, Will van der Veen, Lavallière, Matt DeMelis, MacAuley Carson, Dalton Duhart, Matthew Hobbs, Piercey, Riley Ginnell, Adam Samuelsson, Vinny Corcoran, Lincoln Hatten, Michael Suda, Declan McDonnell, Connor Federkow, Gabe Blanchard and Repaci.
Of those 21 players, 13 are forwards and seven are defensemen. Lavallière is currently the lone goaltender announced by the club.
Worcester enters the 2026-27 season as the ECHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.
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