WORCESTER—The Worcester Railers are bringing back a familiar face for the 2025-26 season. Forward Drew Callin, who began his professional hockey career with the Railers in 2019, has signed an ECHL contract to return to Worcester after more than 200 games of American Hockey League experience.
Callin, 30, spent the past four seasons with the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL, where he appeared in 224 games and tallied 46 points. He also made his NHL preseason debut with the St. Louis Blues in 2023 after being invited to training camp.
For Callin, the decision to come back to Worcester has as much to do with family as with hockey. His younger brother, Anthony, is already on the Railers roster.
“I’m super excited to be back,” Callin said in the team’s announcement. “This is where it all started for me. To have my brother here and see everybody that’s still here from when I started, it’s going to be a pretty special year, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
He added that the move is as much about personal pride as it is about playing time. “For me, it’s towards the end of my career and I wanted to go somewhere that I had pride in putting on the sweater and playing for a team. For my wife and I to stay in this area and to play with my brother, and to be on the team that I first started with, there’s a lot of pride and excitement for me to come back here and play.”
Railers Head Coach and General Manager Nick Tuzzolino called Callin’s signing a boost for both the team’s skill and its culture. “We are very excited to have Drew this year,” Tuzzolino said in the release. “He has the perfect blend of size and skill together that we are looking for. I love the fact that two brothers get a chance to play together. I know that means a lot to them and their family.”
Callin previously played 92 games for Worcester over four seasons, recording 45 points and serving as an alternate captain. His return brings the Railers’ roster to 22 players signed ahead of the upcoming season, which opens at the DCU Center on Oct. 18 and 19.
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