WORCESTER—After being home forever, then away forever, the Railers are back to a more normal schedule this week. The Norfolk Admirals visit the DCU Center for a three-game series. They meet Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The Saturday match is the annual Teddy Bear Toss, presented by the Worcester Regional Airport. Fans bring Teddy Bears to the game. After the Railers score their first goal, the bears are thrown onto the ice, collected and delivered to Friendly House.
Some times it takes a while for that first goal.
One time it did not. That turned out to be one of the most memorable games in the city’s hockey history.
On Nov. 30, 2002, IceCats forward Igor Valeev scored 35 seconds into the first period. That remains the earliest Teddy Bear goal at the DCU Center. It also ignited an IceCats offense that produced a couple of records that are still intact.
Worcester went on to beat the Providence Bruins, 11-0. That is the most goals ever scored in a game by a city pro team and the largest margin of victory. It was not, however, a life-changing event for any of those involved.
Valeev played another 15 seasons of pro hockey but never made the NHL. The Bruins used two goaltenders in the game and both played in the NHL for Boston. Tim Thomas was one and eventually led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup. Andrew Raycroft was the other.
Wednesday and Friday are 7:05 faceoffs. The Teddy Bear Toss is at 6:05 p.m.
The Railers head into the series as one of the ECHL’s hottest teams. They are 9-3-1 in their last 13 games. The Admirals the league’s coldest. They are 2-13-0 in their last 15 games. The teams split a two-game series at Norfolk earlier this season.
Overall, Worcester leads the Admirals all-time with a 16-11-2 record. That includes a 10-5-1 mark on home ice.
— There is a chance the homestand will produce an attendance milestone. Heading into the series the IceCats, Sharks and Railers have combined to draw 4,987,980 fans to regular-season games at the DCU Center. The Railers need to attract 12,020 for the three games to get to the 5-million mark.
— The seven-game road trip that ended in Portland Saturday night is tied for the second-best long trip in team history. Worcester was 4-1-2 on a journey that started in February of 2022. Also, in November of that year the Railers had a seven-game trip that finished with a 4-2-1 record, the same mark as this year’s journey. … Case McCarthy is the fourth Worcester player with that last name. He joins Jeremiah (IceCats), John (Sharks) and Connor (Railers). McCarthy is tied for the top spot in the city’s last name category. Jones, Johnson, and Murray also have four. … In a transaction that did not involve the Railers but will probably help them, Reading traded goaltender Vinnie Purpura to Savannah. That gets him out of the North Division. Purpura has a career record of 10-1-0 versus Worcester and has won his last eight straight starts against the Railers. …
— Worcester’s recent surge has been fueled by defense and goaltending. The Railers remain offensively challenged but are winning via goal prevention. They are, to date, 7-2-0 in games where they score three or more goals. … Former Railer Quinn Ryan has resumed his ECHL career with the Admirals after nearly two years away from the league. Ryan had concussion issues and played his final game for Worcester on Dec. 31, 2023. … There is a definite Railers connection in the current league PIM totals. Lincoln Hatten is tied for fourth with 55 while the leader with 59 is Cole Fraser, who started the year in Worcester then was traded. The ECHL leader in minor penalties is Original IceCat Connor Doherty, now with Florida, who has 20. … Hatten is 3-2-5 and plus-5 in his last six games, Cam McDonald is also plus-5 in his last six games.
Bill Ballou covered the Red Sox for the Worcester Telegram from 1997 through 2018. He has covered pro hockey in Worcester since 1994 and currently does a weekly column for the Worcester Red Sox. Ballou can be reached at vetgoalie@aol.com
