The night started in grand fashion. The night ended …
In Grand fashion.
Propelled by a goal just 15 seconds into the season, the Worcester Railers made history Saturday night after defeating the Maine Mariners, 4-2, at the DCU Center. The victory was the 1,000th for the city as a pro hockey host, counting the IceCats and the Sharks.
“That’s my 21st win (with the Railers), so I’ve played a small part in that,” said goalie Parker Gahagen after a 26-save effort. “It’s been a great, long-standing organization, so props to everyone who made it happen.”
After the IceCats, who debuted in 1994-95, won 403 games, the Sharks followed with 339. The Railers’ victory Saturday was their 258th as they started their ninth season in front of 5,879 fans.
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With captain Anthony Repaci one of the spectators due his recovery from surgery, Matt DeMelis scored the earliest season-opening goal in franchise history when he stole a puck from Holden’s Connor Doherty and beat Maine goalie Luke Cavallin at the 19:45 mark of the first period.
The Railers never trailed en route to their quadruple-digit win.
“I’m psyched that our group got to be a part of that,” said head coach Nick Tuzzolino of the milestone. “But I’m more happy for the organization and the city. It’s something that not a lot of teams can hang their hat on. It’s such a blue-collar, awesome city and I think it’s something that they should celebrate. It’s for them; we’re just here for them.”
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DeMelis, named the game’s first star, scored on his only shot of the night. He was pleased to help the Railers earn their seventh consecutive victory dating back to last season.
“It’s great – it’s something we talk about as a team beforehand,” he said of the fast start. “It was a good start and we just have to keep building on it.”
The Railers scored goals a minute and 13 seconds apart in the second period, with the first one again coming early. Sam Stang wristed a shot past Cavallin just 62 seconds in before Jordan Kaplan finished off a breakaway, top shelf, to put Worcester ahead 3-0.
After Jack Bar spoiled Gahagen’s shutout bid eight minutes into the third period, Declan McDonnell scored on a breakaway just 29 seconds later to restock the three-goal advantage.
“There’s two ways you can go (after the other team scores): you can either get tight and take on more pressure,” Tuzzolino said, “or can get loose and still stay like you’re controlling the pace – and the you get another chance. It’s sticking with it and it’s not letting your mental side go south just because a goal gets scored.”
The game served as a homecoming for Leominster’s Steve Moses, who was part of the first forward line on the ice, at right wing. He played on the first power play unit and saw time at left wing as well. Moses had two shots on goal, both in the first period, and finished a plus-1.
After the Railers lost eight of their first nine games last year, Saturday’s result was a welcome change.
“Last season was definitely a tough start, but it also tells us that the start of the season doesn’t dictate the year,” Tuzzolino said. “As good as it is to get in on the right foot, this just means we have that much more work to do.”
‒Contact Tim Dumas at tdumas@gannett.com. Follow him on Instagram at tdumas1 and X, formerly known as Twitter, @TDumas2112.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Grand opening for Worcester as Railers earn 1,000th pro hockey victory