Jenny Pacillo
With just two months to go in the hockey season, it felt like the right moment to check in with the Worcester Railers and see where the team stands as the playoff picture begins to sharpen. As of January 25th, the Railers are in XPLACE in the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league, putting them right on the edge of postseason contention and squarely in the conversation as the season heads toward its final stretch
Fans have a lot to look forward to in the second half of the season. “Just a lot of fun, a lot of town takeovers to cap the year off. We do a lot of specialty Jersey nights,” O’Leary begins, “There were over 15,000 fans in attendance at the DCU Center for Ice Cats weekend in January.” The Railers honored the ten year anniversary of the Worcester Sharks on January 31st, it was another well attended fan favorite. Upcoming promos include celebrating Worcester’s fellow teams, with WooSox Day on February 15th and Bravehearts Night on April 2nd. There are multiple fan appreciation nights in April, along with Women in Sports Night on February 13th and plenty more.
O’Leary highlighted the two day Worcester Monkey Wrenches promotion, which is becoming a staff favorite after it began last year. ”We changed our name to the Worcester Monkey Wrenches for a game, which was a project that started in our front office,” says O’Leary, “Every off season, members of our front office get together in little groups and come up with new themes and different ideas for the season. Railers Creative Services Specialist Ben Schenck came up with the idea of doing the Monkey Wrenches, which the monkey wrench was invented in Worcester.”
The Railers also made a notable addition to the roster in mid-January, signing forward Matt Myers to an ECHL contract. The 23-year-old Worcester native joins the club during his rookie professional season after appearing in fifteen games this year in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Quad City Storm and the Birmingham Bulls, where he tallied six points (4 G, 2 A). Myers had previously appeared in the Railers’ 2025 training camp and brings familiarity with the organization as he transitions into the ECHL ranks. A standout at the NCAA Division III level with the Middlebury Panthers, Myers adds local talent and depth up front as the Railers push toward the playoff stretch.
Myers is in good company with a solid crew of guys. “I’d like to definitely highlight our captain, Anthony Repaci, “ says O’Leary, “He’s been with our team for five seasons. He helps out coaching with the Junior Railers. He’s always stepping up for different community events, and is extremely personable. You’ll see turnover every couple of years, every year to year, but Repaci has been a guy that’s been consistent. Pretty much holds every single record in Railers history, and a lot of them in Worcester pro hockey history.” Repaci’s longevity in a league defined by constant roster movement has helped anchor the franchise. His presence provides stability for younger players while reinforcing the team’s strong ties to the community, something the Railers have leaned into year after year.
That community focus is at the heart of the Railers organization. Attendance and revenue milestones this season have underscored the growing enthusiasm around the team. Moments like Ice Cats weekend highlight how the Railers have positioned themselves not just as a hockey team, but as stewards of Worcester’s pro hockey legacy. As the season heads into its final months, the combination of on-ice competitiveness, community connection, and record-setting fan engagement has created real momentum.
Whether that translates into a playoff run remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Worcester Railers are building something that extends well beyond the standings, and the city is showing up for it in a big way.