Worcester Railers, Islanders ECHL Affiliate, With Best Start Ever in League History

The New York Islanders ECHL affiliate, the Worcester Railers, made history Tuesday afternoon as they broke the record for the best start to a season in the league’s history. With their 5-3 win over the Norfolk Admirals, they notched their ninth straight victory to open up their 2022-23 campaign, the most ever by a team out of the gate in the ECHL’s 34-year existence.

HISTORY IS MADE!🚂🎉
9-0-0-0 RECORD!
The Worcester Railers WIN making this a new ECHL record. This is now the longest win streak to start a season in ECHL history with 9 WINS! @ECHL #AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/v2y9ymbt9P

— Worcester Railers HC (@RailersHC) November 8, 2022

The previous record holder was split between two ECHL teams: The Trenton Titans and the Daytona Bombers.

With today's 5-3 win over Norfolk, the @RailersHC have set a new #ECHL record with 9 consecutive wins to open a season. pic.twitter.com/HXuLM8O64S

— ECHL (@ECHL) November 8, 2022

What stands out in particular about this Railers squad is how lethal their penalty kill has been.

Worcester currently has killed 25 of 31 penalties thus far, which is good for 81 percent. Also, the New York Islanders affiliate has scored a high volume of goals so far, 43, which translated to 4.78 goals per game.

One player who is making his name present early this season is New York Islanders’ 2016 6th-round pick Collin Adams. The left winger has scored five goals in nine games so far this season with Worcester.

*ahem*

COLLIN ADAMS SENDS EVERYONE HOME HAPPY! RAILERS WIN!#AllAboutTheW | #RailersHC | #Worcester pic.twitter.com/jDogPHJuB4

— Worcester Railers HC (@RailersHC) November 3, 2022

Adams spent significant time last season with the Bridgeport Islanders appearing in 45 games, and so far, in nine games, has already matched his five goals from his time with Bridgeport last season. If he continues the trend he is on, we may see Adams back in Bridgeport shortly.

On the goalie side of things, did you know the Islanders have a 6’8 goalie in their system?

Henrik Tikkanen (2020, rd. 7) is in his first year playing in North America. The 22-year-old Finland native is developing well with Worcester as in four games, he owns a .926 save percentage with a 2.00 goals-against-average.

Up next: The Worcester Railers are back in action on Friday night, as they vist the Adirondack Thunder at 7 P.M Eastern.