Railers Home Opener More Local Than Worcester

WORCESTER – The Worcester Railers, an ECHL hockey (AA) team playing out of the DCU Center, is hosting its 2026-27 season home opener on Saturday in the heart of the County’s hub. In the ninth season of the club’s existence this year’s rendition has a little local variety on the plate for the night.

Saturday’s game will feature a 6:05 faceoff with the rival Maine Mariners. Maine is the Boston Bruins’ ECHL affiliate, making it a highly anticipated opening night.

The Railers signed Stevie Moses, a 37 year old from Leominster, who is expected to play a major role in the Railers offense. For a little extra local spice the Railers broadcaster Tim Foley returns as one of the more reputable in the ECHL and has local roots through Fitchburg.

The Railers finished 34-30-3-5 last season, and despite being in the Kelly Cup playoff hunt late, ended up falling short. Retooled and aiming to match the success the club had in its initial season, there is some buzz going on in Worcester this winter season.

Moses rose the ranks from the Boston Junior Bruins to a stellar career at the University of New Hampshire. His professional career has featured a European tour including stops in the KHL, Finland, Switzerland, and Czechia. Now as he enters the later chapters of his career, he’s back in his home region.

The Leominster winger isn't the first local player on the Railers, as early 2000s Marlborough High star Bobby Butler, known to many former players in the Lunenburg Ledger and Tracker’s coverage area,  played 2 seasons in front of TRAX as well. Butler played for four NHL teams, including Ottawa, New Jersey, Nashville, and Florida. He racked up 23 goals and 31 assists in 83 games in Worcester. The highlight was a 17 goal 21 assist season in the 2022-23 season where the Railers went 34-34-4-0.

Big news this summer was the changing of the Railers NHL affiliation from the New York Islanders to the St. Louis Blues. Through the new partnership there will be a perfect alignment in the Baystate with the minor league hockey teams, as the Blues’s AHL affiliate is the Springfield Thunderbirds out of the MassMutual Center.

Both Railers and Thunderbird games are broadcast on FloSports, where you can get all AHL and ECHL games for $150 per year. Foley, a Fitchburg State University alum, is in his fourth year on the Railers’ broadcasts. He’s the recipient of the ECHL Joe Babik PR/Media Director award this past season, and started his professional career at WPKZ in Fitchburg.

Upcoming games of note are Saturday November 7’s Railers Fight Cancer Night against defending North Division champion Wheeling Nailers. Saturday December 5’s Hometown Heroes Night against rival Maine, and Saturday December 12’s Teddy Bear Toss against the Greensboro Gargoyles. Railers ticket prices start from $14 to $16.