After a successful inaugural campaign, the New York Islanders and the Worcester Railers have extended their affiliation for another two seasons.
Today it was announced that the New York Islanders have extended their affiliation with the Worcester Railers through the 2019-20 season.
Coming off their inaugural season, their ECHL affiliate did a great job at developing some of the New York Islanders’ and Bridgeport Sound Tigers’ (Islanders’ AHL affiliate) prospects.
The team, who plays their home games at DCU Center, finished the regular-season with a 37-27-4-4 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record, making the playoffs in their first ever season before bowing out in the first round to the Adirondack Thunder in six games. New York Islanders PR released a statement on Thursday that included this:
“The Worcester Railers are thrilled to extend our affiliation with the New York Islanders,” Railers HC General Manager and Head Coach Jamie Russell said. “We are looking forward to continuing to aide in the development of Isles prospects while maintaining our goal to win a Kelly Cup.”
Kellen Jones, Matthew Gaudreau, and Josh Holmstrom were among those that played and contributed for both the Sound Tigers and Railers this past season.
Between the pipes, the Railers had some of the best goaltending in the ECHL with Eamon McAdam and Mitch Gillam splitting starts. In his first ECHL season Gillam put up a 2.15 goals against average (GAA), a .925 save percentage (SV%), and five shutouts in 41 games. McAdam, the Islanders’ third-round selection in the 2013 NHL Draft, posted a 2.84 GAA and a .910 SV%.
The Railers’ leading scoring was Barry Almeida, coming to the team after two years with the Utah Grizzlies, the 29-year-old had 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games. He had 16 more points than any other player on the team with Chris Langkow and his 45 points coming in for the second most on the team.
Prior to partnering with the Railers last season, the Missouri Mavericks (now named the Kansas City Mavericks) was the Isles’ ECHL affiliate from 2015-2017.