Joshua Linsenberg
Worcester, MA – Jordan Binnigton, Mackenzie Blackwood, Yanni Gourde, Jonathan Quick, and Ryan Reaves are just some of the 727 former East Coast Hockey League players who have made it to the NHL.
The Islanders ECHL affiliate the Worcester Railers are gearing up for their 5th season with players set to report to Worcester on Oct.9.
“I think it all falls into the kind of servant leadership thing, I want us to be a group that works for each other. I want my players every night to go out and help each other get to that next level, I want me and my staff to show up every day with the intention of making each other better, and making everybody around us better,” Jordan Lavalle- Smotherman Head Coach and General Manager of the Railers.
Smotherman is entering his first year behind the bench. Prior to this season, Smotherman was the captain of the Railers and has played pro hockey all over the world since 2006. The new bench boss even played for the Atlanta Thrashers from 2007-2009.
With a plethora of experience, Smotherman says being present at the moment is the biggest lesson he wants to instill into his players. “You know, we even as coaches, we all want to move out and that’s the whole point of the East Coast League is to develop, but it’s really important for guys to understand that they need to sit back and enjoy the journey. You can’t be in the American League before you’re there. So it’s about doing all the right little things in the East Coast League to make sure you can get yourself there.”
A key player returning to the Railers this season will be Nolan Vesey, brother of Jimmy Vesey. “Leadership is something I’m looking forward to continuing on next season and only growing in that aspect,” said the 27-year-old. Vesey served as an alternate captain last season in Worcester.
With the captain now behind the bench, we ask Coach Smotherman who might wear the captain patch now It seems that the new ECHL Coach will evaluate his options come training camp.
“We certainly have our list of guys that we’re going to lean on for. For leadership, Nolan absolutely being one of them. He’ll be one of our most experienced guys in the league,” Smotherman said when asked if Vesey could be the next captain of the Railers.
Vesey finished the 2021-2022 season with 12 goals, 28 assists, and 40 points and sat within the top 10 in scoring for the Railers.
Another player who might be back with the Railers is Reece Newkirk. The 2019 Islanders 5th-round pick spent the majority of his season with Worcester playing 36 games with the ECHL affiliate scoring 11 goals. However, Newkirk did see some time in Bridgeport appearing in 13 games. “I think that’s the goal this year coming into camp,” said Newkirk at Islanders Development camp.
Former LIU Captain Zack Bross will be with the Railers as well. Something about the Bross article.
The Worcester Railers open up their season at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on October 22nd at 7:05 P.M against the Adirondack Thunder.
