Worcester Railers Opening Night 2026: What To Know

WORCESTER, MA — A new era of Worcester hockey will begin at the DCU Center next weekend.

The Worcester Railers will open their ninth ECHL season against the Maine Mariners at 6:05 p.m. on Oct. 17. Doors open at 5:05 p.m. and the night will include a pregame block party and a magnet schedule giveaway.

The game begins a two-game opening weekend for Worcester. The Railers will host the Trois-Rivières Lions at 3:05 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, for Bluey Day, which will include photo opportunities with the children's television character on the concourse.

Opening night will also mark Worcester's first regular-season game under its new affiliation with the NHL's St. Louis Blues and the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds.

The agreement runs through the 2030-31 season and represents the first affiliate change in Railers history. Worcester spent its first eight ECHL seasons affiliated with the New York Islanders.

The partnership also reconnects St. Louis with professional hockey in Worcester. The Worcester IceCats served as the Blues' top AHL affiliate from 1994 to 2005, according to the Railers.

Worcester opened training camp with 23 players under Head Coach and General Manager Nick Tuzzolino. The roster includes longtime captain Anthony Repaci and Leominster native Steve Moses, who signed with the team after playing most of his 14 professional seasons in Europe.

Repaci is Worcester's career leader in games, goals, assists and points, according to the ECHL.

The Railers finished tied for fifth in the ECHL's North Division last season and recorded the second-best regular-season record in franchise history, as Patch reported when the opening-night date was announced.

Tickets and additional opening-night information are available through the Railers' game page.

See Also:

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• Worcester Marketing Agency Celebrates 10 Years In Business