Worcester Railers Sign Former Providence College Stars Monk & McKenzie
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Saturday, July 08, 2017
GoLocalWorcester Sports Team
Josh Monk PHOTO: Facebook
The
Worcester Railers have signed former
Providence College hockey players Kyle McKenzie and Josh Monk to contracts for the 2017-18 season.
Both Monk and McKenzie were members of the 2015 Providence College squad that won the National Championship over Boston University.
McKenzie and Monk are expected to make their professional debuts next season.
The Railers are expected to announce more player signings upon approval from the ECHL in the upcoming weeks.
Josh Monk
Monk, 25, played four seasons with Providence College playing in 107 games and recording 42 points, 100 penalty minutes, and a +36 rating. Last season, Monk recorded career-highs in goals (3), assists (17), and points (20) in just 28 games played. He finished the season with a +12 rating and 53 shots on goal. He ranked second on the team with 34 blocked shots, and recorded six multi-point games, including a career-high three points on a goal and two assists in Game 2 of the Hockey East Opening Round playoffs.
“Josh Monk can defend, move pucks quickly and will jump into the play to join the rush. Josh is a tremendous leader that is not afraid to sacrifice his body. I look forward to his continued development in professional hockey,” said Worcester Railers head coach and general manager Jamie Russell.
Kyle McKenzie
Kyle McKenzie (pictured right) PHOTO: Facebook
The 24-year-old McKenzie also spent four seasons with Providence College (2013-17) where he played in a total of 153 games, second all-time at Providence, and recorded 23 assists, 159 penalty minutes, a +31 rating, which included serving as an alternate captain his senior year.
Last season with the Friars, McKenzie appeared in 38 games, totaled five assists, led the team with 54 blocked shots, recorded 30 penalty minutes, a +4 rating, and was the 2016-17 recipient of the Ron Wilson Award as Providence’s best defensive player.
“Kyle is a proven winner. He won a championship in juniors in the USHL and he was an NCAA champion at Providence College. Kyle is a terrific defender who has great feet and an extremely high compete level. From day one in the NCAA ranks, he was matched against opponent's top lines,” said Russell.
Worcester Railers
The Worcester Railers Hockey Club will play their inaugural game at the DCU Center on Oct. 14, 2017 vs. the Manchester Monarchs.
Related Slideshow: A History of Hockey in Worcester
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1954-55
Worcester's 1st Pro Hockey Team, Worcester Warriors
The Worcester Warriors played their first season as part of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL). The Warriors played their games at Worcester (Webster Square) Arena.
In their first season, under Head Coach John "Hans" Marsden, the Warriors went 3-17 and finished in last place.
Other Teams in the EHL that season included the Washington Lions, Clinton Comets, New Haven Blades and Baltimore Clippers.
Photo is of Harold Songin, courtesy of EHL.com
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1955-56
Warriors Join Atlantic Hockey League
After just one season in the EHL, the Warriors joined the Atlantic Hockey League for the 1955-56 season.
However, the 1956 season would be the last season for the Atlantic Hockey League and in turn, the last season for the Warriors.
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1978
Worcester Crusaders Youth Hockey is Established
The Worcester Crusaders served as one of the oldest youth hockey organizations in the Massachusetts.
The Crusaders competed in the New England Hockey League, one of the best youth hockey leagues in North America.
For the 2011/12 season, the Crusaders sponsored 9 teams ranging from mite division to midget division.
Photo courtesy of Crusaders website
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1994
The IceCats Come to Worcester
The IceCats came to Worcester prior to the 1994-95 season and played their games at the Worcester Centrum.
The IceCats went 24-45-11 in their first season and finished in 6th place in the conference.
However, the IceCats would turn it around and make the playoffs in every season after that, except 2004-2005, but would never advance past the second round.
Notable players from the IceCats include goaltender Dwayne Roloson, enforcer Sylvain Blouin, Steve Staios, Dennis Wideman, Ladislav Nagy and Terry Virtue.
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2005
Worcester IceCats are Moved to Illinois
After the St. Louis Blues announced the sale of the IceCats in 2004, the team was moved prior to the 2005-2006 season to Peoria Illinois.
The team was known was the Peoria Riverman from 2005-2013, and is currently known as the Utica Comets, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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2006-07
Sharks Arrive in Worcester
The Cleveland Barons were moved to Worcester and became the Sharks, the AHL Affiliate of the San Jose Sharks.
The Sharks played their first home game on October 14 in front of a sold out DCU Center.
In their first season, Worcester went 41-28-3 (OT Loss)- 8 (shootout Loss) and made the playoffs. The Sharks lost to the Manchester Monarchs in the first round.
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2009-10
Sharks Have Most Successful Season
Sharks had their best season in 2009-10 when they went 49-25-3-3 and finished in first place in the Atlantic Division.
The Sharks made the playoffs but lost in the second round to the Manchester Monarchs.
The captain of the team was Ryan Vescue and the Head Coach was Roy Sommer.
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2012
Worcester Crusaders Merge With the Worcester Junior Sharks
The two organizations combined bring in more than 550 kids and just over 92 USA Hockey certified coaches.
The Worcester Junior Sharks program is structured to allow each player to develop and test their skills at three distinct levels of competition (House, Travel and AAA Elite)
For more information on the Junior Sharks, click here.
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Jan. 29, 2015
AHL Announces Sharks are Moving to San Jose
The American Hockey League announced that at seasons end, the Worcester Sharks would be packing up and going across country to become the San Jose Barracuda.
The move was made so that the San Jose Sharks would be able to call up and send down players easier.
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April, 25 2015
Sharks Play Final Home Game
The Sharks played their final home game at the DCU Center and it was a playoff game.
However, the Sharks would fall in the game 3-1 to the Hershey Bears in front of 4,045 at the DCU Center.
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May 1, 2015
Sharks Play Final Game
In their final game, the Worcester Sharks lost 10-4 to the Hershey Bears, losing the playoff series 3-1.
In 9 seasons in Worcester, the Sharks made the playoffs 4 times, never advancing past the second round.
Notable players in Worcester Sharks history include Jonathan Cheechoo, Sandis Ozolinsh, Joe Pavelski and Claude Lemieux.
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February 6-7, 2016
Shrewsbury Youth Hockey Hosts First Ever Pond Hockey Tournament
The Shrewsbury Youth Hockey Association held the First Annual Pond Hockey Classic, at Shrewsbury's historic Dean Park.
The Worcester Junior Sharks were among 24 teams that participated the tournament.
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February 8, 2016
ECHL Announces Team Coming to Worcester
The ECHL announced that the league's board of governors unanimously approved the new membership application from Worcester Pro Hockey LLC.
The first puck drop for the new franchise is set for the 2017-18 season, a season that also marks the 30th anniversary of the ECHL.
The team name and logo will be announced at a fan fest that is set to take place on April 3, 2016, at the DCU Center.
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