Front Office Staff

Mike Myers was named COO of the Worcester Railers HC on May 11, 2020 after serving as team president since May 2016. Under his leadership, the Railers were recognized as one of the premier teams in the ECHL which included winning the 2018-19 ECHL Community Service Award, finishing top three in corporate sales revenues in each of the last three seasons, and finishing in the top five in overall group sales. Myers was also named a finalist for the ECHL Executive of the Year in 2018 and 2019. Under his role as COO, he is responsible for all aspects of hockey operations, ticket sales, game day operations, and overseeing the Railers HC Foundation. Before working with the Railers he spent nine seasons with the AHL’s Worcester Sharks as Senior Director of Business and Community Development. Myers made a significant impact in Central Massachusetts over that time overseeing an award-winning community relations department while also becoming a fixture in Worcester County’s business landscape. Prior to his work with the Sharks, Myers owned and operated Myers Mask Design in Worcester where he built a reputation as one of the country’s top mask designers for 11 years, having designed and painted masks for NHL greats such as former Conn Smythe winners Cam Ward and Bill Ranford, and NHL All-Stars Olaf Kolzig, Jonathan Quick and Dwayne Roloson. Myers painted a mask for Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild that was voted “Mask of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated in 2010. Mike continues to actively serve on the boards of several non-profits throughout the area including: The Nativity School of Worcester, Devereux of Rutland and Rainbow Child Development Center of Worcester. A varsity hockey goalie and lacrosse player at Assumption College from 1989-93 he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Psychology/Spanish and a minor in Art. Myers attended ECHL training camps with the Hampton Roads Admirals in 1993 and the South Carolina Stingrays in 1994. The Assumption graduate returned to his alma mater, serving as the Greyhounds’ hockey assistant coach from 1999-2005. As a USA Hockey Level 3 Coach, Mike has spent the last 11 years coaching over 17 youth hockey teams in the Junior Sharks and Junior Railers Organization. He is currently the head coach of the 2005 AAA Elite and Assistant Coach of the 2002 AAA Elite and Mite II teams. Myers resides in Worcester with his wife Ann and three sons: Matthew, Damon and John.

Aitken oversees all revenue channels for the Railers and helps further develop the ticket sales and corporate sponsorships departments. Most recently, Aitken spent nearly five years as the Director of Ticket Sales with the Rochester Americans (AHL) and Rochester Knighthawks (NLL), as part of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills. His responsibilities included strategy, budgeting, and personnel. Under Aitken’s leadership, the Amerks achieved their highest season ticket numbers and ticket sales revenue in the franchise’s 67-year history. The Amerks concluded the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs with the highest attendance for the AHL clubs playing more than one home playoff game, which featured three of six home games with a sell-out crowd of 10,662 at their venue. Prior to his time in Rochester, Aitken spent eight seasons with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) organization. His position with the team was Sr. Manager of Business Development where he led all new business ticket sales efforts, as well as managed a senior level team of ticket representatives. During this time, Aitken was also responsible for youth hockey game-day programming and community outreach efforts for six seasons and was instrumental in the founding of the Monsters’ “Grow the Game” and Learn to Play initiatives in Northeast Ohio. Aitken’s tenure in Cleveland was highlighted by placing among the AHL’s top 10 in group sales for five seasons and generated the most group sales in franchise history at that time in the 2015-16 season. He was also part of the 2016 Calder Cup champion Lake Erie Monsters staff which won the AHL’s President’s Award for Business Team of the Year. Aitken is originally from Chestertown, NY in the Lake George region, and relocated to the Worcester area with his wife Colleen, and their three daughters, Leah, Emma, and Olivia.

Connor Haynes joined the Railers in April 2017 after spending the previous season with the Providence Bruins. The Sutton, Massachusetts native graduated from St. Peter-Marian as well as Nichols College where he studied sports management and received the Zeta Alpha Phi Award for outstanding achievement in sports management. While at Nichols, the football kicker interned with the Copa America international soccer tournament and Worcester State University’s Sports Information department. Connor enjoys helping his groups and members have the best Railers experience possible! 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Bay State Brewing Company 

Favorite Sports Team : Boston Bruins 

Dream Dinner Guest: Tom Brady

Hobbies: Soccer, Snowboarding, Running, PlayStation 4 and hanging out with his dog, Eabha

Stephen Kando joined the Railers in June 2021 after spending the previous four seasons with the Providence Bruins of the AHL. Prior to his time in Providence, he spent the 2016 season with the New Britain Bees of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Smithfield, Rhode Island native graduated magna cum laude from the University of New Haven in 2016 with a Bachelors Degree in Sport Management. In his free time, Steve enjoys playing soccer and was on his college’s Ultimate Frisbee team. 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Wormtown Brewery 

Favorite Sports Team: New England Patriots 

Dream Dinner Guest: Tom Brady or Adam Sandler

Fun Fact: Enjoys playing soccer and was on his college's Ultimate Frisbee team

Paul O’Leary joined the Railers in May 2021 after serving as an Inside Sales Representative for JCSI. The Millbury, Massachusetts native graduated magna cum laude from Franklin Pierce University in 2020 where he majored in Sports Management and minored in Marketing. His uncle, John Wiedeman, is the radio play-by-play announcer of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks; Wiedeman inspired him to start a career in working in professional hockey.

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Polar Park 

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Bruins

 Dream Dinner Guest: Conor McGregor

Dan joined the Railers in 2022 after spending time as the Omni Lead at Dick’s Sporting Goods. The Sutton Massachusetts native attended Nichols College in Dudley, MA where he majored in Sports Management. He also interned for QB Velocity doing marketing and social media. 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: The Mercantile 

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Red Sox 

Dream Dinner Guest: Tom Brady 

Fun Fact: Plays slow pitch softball

Griffin joins the Railers in June 2024 after graduating from Endicott College with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. A proud Worcester native, he spent time working with the Worcester Red Sox and Endicott College athletic department before joining the Railers.

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Goodfellas Barbershop

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Red Sox

Dream Dinner Guest: Joe Mazzulla

Fun Fact: Got a tour of the Seattle Seahawks training facility from head coach Pete Carroll

Joshua joined the Railers in 2022 after spending time with the Kraft Sports and Entertainment Group. The Cumberland Rhode Island native attended Nichols College in Dudley, MA where he majored in Sports Management.

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: The Beer Garden 

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Red Sox

Dream Dinner Guest: Robert Kraft 

Fun Fact: Played rugby in college

Connor joins the Railers in July 2024 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Leadership with a minor is Business. The Hingham, MA native previously spent time working for the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, and with UNH Athletics. 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Polar Park

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Bruins

Dream Dinner Guest: Cody Johnson

Fun Fact: Worked for ESPN during the 2024 Women's Frozen Four

Rylee joins the Railers in September 2024 after graduating from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Community Recreation and Sports Management. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Rylee previously worked with the Clemson Athletic Department.

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Polar Park

Favorite Sports Team: Clemson Tigers

Dream Dinner Guest: Walt Disney

Fun fact: Is an Advanced Scuba Diver

Sean joined the Railers in 2023 after graduating from University of South Carolina where he majored in Sports Management. 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: The Mercantile 

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Celtics 

Dream Dinner Guest: Abraham Lincoln 

Fun Fact: Has a dog named Tatum

JT Hennigan joined the Railers in June 2023 after spending time working as a customer success manager. 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Moynagh's Tavern

Favorite Sports Team: New England Patriots 

Dream Dinner Guest: Drew Brees 

Fun Fact: Does not have a sense of smell

Collin joins the Railers in July 2024 after graduating from St. John Fisher University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management. Originally from Albany, NY, Collin previously worked with the New York Racing Association, as well as the Rochester Americans in the AHL and the Rochester Knighthawks. 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: The Mercantile

Favorite Sports Team: Chicago Blackhawks

Dream Dinner Guest: Paul McCartney

Fun Fact: Is a 2023 AAU Club Hockey National Champion

 

Tim joined the Railers in 2022 after being an intern with the team throughout the 2021-22 season where he worked alongside reigning ECHL Broadcaster of the Year Cam McGuire. Tim graduated from Fitchburg State University, calling games for the FSU Athletics Department for four years. While at Fitchburg, he spent time working at 105.3FM and AM1280 WPKZ, acting as a play-by-play broadcaster, producer, show host, and voice-over talent. He previously spent time as a broadcaster for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, as well as Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations for the Harwich Mariners during the summer of 2022. 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Bay State Brewery 

Favorite Sports Team: Boston Bruins 

Dream Dinner Guest: Roberto Luongo 

Fun Fact: Can play the bongos

 

 

David Gwozdz joined the Railers HC after spending the previous two years as the Assistant Retail Manager at TD Garden with Delaware North working Bruins games, Celtics games and concerts. The Ludlow, MA native also worked as the Merchandise Manager for the Worcester Tornadoes (CAN-AM) before joining the Worcester Sharks (AHL) in 2006, where he spent nine seasons. David is a graduate of Western New England University where he studied business. 

 

Favorite Spot in Worcester: Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field 

Favorite Sports Team: 88-89 Bad Boys 

Dream Dinner Guest: Jess Whedon 

Fun Fact:Has a secret talent in reciting movie quotes from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze

A hockey loving mini-aussiedoddle who helps out in the front office whenever possible!