Mitch Gillam grabs first pro win in 28 save road shutout in Manchester

Worcester Railers HC at Manchester Monarchs

October 21, 2017

SNHU Arena

Meeting 2 of 15 vs. Manchester this season

Worcester is 2-0-0-0 vs. the Monarchs this season

Mitch Gillam grabs first pro win in 28 save road shutout in Manchester

Railers take home 2-0 win in the Monarchs home opener

Manchester, NH – Rookie netminder Mitch Gillam made 28 saves in his first professional win to lift the Worcester Railers HC (2-0-0-0, 4pts) over the Manchester Monarchs (2-2-0-1, 5pts) by the score of 2-0 in front 3,019 fans at the SNHU Arena on Saturday evening.

Defenseman Mike Cornell had the game winner at 5:27 of the third period and Ashton Rome added an empty netter as the Railers improved to 2-0-0-0 in the young season.

Neither team found the back of the net in a rather ho-hum first period of play as Manchester led the shot docket 9-6.  Railers rookie netminder Mitch Gillam made a pair of left pad saves to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes of play.

Each team had a 5-on-3 power play in the middle frame but again came up empty in the second period.  Yanick Turcotte (3rd FM) and Colton Saucerman (1st FM) dropped the mitts at 12:23 with Turcotte getting the KO with a series of lefts and rights.  Shots were 19-14 in favor of Manchester through 40 minutes.

The Railers would score twice in the third period to take home a 2-0 victory.  Mike Cornell (1st) scored the game winner at 5:27 with a quick snap shot from 58 feet through a screen and past goaltender Charles Williams assisted by Kellen Jones.  The Monarchs would put some pressure on late but Mitch Gillam stood tall with nine more saves before captain Ashton Rome (2nd) buried an empty netter from 120 feet at 19:01 to seal the victory.

Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star Charles Williams (19 saves, L) 2nd star: Mike Cornell (GWG) 1st star: Mitch Gillam (28 saves Shutout Win)…Final shots were 28-21 in favor of Manchester… Charles Williams (2-1-0) made 19 saves on 20 shots for Manchester….Mitch Gillam (1-0-0) made 28 saves on 28 shots for Worcester…. Joe Spagnoli (emergency goalie) served as the backup goalie for the Railers….Worcester went 0-for-2 on the power play while Manchester went 0-for-3…. Matt Lane, Nick Saracino (inj), Ben Masella, Connor Doherty, and Eamon McAdam (inj) did not dress for Worcester…. Woody Hudson made his professional debut for the Railers… Worcester dressed eight rookies… Yannick Turcotte now has three fighting majors through two games….Jeff Kubiak led the Railers with six shots on goal… Ashton Rome has a two-game goal scoring streak…Chris Langkow finished +2 and won several key faceoffs.

Coming up…. The Worcester Railers Hockey Club, a proud member of the ECHL, head to Colorado on Wednesday, Oct 25 for a 9:05pm (EST) battle vs. the defending Kelly Cup Champion Colorado Eagles.  Listen to the game live on 98.9 Nash ICON with coverage beginning at 8:35pm. Full season memberships, mini plans, and group tickets are on sale now by calling the Railers front office at 508-365-1750 or by visiting www.RailersHC.com.