This divisional recap summarizes the North Division teams in the ECHL, focusing on their standings, recent game results, player milestones, and key statistics. There’s no question that there was a lot of scoring in the North Division over the past week.
Wheeling Nailers (23-6-1, 47pts, 1st Place)
The Nailers continue to hold the top spot in the North Division, heading into 2025. Wheeling would take the first two games of the weekend, beating Reading and the first game of the two-game set vs Norfolk. In the second game, it would be a game to forget for the Nailers as they gave up six goals in the opening period in a 9-3 loss. Wheeling will have a busy week ahead of them as they will head out for two games in Indy against the Indy Fuel and then return home for two games against Railers, which should be a big week for Wheeling following a tough night in Norfolk.
Trois-Rivieres Lions (21-4-4-0, 46pts, 2nd Place)
After an overtime loss on New Year’s Eve to the Maine Mariners, the Lions would make easy work of the Adirondack Thunder by sweeping the three-game set, outscoring the Thunder 18-5 in the three-game set. Anthony Beauregard has goals in his last three goals, and Anthony Beaucage stays hot as he now has 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 14 games this season. The Lions will have another three-in-three this weekend against the Reading Royals.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Sunday Night Recap
Norfolk Admirals (20-9-3-0, 43pts, 3rd Place)
The Norfolk Admirals had a big offensive week in each of their wins. They began their week with an 8-3 win on Tuesday vs Greenville and put up a nine spot on Saturday in a 9-3 win over the Wheeling Nailers. Denis Smirnov stays hot as he’s extended his point streak to six games. Norfolk will head out to Maine for a two-game set vs Mariners.
Worcester Railers (13-17-1-3, 30pts, 4th Place)
The Worcester Railers have overtaken the Adirondack Thunder for the fourth spot in the North Division after picking up five of a possible six points, including erasing a three-goal deficit against Adirondack on New Year’s Eve. Anthony Repaci would become the Worcester Railers franchise leader in assists (92). The Railers would host their annual Worcester IceCats, including a crowd of 8,056, the sixth-largest attendance in franchise history. Worcester will hit the road next week for games on Saturday and Sunday vs Wheeling Nailers.
Adirondack Thunder (13-16-0-1, 27pts, 5th Place)
The Adirondack Thunder have had a rough start to 2025 as they blew a three-goal lead to Worcester on New Year’s Eve and then got swept by the Lions in a series where they would be outscored 18-5, including giving up at least five goals in two of the three games. Ryan Francis has continued to stay hot as he has five goals and three assists for eight points in seven games since returning from his team suspension. Adirondack, who has not won at home since December 6th, will welcome the Orlando Solar Bears to town for a three-in-three beginning Friday Night.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Sunday Night Recap
Maine Mariners (12-15-3-0, 27pts 6th Place)
The Maine Mariners are starting to find their groove as they picked up five out of a possible eight points last weekend. Maine started the week with a couple of roster issues, prompting the signing of 40-year-old Derek Whitmore, who scored the game-tying goal on New Year’s Eve before the Mariners would win in OT against the Lions. The Mariners would then welcome the Tahoe Knight Monsters to town for a three-game set where they picked up an OT loss on Friday, a win on Saturday, and then a regulation loss on Sunday. Knight Monster goalie Jesper Vikman would score a goalie goal to cap off the 5-2 win on Sunday. Maine will welcome the Norfolk Admirals to town for games on Saturday and Sunday.
Reading Royals (11-18-4-0, 26pts, 7th Place)
The troubles for the Reading Royals continue as they went 1-1 on the weekend as they lost to Wheeling on New Year’s Eve and then would beat the Railers in the first shootout of the season for the Royals. Vinnie Purpura has now won his last three starts for the Royals and, has allowed three goals or less in his last seven appearances this season and holds a record of 5-2. The Royals will host Trois-Rivieres next weekend for three games.
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