This divisional recap summarizes the North Division teams in the ECHL, focusing on their standings, recent game results, player milestones, and key statistics.
Trois Rivieres Lions (35-10-4-1, 75pts, 1st Place)
The Trois-Rivieres Lions would finish the weekend with six of a possible eight points after taking two of the three games against the Adirondack Thunder. Saturday would be a night of first for the Lions, but in an unfortunate way, as it would be the first regulation loss for the Lions at home since opening night. Goaltender Hunter Jones would pick up his first regulation loss since March 8th, 2024. On the positive side, Jakov Novak would pick up three points on the weekend, including two assists on Friday night, and he recorded his 100th point as a member of the Lions. Novak had six goals in the seven-game series vs Adirondack. The Lions, who lost Zachary Emond to Slovakia, would go out and re-acqurie Joe Vrbetic to fill the third goaltender role on the team. On Sunday, the Lions would pick up their 35th win of the season, breaking their previous franchise record of 34 during their inaugural season. Trois-Rivieres will continue their nine-game homestand as they welcome the Norfolk Admirals for a three-in-three.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Afternoon Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Sunday Afternoon Recap
Wheeling Nailers (31-17-2-0, 64pts, 2nd Place)
For the first time all season, the Nailers have found themselves in a slump after losing three of their four games last week as Chris Ortiz signed a PTO with the Providence Bruins, and Atley Calvert and Matty De St Phalle would both get call-ups to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Newly acquired rookies Aidan Sutter and Eli Lieffers would both get their first career ECHL points on the first goal for the Nailers on Saturday Night. Sergei Murashov continues his strong season in Wheeling as he also picked up his first career shutout on Saturday, stopping all 40 shots he faced against the Tulsa Oilers. The 40 saves are the third-most in a shutout in franchise history. The Nailers will wrap up a six-game homestand this weekend as they welcome Adirondack to town on Friday Night before hosting Maine on Saturday and Sunday.
Norfolk Admirals (29-18-3-0, 61pts, 3rd Place)
The Norfolk Admirals would drop two of their three games last weekend to the Maine Mariners scoring just six goals in three games which is suprising for a team that’s second in the league for goals per game season (3.70). Filip Fornaa Svensson would add two more goals this weekend as he now has 21 on the season and is tied for fourth among rookies in goals. Kristian Stead would have a solid weekend in net for the Admirals as he started the first two games of the series and then came into the game on Sunday just under five minutes in after Taylor Joseph gave up two goals on three shots. Stead, who has been overshadowed by Domenic DiVicentiis and Thomas Milic has had a solid season putting up a 6-6 record with a 1.96 GAA, .913SV%, and one shutout in 12 appearances this season. Norfolk will travel to Trois-Rivieres for three games next weekend.
Worcester Railers (24-23-2-4, 53pts, 4th Place)
It would be a tough Southern road trip for the Railers as they would go 1-3 and would get shutout in both games against the South Carolina Stingrays. Matthew Kopperud would have a solid weekend for the Railers as he had two goals in each of the games against the Savannah Ghost Pirates. The losses on the ice, weren’t the only ones the Railers would suffer as Jordan Kaplan would be suspended for the weekend and Kolby Johnson would be suspended by the league indefintley pending a hearing, the length of his suspension is expected to be announced this week. The Railers would also make a trade as they sent Matthew Boudens to the Fort Wayne Komets after Worcester has suspended Boudens earlier in the week. Worcester will host the Bloomington Bison on Friday and Saturday Night.
Reading Royals (21-22-7-1, 50pts, 5th Place)
The Reading Royals would start the week on the wrong foot by suffering a 4-1 to the Kalamazoo Wings but would bounce back and win all three games during the weekend as they took two games from the Fort Wayne Komets and a game from the Wheeling Nailers. Reading would improve to 10-3-4 in their last 17 games. Matt Brown had goals in back to back games on Saturday and Sunday as he now as four goals in his last seven games for the Royals. The Royals will host the Mariners on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, a team that they have yet to beat this season as they are 0-3-1 this season against the Mariners.
Maine Mariners (19-28-3-0, 41pts, 6th Place)
The Maine Mariners would head down to Norfolk for a three-in-three against the Norfolk Admirals. The weekend began with the two teams exchanging shutouts as Ryan Bischel picked up his first professional shutout on Friday Night, stopping all 33 shots he saw. On Sunday, Brad Arvanitis would get his first start of 2025 as he made 32 saves for his second win of the season. Tristan Thompson, who joined the Mariners in January, would pick up his 100th career ECHL points on Sunday as he picked up his 12 assist and 13th point of the season. Sebastian Vidmar has started to find his scoring touch, as he has four goals in his last four games after picking up just one goal in his 46 games of the season. The Mariners would go out and acquire another defenseman in Theo Calvas From the Kalamazoo Wings. Maine will continue their road trip next week as they will play in Reading on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday before heading to Wheeling on Sunday.
Adirondack Thunder (17-29-3-1, 38pts, 7th Place)
For the Adirondack Thunder, it’s a good start to the road trip after taking three of six points from the best home team in the ECHL, the Trois-Rivieres Lions. It would be a bounce-back weekend for Tyler Brennan, who saw action in all three games, where he stopped 67 of the 72 shots he faced and would pick up his first win since February 2nd on Saturday. Darian Skeoch would pick up his first goal of the season on Saturday Night and his first since February 2nd, 2024. Brendan Less would play in his 100th ECHL game on Saturday as well. Adirondack will continue their road trip with four games next week. They’ll visit the Kalamazoo Wings on Wednesday, Wheeling Nailers on Friday and Saturday, and the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Afternoon Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Sunday Afternoon Recap
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
