This divisional recap summarizes the North Division teams in the ECHL, focusing on their standings, recent game results, player milestones, and key statistics. As the Kelly Cup Playoffs continue to get closer in the rearview mirror, we finally had our first team in the North Division clinch their spot in the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Trois-Rivieres Lions (40-13-4-2, 86pts, 1st Place)
The Trois-Rivieres Lions would become the first team in the North Division to clinch their spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs as they won two out of their three games last week. Luke Cavallin would pick up his third shutout of the year on Wednesday vs Wheeling, but he would have his four-game winning streak snapped on Saturday despite allowing two goals or less in his last five games. William Provost, who played 10 games with the Lions at the beginning of the season, would re-sign with the Lions on Saturday but didn’t play on Saturday Night.
Trois-Rivieres will host Adirondack on Friday before heading to Worcester for games on Saturday and Sunday.
Wheeling Nailers (34-21-3-1, 72pts, 2nd Place)
Wheeling got a rough start to the week as they would get shutout at home by the Trois-Rivieres Lions on Tuesday during their school day game. They would bounce back on the weekend as they split a two-game set vs Fort Wayne Komets and then beat the Cincinnati Cyclones on Sunday to finish off the weekend. Zach Gallant and Jack Works made their pro debut last week with the Nailers. Gallant picked up four points, including a three-point game on Sunday, and Works got his first pro point on Sunday. David Drake would play in his 232nd for the Nailers, putting him in second place for franchise games, which puts Drake 26 away from Dan Flick, who holds the franchise record. Taylor Gauthier has played tremendous hockey lately, allowing just one goal in each of his his last six games. He has a record of 2-2-2 with a 0.98 GAA and .966SV% over that span.
The Nailers will head to Toledo on Friday and Saturday before finishing off the quick three-game road trip in Indy on Sunday.
Norfolk Admirals (34-22-4-0, 72pts, 3rd Place)
It would be a rough start to the road trip for the Admirals as they’d pick up three points in the first four games of their seven-game road trip. Tanner Andrew picked up his first pro points last week, having an assist in Tuesday and Friday’s games. Andrei Bakanov continues to strive in Norfolk, as he put up five goals last week, including back-to-back two-goal games on Thursday and Friday. He now has a career-high 13 goals on the season. Norfolk would sign Timofey Spitserov to an ATO on Saturday as he would make his pro debut with the Admirals.
The Admirals will finish their road trip with a three-in-three vs Reading Royals beginning Friday Night.
Worcester Railers (29-26-2-4, 64pts, 4th Place)
The Railers would have a solid week as they took two out of the three games vs Norfolk, and the two Anthony’s would lead the way for the Railers. Anthony Repaci would return to the Worcester lineup, picking up points in each of the three games, as he finished the week with one goal and four assists for five points. Anthony Callin would join the party, picking up two goals and two assists for four points as he also has a three-game point streak. Connor Welsh would add his 40th assist of the season, the most by a Railers player in franchise history.
Worcester will head to Maine on Friday night before returning home to host the Lions on Saturday and Sunday.
Reading Royals (26-23-9-1, 62pts 5th Place)
Reading would have the easiest schedule among North Division teams with just two games as they split their series vs Trois-Rivieres as they are now 8-2-2 in their last 12 games. Yvan Mongo would make his season debut on Friday and put up two goals in 21 seconds to tie the game early in the third before the Lions eventually scored with less than five minutes to go. Joseph Nardi would add an assist in both games over the weekend as he now has an assist in each of his last three games.
The Royals will host the Admirals for a three-in-three beginning on Friday Night.
Maine Mariners (24-31-4-0, 52pts, 6th Place)
Prior to their two-game series in Glens Falls vs Adirondack Thunder, the Mariners would make two roster moves, trading defenseman Theo Calvas to Orlando for future consideration and signing defenseman Nate Schweitzer. Heading into the weekend, the Mariners held a 21-11-2-1 at Cool Insuring Arena and hadn’t lost there since Game 7 of the opening round of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Brad Arvanitis would pick up his fifth win and fourth straight start as he stopped 27 of 29 shots he faced. Jacob Hudson would have goals in back-to-back games, as he now has points in his last four games. Former Thunder defenseman Tristan Thompson would pick up four assists in the two games against his former team. Maine has at least one PP in each of their last four games.
The Mariners will host Worcester on Friday before welcoming the Thunder back to town for games on Saturday and Sunday.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Recap
Adirondack Thunder (21-35-3-1, 7th Place)
The Adirondack Thunder would go 1-1 last week as they split their series with the Mariners. On Friday Night, Jeremy Brodeur would play in his 200th pro game but wouldn’t get the outcome he wanted, giving up four goals on 25 shots in a loss. The rookies would lead the way for Adirondack on the weekend as Isaiah Fox added another goal and an assist. On Saturday, the spotlight would be on Kaleb Ergang as he would score just on his first pro shift and finish off the night by scoring the game-winner in OT, becoming the first player in franchise history to do so. The Thunder are now 4-1 at games that go past 60 minutes.
Adirondack will now hit the road for three games next weekend. They’ll play in Trois-Rivieres on Friday before heading to Maine for games on Saturday and Sunday.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Recap
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