This divisional recap summarizes the North Division teams in the ECHL, focusing on their standings, recent game results, player milestones, and key statistics. In the North Division, five out of the seven teams would make at least one trade prior to Thursday’s 3 PM deadline. The Adirondack Thunder would become the first team in the North Division to be mathematically eliminated from the Kelly Cup Playoffs after losing two out of three games this weekend. It will be coming down to the wire in the North Division for the final playoff spots as ten points separate the second-place Nailers and the fifth-place Reading Royals.
Trois-Rivieres Lions (41-14-5-2, 89 pts, 1st Place)
The Trois-Rivieres Lions would pick up three of a possible six points last weekend. They would beat Adirondack on Friday night before blowing a three-goal lead in the last 10 minutes on Saturday, but would salvage the series on Sunday. Luke Cavallin would get pulled for the first time all season on Sunday after he surrendered four goals on 11 shots. Logan Nijhoff had a big weekend for the Lions, putting up a hat trick on Friday and Sunday, and he finished the weekend with eight points. Andrew Coxhead would pick up an assist in his first two games as a member of the Lions.
Trois-Rivieres will host the Railers for a three-in-three this weekend.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Wheeling Nailers (36-23-3-1, 76 pts, 2nd Place)
Prior to the weekend series, Wheeling would sign Mason Salquist out of St. Cloud State. The Nailers would drop two of three games last weekend as they split the two-game set with the Toledo Walleye before losing to the Indy Fuel on Sunday. Head Coach Derek Army would become the first coach in Nailers history to coach at least 300 games. Isaac Belliveau has been playing some solid hockey lately for Wheeling, as he has scored two goals and four assists for six points in his last five games. Goaltender Taylor Gautheir would give up three goals on Sunday to the Indy Fuel, as it was the first time in a month that the 24-year-old goaltender gave up three goals in a game.
Wheeling will play their final three non-divisional games this weekend as they’ll host the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday and Saturday, and the Bloomington Bison on Sunday.
Norfolk Admirals (35-23-4-1, 75 pts, 3rd Place)
The Norfolk Admirals would pick up three out of six points during the three-in-three vs Reading Royals, which would be the Admirals’ first shootout loss of the season. German Yavash, who had a slow start to the season, now has four of his eight points in his last five games. Thomas Milic has been solid between the pipes for Norfolk, giving up just four goals in his last three starts, despite picking up just one win.
Norfolk will host Reading on Wednesday and the Savannah Ghost Pirates on Friday and Saturday.
Worcester Railers (31-27-2-4, 68 pts, 4th Place)
It would be a big weekend for the Railers as, like most teams in the Division, they would pick up two out of three, with both of those wins coming against the Lions. On Friday Night, Justin Gill would notch his first career hat-trick, including scoring Worcester’s first and last goals as they erased a three-goal lead in 5:18 and then would go on to win the game by a score of 5-4. It was Gill’s first game back in the ECHL since January 12th. Anthony Callin picked up two assists on the weekend, picking up his 98th point as he’s spent all three seasons with the Railers. Anthony Repaci has been red hot since returning from his injury, as he has three goals and eight assists for 11 points in six games.
The Railers will head out to TR this weekend for a three-in-three against the Lions.
Reading Royals (28-4-9-1, 66 pts, 5th Place)
The Reading Royals and Norfolk Admirals started their weekend series with an 11-round shootout, with Reading taking home the extra point. Newly acquired Patrick Bajkov would score his first goal in his return to Reading, which ended up being the game winner on Sunday Night. Parker Gahagen picked up both wins for the Royals as Friday Night was his first ECHL appearance since November 15th, as he’s spent most of the year with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the AHL. Gianfranco Cassaro netted his 11th goal of the season as he sits second among rookie defensemen in goals. Forward Zach Faremouth would make his ECHL debut on Sunday after signing with the Royals.
The Royals will head to Norfolk on Wednesday before hosting the Maine Mariners for a three-in-three beginning Friday Night.
Maine Mariners (26-32-4-0, 56 pts, 6th Place)
The Mariners would add another college forward to the roster before the weekend as they signed Josh Nixon. Maine would keep itself mathematically in the race after picking up two wins last week, one against Adirondack and the other against Worcester. James Marooney and Robert Cronin would each pick up their first pro goals in Saturday’s loss. Jacob Hudson would lead the way for the Mariners as he has a seven-game point streak (7GA, 4A). Maine would sign forward Alex Dipaolo after their game on Sunday.
Maine will head to Reading for a three-in-three beginning on Friday.
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Sunday Afternoon Recap
Adirondack Thunder (22-37-3-1, 48 pts, 7th Place)
The Adirondack Thunder would be mathematically eliminated from the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs after dropping two out of three games last weekend. Despite the disappointing results, there would be some positives out of Adirondack, as all four of the rookie signings would positively impact the Thunder, with three of them picking up their first career points on Saturday Night. Henry Welsch would quickly get thrown into the fire for the Thunder as he would appear in all three games of the weekend, going 1-1 with a 3.29 GAA and .860SV%. Adirondack would score a season-high three PP goals on Saturday Night in their win against the Mariners. The Thunder have now used 50 different players this season after dressing 51 players all of last season.
Adirondack will welcome the Indy Fuel to town for three games beginning Wednesday Night. Indy and Adirondack have only faced each other once, on November 27th, 2019, in Glens Falls, when the Thunder took home the 4-2 win.
Armand Klisivitch’s Friday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Saturday Night Recap
Armand Klisivitch’s Sunday Afternoon Recap
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