ECHL: Worcester Railers Announce Head Coaching Change

On Saturday, December 14th, 2024, Worcester Railers, the ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, announced that Head Coach Bob Deraney has taken on a new role within the organization.

Deraney is now the Head of Scouting, effective immediately. In his coaching career, Deraney has served as an Assistant Coach at Northeastern University, Dartmouth College, and UMass. Deraney served as the Head Coach of Providence College for 19 seasons from 1999-2018. Deraney then went overseas and served as Head Coach for one season for Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays in the CWHL. Deraney served three seasons behind the bench as Head Coach for Worcester State University. He became the Assistant Coach in the 2023-2024 season and was announced as Head Coach during the off-season. In the 2007 season, Deraney was the assistant coach for the WJC-18 for the USA- U18

With Deraney’s new position, Nick Tuzzolino has become the fifth head coach named in the Worcester Railers franchise. Tuzzolino served as General Manager and Associate Head Coach to begin the 2024-2025 season. Tuzzoliono came to Worcester in June after spending the 2023-2024 season with the Savannah Ghost Pirates as the assistant coach and director of player development. He served four seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League as Head Coach.

Tuzzolino, in his playing days, was a defenseman and played in the UHL, IHL for the Flint Generals, ECHL for the Alaska Aces, Wheeling Nailers, Utah Grizzlies, Fort Wayne Komets, Elmira Jackals, Savannah Ghost Pirates, and in the AHL for Portland Pirates, Lake Erie Monsters, Abbotsford Heat, Rochester Americans, Utica Comets, and Binghamton Senators. Tuzzolino played 592 games professionally.