'I don't need to do homework': Over 3,000 Worcester kids attend Railers 'School Day' game

WORCESTER — Move over No. 2 pencils, ice skates were the ones getting sharpened Wednesday morning.

Plushy blue seats ousted the usual desk chairs. Intermission replaced recess. The Zamboni subbed in for the school bus.

In partnership with the Hanover Insurance Group, the Worcester Railers provided tickets and complementary transportation to over 3,000 Worcester Public School students (grades 1-6) to attend their sixth annual “School Day” game at the DCU Center.

“The most important part of this game is to grow the game and really expose the game to all the kids in the Worcester Public School system,” said Railers chief operating officer Mike Myers. “This is a game for everybody to enjoy.”

From “Baby Shark” to “Old Town Road,” the newly renovated arena in Worcester was rocking for just over two hours as the Railers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Kansas City Mavericks.

With 10:03 left to play in the second period, Railers forward Brendan Robbins scored to tie the game at one apiece. Following his goal, the crowd full of students erupted.

“It’s fun,” said Robbins, who attended Broad Street Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire. “It’s loud. It’s a lot higher pitch than we’re used to.”

“Anytime the arena is packed like that, whether it’s little (kids) or (adults), it’s a fun atmosphere,” said Railers head coach Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman, who moved to Westborough in seventh grade. “They obviously have a blast; anytime you see them on the jumbotron, they’re up and dancing and singing and having a good time, so it’s awesome for us to bring hockey to kids who might not see it otherwise.”

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At one point during the game, Midland Street School fourth grader Zach caught a complimentary Railers jersey that was tossed into the crowd. Already donning a Mike Eruzione USA jersey that he received last Christmas, Zach gave the new garment to his classmate and friend, Daryl.

“I like it,” Daryl, 9, said. “I got it signed by Trax (the Railers mascot).”

Seated in the same section as Zach and Daryl were Benjamin, Dylan and Patrick. The trio of Midland Street School sixth graders all play hockey while the former even wore a pink and blue Junior Railers jersey.

So, what was it like to watch hockey on a school day?

“It’s fun,” Patrick, 11, said. “I don’t need to do homework.”

“I like watching hockey,” Benjamin, 11, said. “It’s better than (going to class).”

Amid a break in action during the third period, Union Hill School teachers Samuel Durodola and Heath Squires squared off in a Table Talk Pie eating contest. The competition left the two teachers a bit sticky.

“I think we made a mess,” said Squires, who teaches sixth grade math. “I think that’s the idea.”

And the idea of Wednesday’s event was to promote the game of hockey to Worcester Public School students. A field trip to the DCU Center was a nice change of pace from a normal school day.

“It’s an amazing feeling seeing all of the kids in the city come out and watch a game,” said Durodola, who is a substitute teacher. “It gives them a different kind of experience instead of doing schoolwork on a school day.”

— Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Railers host sixth annual 'School Day' game at DCU Center