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'Full-circle moment': Grafton's Terski scores winner in DCU doubleheader with Railers

Tommy Cassell, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
·4 min read

WORCESTER — As Zac Terski sauntered off the ice surface at the DCU Center Saturday afternoon, the Grafton High hockey player ran into his old youth hockey coach Mike Myers — who is the chief operating officer of the Worcester Railers.

“I started playing for the Junior Sharks when I was 8, 9 years old and played for Coach Myers until I was 13, 14,” Terski said. “So I have a long history with the Railers and Sharks program. It’s a great program, it got me to where I am today.”

On Saturday, Terski scored the winning goal for Grafton in a 2-1 victory over Nashoba as part of a doubleheader with the Railers at the DCU Center.

The impromptu meeting with Myers was just an added bonus.

Nashoba's Max Fucillo and Grafton's Zac Terski battle for possession of the puck Saturday at the DCU Center.
Nashoba's Max Fucillo and Grafton's Zac Terski battle for possession of the puck Saturday at the DCU Center.

“It was pretty awesome to play here again and see (Myers) and just kind of say hi to everyone I've been around for a long time,” Terski said. “This is definitely up there (as) a good memory.”

“It was great to see (Terski) come back all full grown and have such a great game and just seeing him after was a treat for me,” Myers said. “Just a full-circle moment.”

Gators beat Wolves during doubleheader with Railers

The Railers hosted IceCats Night on Saturday — a homage to the first professional ice hockey team to play in the city: the Worcester IceCats

Grafton High boys’ hockey coach Mike Binkoski went to the first-ever IceCats home game in 1994 at the Centrum, now called the DCU Center. Binkoski remembers celebrating his 10th birthday at an IceCats game and seeing Patrice Bergeron play for the Providence Bruins against the IceCats during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

“Lots of great memories,” said Binkoski, who grew up in Worcester and went to North High.

Grafton and Nashoba players raise their sticks at the end of the national anthem Saturday at the DCU Center.
Grafton and Nashoba players raise their sticks at the end of the national anthem Saturday at the DCU Center.

Long removed from the days of four-goal fries' McDonald’s promotions, Binkoski saw his hockey team take on Nashoba Saturday in the latest high school hockey doubleheader with the Railers.

A goal from Grafton senior Cam Michaud midway through the first period staked the Gators to a 1-0 lead before Terski’s left-handed snipe with 2:25 left in the second gifted Grafton a two-goal lead heading into the final period.

Grafton celebrates after Zac Terski scores for a 2-0 lead over Nashoba Saturday at the DCU Center.
Grafton celebrates after Zac Terski scores for a 2-0 lead over Nashoba Saturday at the DCU Center.

“Terski was awesome tonight,” Binkoski said. “He controlled the whole game whenever he was out there.”

A power-play goal from Nashoba senior captain Dillon Kelleher, with 4:56 to play, cut Grafton’s lead to one. But the Gators managed to hold on in the final minutes — despite taking a penalty with 14.1 seconds left — to skate off the DCU Center ice with a 2-1 victory.

“The game got scary at the end, but we obviously worked through it and got the win,” Terski said.

“Just a classic, great, physical, high school hockey game,” said Nashoba coach Matt Biggs, who went to a few IceCats games growing up. “It’s an awesome opportunity for the team. A first-class facility and a huge thank you to the Railers for having us.”

Following the high school hockey game between Grafton (6-3) and Nashoba (2-5), the Railers defeated the Norfolk Admirals, 4-2, on IceCats Night.

Grafton goalie Mason DeCaire takes the ice through the Railers tunnel Saturday at the DCU Center.
Grafton goalie Mason DeCaire takes the ice through the Railers tunnel Saturday at the DCU Center.

With old jerseys, players and mascots (Scratch) making appearances at the DCU Center, it was a flash back in time to the '90s during the Railers' win in Worcester.

“It’s always special to highlight our past hockey history,” Myers said. “Worcester pro hockey has such a great lineage, I was here at the inaugural game in ‘94, and I have the puck from that game, so to do these celebratory nights is really special.”

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

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Grafton beats Nashoba in doubleheader at DCU Center on IceCats night