'Homegrown talent': Eight members of the Railers Junior Hockey Club come from Worcester
WORCESTER — Marcus Chrisafideis loves his mom’s baked oatmeal.
And salmon piccata.
Those are just a few of the dishes Chrisafideis gets to enjoy from the comforts of his home in Marlborough while he plays for the Worcester Railers Junior Hockey Club this winter.
“I get to come to the rink every day with my friends, then go home to a nice home-cooked meal (from) my mom,” Chrisafideis, 19, said. “So it’s pretty awesome.”
Finishing a story for @tgsports on a handful of local kids playing for the Worcester Railers Junior Hockey Club.
Here’s 19-year-old Marcus Chrisafideis, of Marlborough, talking about joining the Railers Jr. — who lead the ECHL — and the perks of playing puck so close to home. pic.twitter.com/G8DOgi4aY5— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) January 24, 2024
Chrisafideis, however, isn’t the only member of the Railers Junior Hockey Club taking advantage of the convenience of playing puck so close to home.
The former T&G Hometeam Super Teamer is one of eight local players on the Eastern Hockey League team — based out of Worcester — that’s focused on placing and preparing players to join NCAA programs.
Naturally, it’s a hometown feel with the Railers Jr. this season. Oatmeal and all.
“We take pride in finding local guys,” Railers Jr. coach Sean Bertoni said. “We’re just proud that we have the opportunity to showcase our homegrown talent. We bring guys from all over, but it’s nice to bring in the hometown kids.”
Getting to know you
With the Railers Junior Hockey Club currently leading the Eastern Hockey League in wins (25) and points (52) through 32 games, let’s look at those players from the Worcester area who have helped the club get off to such a hot start:
Max Beaulac, Fitchburg
Right-shot forward | 5-foot-8, 165 pounds
“He’s really developed and matured both on and off the ice,” Bertoni said. “Tremendous kid and tremendous teammate, and I’m looking forward to seeing Max play at the next level. He’s really come a long way.”
Declan Chapman, Douglas
Right-shot forward | 5-foot-8, 170 pounds
“He’s one of the best puck-possession guys in the league, in my opinion,” Bertoni said. “Really uses his frame and his body really well and a creative guy that makes high-end plays when he really gets his motor going.”
Marcus Chrisafideis, Marlborough
Left-shot forward | 5-foot-7, 155 pounds
“Relentless player. His effort is tremendous. He has zero give in his play,” Bertoni said. “He might be a two-point-a-game guy since we came off Christmas (break). He’s really coming on here in the second half.”
Dillan Lowe, Lancaster
Left-shot defense | 5-foot-10, 175 pounds
“I haven’t met a guy quite like him,” Bertoni said. “How disciplined he is off the ice with his training, his regimen, he’s the first guy at the rink every day and how serious he is about his nutrition. He’s an intellectual guy, for sure, and has a great brain on the ice, and he has some Division 1 ability. He’s a tremendous young man. His skating ability is high end.”
Matt Schirm, Sturbridge
Right-shot defense | 6-foot-3, 205 pounds
“He really can change a game because of his physical presence,” Bertoni said. “He’s such a game changer. He was a monster in the Frozen Finals last year. He can really be a tough guy to play against. He plays against a lot of teams’ first line. He’s a shutdown defender.”
Nolan Tomczyk, Hudson
Left-shot forward | 5-foot-10, 160 pounds
“Very explosive speed guy. Fun guy to watch,” Bertoni said. “He’s going to catch everyone’s eye when he has the puck. He’s learning to play off the puck, but he’s very explosive and can shoot.”
Collin Tunnera, Marlborough
Left-shot defense | 6-foot-4, 175 pounds
“He brings a physical presence, very aggressive,” Bertoni said. “He’s developing his shot and as a skater, but a great teammate and willing to learn and sacrifice for his team for sure, tough kid.”
Zack Warner-Senee, Leominster
Right-shot forward | 6-foot-5, 195 pounds
“He’s still learning a ton, but he’s an effort guy, and he has one of the quickest, hardest shots on the team,” Bertoni said. “I think he’s a real secret when it comes to one of our local guys around here. He’s got so much upside.”
‘It feels like a second home’
Last winter, Dillan Lowe led the Nashoba Regional hockey team to a Division 3 state championship at TD Garden.
The 18-year-old from Lancaster helped the Wolves beat Scituate, 2-1 in overtime, before Lowe was named the T&G Boys Hockey Player of The Year.
“A memory I will never forget,” Lowe said.
Chrisafideis was a point-producing machine during the 2021-22 season and propelled the Marlborough High hockey team to a Division 3 state final appearance at TD Garden.
Despite the Panthers falling to Hanover, 5-3, in the final, it was a near storybook ending to Chrisafideis’ high school career.
“Just an unreal experience,” he said.
Now the two local athletes — who need just 20 minutes each to commute to Fidelty Bank Worcester Ice Center on Harding Street for daily games or practices — are teaming up with a Railers Jr. squad that sits five points above the New York Apple Core in the Central Division standings.
With the Eastern Hockey League Frozen Four just two months away, the Railers Jr. hope to earn one of the top spots in the playoffs for a chance to win a title. And for a handful of their players, getting the chance to suit up for their “hometown” team is a bonus.
There’s no place like home.
“There’s a lot of perks that come along with training for the Railers being close to home,” Collin Tunnera said. “Having home-cooked meals and sleeping in my own bed are definitely on the top of the list.”
Said Matt Schrim: “It feels like a second home.”
“I’m so fortunate to be able to play for the Railers,” Chrisafideis said.
—Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: These eight players on Railers Junior Hockey Club come from Worcester
