ECHL: Worcester Railers Transactions | 10/15/2025

Three Players Sign Contracts with Worcester

After signing Matt Stief on October 5th, the Railers announced that they’ve signed goaltender Thomas Gale and Michael Ferrandino for the 2025-26 season after both players attended the Railers camp on tryout agreements.

Thomas Gale

Gale, 25, took the loss in Saturday’s game vs Maine Mariners after stopping 23 of the 24 shots he faced. The Kirland, Quebec, native will serve as the Railers third goaltender behind Tristan Lennox and Henrik Tikkanen. Gale made his ECHL debut last season, playing in two games with the Wheeling Nailers, where he went 1-1 with a 3.58 GAA and .899SV%. He spent his collegiate career at the College of Holy Cross, where he went 37-35-6 with a 2.41 GAA, .917SV%, and five shutouts. In his final season with the Crusaiders, Gale went 24-13-2 with a 2.14 GAA, .927SV%, and two shutouts and was named the AHA Goaltender of the Year.

Michael Ferrandino

Ferrandino, 25, played in both of the Railers preseason games, finishing with three shots on goal. He finished the 2024-25 season in the SPHL with the Peoria Rivermen, where he had a goal and six assists for seven points in 15 games. I expect Ferrandino to start the season as an extra defenseman for Worcester.

Prior to going pro, the Lisle, Illinois native spent four seasons at the NCAA level. He spent his first year of eligibility at the University of St.Thomas, where he had one assist in 26 games. Ferrandino spent his final three seasons in the NCAA with Augsburg University. During his time with the Auggies, he put up nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points in 77 games.

Three Bodies Coming Down From Bridgeport

Along with the signings, the Railers are also getting three bodies from the Bridgeport Islanders in forward Max Dorrington and Ross Mitton, along with defenseman Calle Odelius.

Calle Odelius

Odelius, 21, is coming off his first season in North America with the Bridgeport Islanders, where he put up a goal and 12 assists for 13 points in 62 games. Prior to coming to North America, the second-round pick of the New York Islanders spent the majority of his professional career with Djurgårdens IF (Ha). In 60 games, he put up a goal and 14 assists for 15 points. He would add a goal and three assists in 14 playoff games. Odelius also saw nine games in the SHL with Djurgårdens.

On the International stage, he won a bronze medal at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2021. Later that year, Odelius had three assists in six games during the U18 World Junior Classic. He also played at the U20 World Junior Championships, where he had one goal in seven games.

Max Dorrington

Dorrington, 24, has already put up a goal and an assist in two games this season in the AHL with the Bridgeport Islanders. He made his pro debut last season with Bridgeport, putting up one assist in seven games with the Islanders. Prior to going pro, the North Reading, Massachusetts, native spent five seasons in the NCAA. Dorrington would spend his first four seasons in the NCAA at St. Lawrence University. In 117 games with the Saints, he put up 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points. He would then spend his final year of eligibility at Sacred Heart University, where he put up 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points in 38 games. If he can continue to play the way he did during his two games in Bridgeport this season, Dorrington will be a big piece of the Railers offense this season.

Ross Mitton

Mitton, 25, is entering his first full professional season after scoring in his first and only AHL game last season with Bridgeport. Prior to joining the Bridgeport Islanders, the Copiague Harbor, NY, native spent five seasons in the NCAA. He spent his four seasons at Colgate University, where he put up 26 goals and 46 assists for 72 points in 130 games. In 2023, he was named to the ECAC All-Tournament Team as the Raiders won the ECAC Championship. Mitton would spend his final year of eligibility at the University of Maine, where he put up four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 32 games with the Black Bears as they won the Hockey East Championship last season.

He began his career at the junior level in the USHL, where he played parts of three seasons with the Fargo Force, Lincoln Stars, and Omaha Lancers. In 132 USHL games, Mitton put up 21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points in 132 games. He would play in nine USHL playoff games with the Stars in 2018 on their way to a Clark Cup Championship.