Evelyn Jerden – Inside The Rink

The Worcester Railers have a new affiliation moving forward as they’ll be the ECHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. That means their AHL affiliate will be the Springfield Thunderbirds, whose arena just so happens to be 53 miles away from the Railers. So, with the affiliation change, could there be three names to see in Worcester for the 2026-27 season?

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Defenseman – Quinton Burns

Burns is a 6’2″ defenseman who the Blues drafted 74th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in 31 games for Springfield last season with five assists, but he had 92 penalty minutes. Burns played in 16 games with Florida in the ECHL, recording six points on a goal and five assists. He was a plus-ten with 17 penalty minutes. He appeared in three playoff games with Springfield, finishing with a minus-two.

Goalie – Will Cranley

Cranley was a part of Florida’s duo along with Cam Johnson. In 18 games, he went 14-3-1 with a 2.17 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage, and two shutouts. That success led to him being promoted to Springfield, where in ten games he went 6-4-0 with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. He appeared in a playoff game, allowing four goals on 23 shots in a relief appearance. Georgii Romanov, after his run in Springfield, got extended, and the Thunderbirds still have Vadim Zherenko, so depending on what the Blues do with Jordan Binnington this offseason and if they add a goalie, then Cranley will likely start the season in Worcester.

Forward – Sam Strange

Strange, this past season played in 18 games with Florida recording 21 points on 11 goals and ten assists. He was a +14. He also appeared in eight games with the Allen Americans, recording six points on five goals and an assist. Strange played in 31 games with the Thunderbirds, recording four points on three goals and an assist. He played in two Calder Cup Playoff games but didn’t record a point. In 18 playoff games for Florida in the Kelly Cup Playoff, he had six points on three goals and three assists. Strange was a plus-one. It was his first full season out of college hockey.

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