Railers sign Providence College products

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Railers Hockey Club, ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, announced that the club has signed defensemen Kyle McKenzie and Josh Monk to ECHL contracts for the 2017-18 season.

McKenzie and Monk were both members of Providence College’s 2015 National Championship winning team. In addition, they both skated for the Friars while Jamie Russell served as assistant coach for Providence during the 2013-14 season.

The 25-year-old Monk spent four seasons with Providence College (2013-17) playing in 107 games for the Friars and recording 42 points, 100 penalty minutes and a +36 rating. Last season, Monk recorded career-highs in goals (3), assists (17) and points (20) in 28 games played. He finished the season with a +12 rating and 53 shots on goal. He ranked second on the team with 34 blocked shots, and recorded six multi-point games, including a career-high three points in Game 2 of the Hockey East Opening Round playoffs.

Before joining the Friars in 2013, the Langley, British Columbia native spent four seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League totalling 103 points (25g-78a)and 222 penalty minutes in 177 games with five teams .

The 24-year-old McKenzie also spent four seasons with Providence College (2013-17) where he played in a total of 153 games, second all-time at Providence, and recorded 23 assists, 159 penalty minutes and a +31 rating.

Last season with the Friars, McKenzie appeared in 38 games, totaled five assists, led the team with 54 blocked shots, recorded 30 penalty minutes, a +4 rating and was the 2016-17 recipient of the Ron Wilson Award as Providence’s best defensive player.

Before joining the Friars in 2013, the Aston, Pa. native played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League, and helped Dubuque to a first-place finish in the East Division in 2012-13. He posted eight points (2g-6a) in 57 regular-season games, and had a +23 rating on the year, helping Dubuque Sweep the Fargo Force to win the Clark Cup as USHL champions.