Railers add Kapelmaster, Malatesta

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Railers Hockey Club, ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, announced that the club has signed goaltender Justin Kapelmaster and defenseman Zach Malatesta to contracts for the 2021-22 season.

Kapelmaster, 25, enters his second professional season after splitting the 2020-21 season between the ECHL and the American Hockey League. The Coral Springs, Florida native began the year with the Allen Americans, appearing in 19 games with a 2.96 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. He then signed a PTO with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters on April 28, and went on to win both games he started while posting a 1.95 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. Kapelmaster then went on to sign with the Fort Wayne Komets prior to the end of the season, appearing in three games. Prior to turning pro, he went 29-37-7 with six shutouts, a 2.71 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in 78 career NCAA appearances for Ferris State University and Robert Morris University in four seasons from 2016-20. 

Malatesta, 25, enters his fifth professional season after tallying 26 points (8g-18a) in 51 games with the South Carolina Stingrays last season. The Wilmington, Massachusetts native also skated in four games with the Hershey Bears in the AHL last year recording one assist. He spent his first three professional seasons playing for the Atlanta Gladiators where he totaled 67 points (20g-47a) in 168 games. Prior to turning pro, Malatesta played three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Moncton Wildcats and Acadie-Bathurst Titan registering 92 points (25g-67a) in 191 games.