Railers bring back Welsh

Action photo of Connor Welsh of the Worcester Railers

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Railers Hockey Club, ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, announced today that the club has signed defenseman Connor Welsh to a contract for the 2024-25 season.

Welsh, 26, re-signs with the Railers for his third professional season. In his first year with the Railers, he was first on the team in games played (70), second among defensemen in points (29) and fourth on the team in special-teams points (11) with eight on the power play (2g-6a) and three shorthanded (3a). Welsh was third amongst all ECHL defensemen in shorthanded assists (3).

Welsh was initially acquired by Worcester in a trade on Sept. 6, 2023 from the Trois-Rivieres Lions in exchange for future considerations. The Halifax, Nova Scotia native played in 63 games for the Lions during the 2022-23 season, recording 20 points (2g-18a) and 22 penalty minutes. Welsh first joined the Lions for 11 games late in the 2021-22 season following his final year at Dalhousie University, where he played in three seasons from 2018-22. Prior to collegiate hockey, Welsh spent two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League, splitting time between the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and the Trail Smoke Eaters. In 113 BCHL games, Welsh had 55 points (17g-38a) to go with 38 penalty minutes.