Railers name Lavallee-Smotherman as head coach

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Railers Hockey Club, ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, announced that the club has named Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman as the new Head Coach and General Manager.

Lavallee-Smotherman, 36, joins the Railers behind the bench following a 16-year professional playing career where he captured an American Hockey League Calder Cup in 2008 with the Chicago Wolves, a Canadian Hockey League Memorial Cup with the Quebéc Remparts in 2006, and an E;ite Ice Hockey League Cup with the Belfast Giants in 2019. The Westborough, Massachusetts native was drafted in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 4th round (116th overall). He made his NHL debut with the Trashers on March 31, 2008 and scored his first NHL goal on April 1, 2008. He went onto play parts of two seasons with Atlanta (2007-09) while also playing parts of five seasons in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves, Syracuse Crunch, Providence Bruins and Springfield Thunderbirds accumulating 165 points (79g-86a) in 374 career games. Lavallee-Smotherman was named to the ECHL First All-Star Team during the 2017-18 season as a member of the Manchester Monarchs totaling 72 points (34g-38a) in 69 games. Over his 16-year professional playing career, he played parts of nine seasons overseas from 2011-21.

During his time as a player, Lavallee-Smotherman gained experience in coaching serving as a volunteer assistant with the Manchester Monarchs during the 2017-18 season guiding them to game seven in the Eastern Conference Final. He also served as a player assistant with the Belfast Giants during the 2019-20 campaign.