Wojtala signs professionally with Worcester Railers

NEWPORT, R.I. – Salve Regina University goalie Blake Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.) has signed a professional contract with the Worcester Railers of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

The Railers began play in the 2017–18 ECHL season, and are a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL. The team plays their home games at the DCU Center and are the ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.

"I am very excited and proud of Blake Wojtala," said Salve Regina head coach Blake Wojtala. "He has worked extremely hard throughout his career as a Seahawk for this opportunity to play professionally. Blake is an athlete that came to the rink everyday striving to become a better hockey player. Salve Regina Hockey expects to develop student athletes over their four years as Seahawks so they can have a chance to take their game professionally after working towards a degree. Blake Wojtala will be remembered as a great teammate and competitor. The Salve Regina coaching staff and I look forward to watching this special player develop at the professional ranks." 

Wojtala played four seasons for Salve Regina, ending his career as the program's all-time leader in wins (63), saves (2900), save percentage (.927), goals against average (2.32), and shutouts (11). Five of his shutouts came in the postseason. He had three straight shutouts in the 2016 ECAC Northeast playoffs en route to the program's first conference title, an NCAA tournament record 55 saves in the Seahawks 3-0 win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the 2018 NCAA semifinals, and 36 saves in a shutout over Endicott College, the nation's top scoring team, in this year's Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) semifinals. A 2017-18 AHCA first team All-American and All-New England goalie, Wojtala made the All-CCC team three times in his career, and was twice named CCC Goaltender of the Year.

Wojtala joins John Scorica '15, Peter Gintoli '16, Alex Pompeo '16, Chase Hatcher '17, Nick Owen '17, and Evan Schultz '17 as former Seahawks who have moved on to the professional ranks.