Nikita Medvedev is the latest member of the Worcester Railers Junior Hockey Club to announce his college commitment. He will be attending Anna Maria in the Fall of 2023, where he will join the Amcats NCAA Division III program. Anna Maria competes as an Independent.

The ‘02 veteran defenseman visited Anna Maria earlier in the season. Impressed with the campus, he began the application process shortly after.

“As soon as I applied, I was answered almost immediately. Even when I wrote and asked questions. Everything went very quickly,” said Medvedev.

He appreciates the guidance of Railers head coach Sean Bertoni, who assisted him in his first time applying for school.

“He helped me with submitting documents," added Medvedev. "He told me everything in detail, and told me who to text and call.”

After an opportunity in the NCDC fell through, Medvedev joined the Railers in late September. Although he missed training camp, “Nikita was a fast learner,” according to Bertoni. He praised the “simple” and “structured” game that Medvedev brings to the team.

Medvedev feels as though the Railers helped enhance his game as well.

“The coaches are great at explaining your mistakes, and watching film to show you your mistakes,” he said. “If you want to talk to a coach, they are always going to talk to you and show you so you can get better. They have taught not just to play hockey, but to think about the game.”

“Nikita was steady for us all year,” Bertoni added. "He is a strong skater that defends very well. He is also very well liked in the locker room and always brings a smile to the rink.”

A native of Gomel, Belarus, he first played for his hometown club team. He remembers his first coach’s strict punishment for a bad shift: putting a car tire around a player’s neck and having them squatting until their next shift. At the moment, Medvedev didn’t appreciate the harshness, but believes he was taught well there.

Worcester was not his first pit stop in American hockey.

“I was able to fly to America when I was like 14 or 15 years old and I didn't know anything about hockey here so I went to AA league (with the Charlotte, NC Falcons),” Medvedev remembered.

Soon after, he was coached by a platoon of former NHL players including Tomáš Vokoun, Olli Jokinen, and Alexei Ponikarovsky during his two seasons with South Florida Hockey Academy’s 16U and 18U AAA teams.

His journey at the junior level began with the Charlotte Rush of the USPHL Elite. After putting together a solid season in North Carolina, Medvedev then jumped to the NA3HL’s Long Beach Sharks, where he was their top scoring defenseman.

“At Long Beach, I was taught to see what's in front of you and make quicker decisions with the puck,” he said.

Medvedev and his family are both satisfied in knowing his next step is NCAA hockey. His summer will be spent in the gym, gearing up for his first season with the Amcats. Nikita plans on studying sports management.

Learn more about the Railers on the team's official website, and check out the full 2022-23 NCAA commitment list.