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Nailers At Cincy Tonight

January 12, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL) - Wheeling Nailers News Release


Tuesday January 12th 7:30pm - Wheeling Nailers at Cincinnati Cyclones

Friday January 15th 7:35pm - Toledo Walleye at Wheeling Nailers

Saturday January 16th 7:35pm - Johnstown Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers

Sunday January 17th 3:05pm - Elmira Jackals at Wheeling Nailers

Preview - The Nailers look to stay hot as they travel to Cincinnati tonight to take on the Cyclones in a 7:30 clash at US Bank Arena. The Cyclones should be especially motivated for the game after suffering a 4-2 setback at WesBanco Arena Friday night.

The Nailers will then play a stretch of 3 home games this weekend to conclude play before the All Star Break.

Wheeling enters action tonight with a record of 19-16-2. The Nailers have won 2 straight, 6 of their last 7, and 8 of their last 11 games. They have moved into a tie for 6th place in the American Conference with the Charlotte Checkers and trail 3rd place Cincinnati by only 5 points.

After beating Cincinnati 4-2 on Friday the Nailers were able to complete the weekend homestand sweep with a 3-0 shutout win over Johnstown Saturday night. It was rookie Brad Thiessen's first professional shutout. Casey Pierro-Zabotel led the attack with a goal and an assist. Blair Yaworski also scored. Thomas Beauregard tacked on an empty-netter in the final minute for his conference leading 20th of the year.

Cincinnati is 22-12-1 and have fallen to 2nd place in the North Division trailing Kalamazoo by one point in the ever-tightening race. Prior to their Friday night loss in Wheeling they had won 4 straight as well as an organizational record 7 consecutive away contests. Their last time out was Saturday night with a 4-1 win over Reading led by rookie Matt Pierce with his team leading 17th and 18 goals of the season.

Former Nailers Brock Sheahan and Doug Krantz are on the Cyclones roster. Nailers leading scorer Thomas Beauregard played for the Cyclones for the past two seasons.

The Nailers are 2-4-0 against Cincinnati this season. They are 0-1-0 at US Bank Arena with a 3-1 loss on October 24th in the Cyclones season opener. This is the 7th of 12 regular season games between the North Division rivals. Wheeling plays the next 5 games of the series in Cincinnati. The Cyclones' only return trip to Wheeling will be on April 3rd on the last game of the regular season.

Last Weekend -

The Nailers won a pair of home games over Cincinnati and Johnstown back to back by scores of 4-2 and 3-0. The Nailers have a 5 game home win streak and have moved to 3 games over.500 and 6th place in the American Conference.

Notes -

Goalie Brad Thiessen has been called up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. John Curry of the Baby Pens was recently recalled to Pittsburgh. Thiessen joins another former Nailer netminder, Adam Berkhoel, in Wilkes-Barre. Thiessen was 8-3-0 with Wheeling including a 5 game win streak. He currently ranks fifth in the ECHL in goals against average (2.67) and leads the league with a.919 save percentage.

Michael-Lee Teslak will be the Nailers lone $B!F(Bregular' goalie for now. Equipment manager Billy Higgins will again be suiting up as the team's Emergency Backup Goalie.

Joey Haddad has been reassigned to the Nailers from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Haddad recorded 11 points (5-6-11) in 12 games with the Nailers prior to his AHL recall on November 15th. He had 3 assists in 19 games with WBS this year.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel leads all ECHL rookies in scoring since December 1st with 19 points (7-12-19) in 18 games. He has a 7 game point streak (2-7-9).

Thomas Beauregard is 1st in the American Conference with 20 goals including a pair of goals last weekend on Friday and Saturday nights. He is tied for 3rd in the ECHL with John Lammers of Alaska. He trails only Ryan Kinasewich of Utah and Wes Goldie of Victoria who have 24 each.

T.J. Fox has a 8 goals in his last 8 games (8-2-10) including a pair of multi-goal games.

Forward Aaron Clarke and defenseman Dan Henningson are on the injured-reserve list for the Nailers.

The Nailers have held their opponents to 4-for-41 (9.7%) on the power play in their last 8 games.

The Nailers are 14-for-58 (24.1%) on the power play in their last 11 games.

Wheeling began the season 6-for-57 (10.5%) on the power play in their first 12 games. They have gone 30-for-142 (21.1%) since November 14.

Wheeling began the season 53-for-70 (75.7%) on the penalty kill in their first 13 games. They have gone. 114-for-129 (88.4%) since November 20.

Congratulations to Mitch Ganzak who has been selected to play for the American Conference at the ECHL All-Star Game on January 20th in Ontario, California. Ganzak has 16 assists this year to tie for 3rd in the league among defensemen.

Wheeling began the season 2-7-1. They have gone 17-9-1 since their sluggish start.

Tonight is Cliff Loya's 212th game for the Wheeling Nailers. He is in 3rd place all-time past Brendon Hodge who had 208 games (2003-06). Next up on the all-time list are Tim Roberts (215 games, 1992-96) and all-time leader Stephan Brannare (231 games, 1997-99, 00-01, 03-06).

Tuesday night- US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH

Wheeling Nailers (19-16-2 = 40)

Cincinnati Cyclones (22-12-1 = 45)

Head Coach/Asst Coach:

Wheeling - Greg Puhalski/Doug Doull

Cincinnati - Chuck Weber/ Dean Stork

Affiliation:

Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)

Cincinnati - Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Nashville Predators, Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

Top Scorers:

Wheeling - Thomas Beauregard (20-14-34), Casey Pierro-Zabotel (8-21-29), T.J. Fox (13-14-27), Aaron Clarke (10-14-24), Jordan Fox (10-14-24)

Cincinnati - Scott Reynolds (14-18-32), Barret Eghotz (14-17-31), Matt Pierce (18-11-29), Dustin Sproat (11-17-28)

Top Goalies:

Wheeling - Brad Thiessen (8-3-0, 2.67,.919)

Michael-Lee Teslak (total, 7-7-1, 3.16,.884), (WHL only, 2-2-0, 3.75,.867)

Cincinnati - Jeremy Smith (11-7-1, 2.47,.907)

Upcoming Home Games

Friday, January 15th - Toledo Walleye at Wheeling Nailers

WTRF Friday 4-Pack. 4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hot-dogs, 1 popcorn for $44

Saturday, January 16th - Johnstown Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Ski Caps for the first 2500 fans courtesy of WesBanco

Sunday, January 17th (3:05pm) - Elmira Jackals at Wheeling Nailers

Open-skate after game with the team. Bring your skates and gloves.

Saturday, January 30th - South Carolina Stingrays at Wheeling Nailers

Doug Sauter Bobbleheads for the first 2500 fans courtesy of WesBanco.

Pre-Game Hall of Fame Ceremony for Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway.

Saturday, January 30th is Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night as the Nailers take on the South Carolina Stingrays. Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway will be inducted in pre-game ceremonies featuring the unveiling of their Hall of Fame banners. Sauter is the first and all-time winningest head coach in Wheeling hockey history. Nick Bedway was a long-time beat-writer covering the team and introducing the Ohio Valley to pro hockey. They will be joining the inaugural class including all-time Wheeling leading scorer Darren Schwartz and WAHA founder Bob Otten.

Call the Nailers for tickets at 304-234-GOAL or purchase your tickets online at wheelingnailers.com.


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