Five Former Nailers Win Championships in 2015
June 18, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV- Over the course of the last week, all three of professional hockey's most notable championship trophies were awarded, marking the official close of the 2014-15 season. The Chicago Blackhawks won their third Stanley Cup in six years in the NHL, the Manchester Monarchs closed out their final AHL campaign with a Calder Cup, and the Allen Americans earned the Kelly Cup with a seven-game thriller in the ECHL. For the first time in the 23-year history of hockey in Wheeling, the Nailers were represented on all three championship teams in the same year, as Scott Darling, Daniel Carcillo, Paul Bissonnette, Ian Schultz, and Justin Baker all took their turns raising a trophy.
The first cup was clinched on Saturday night, when the Manchester Monarchs edged the Utica Comets, 2-1 in game five at Utica Memorial Auditorium. That win gave Paul Bissonnette the first championship of his professional career, which has spanned ten seasons. Bissonnette first broke into pro hockey during the 2005-06 season with the Nailers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and went on to play parts of three seasons in Wheeling. During his time with the Nailers, Paul accumulated 16 goals, 53 assists, 69 points, and 162 penalty minutes in 101 games. Since departing the Ohio Valley, the Welland, Ontario native has suited up in 202 NHL contests with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes. Although he did not find the scoresheet, Bissonnette did appear in all five games during the Calder Cup Final.
Sunday night was the ECHL's turn in the spotlight, as the Allen Americans and South Carolina Stingrays met for the fourth game seven in league championship history. The host Americans prevailed, 6-1, giving championships to Ian Schultz and Justin Baker. Schultz's time with the Nailers came at the start of the 2012-13 season, when the Montreal Canadiens prospect recorded two assists and 17 penalty minutes in 13 games. During this year's Kelly Cup Playoffs, Ian totaled six goals and 16 points in 17 games, but was limited to two assists in the seven-game set against the Stingrays. Baker never played an official game with Wheeling, but was on the initial roster for 2014-15, before he was traded to Allen. Justin was named to the 2014-15 ECHL All-Rookie Team with a 39-point regular season, then added 13 points in 25 postseason contests. The Toronto, Ontario native had one assist in the Kelly Cup Final.
Finally, on Monday night, the Chicago Blackhawks put the final stamp on the year, as their 2-0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Lightning in game six at United Center gave the local fans a chance to see the Stanley Cup hoisted at home for the first time since 1938. That provided an especially memorable moment for former Nailer Scott Darling, who grew up just outside of Chicago, in Lemont, Illinois. After two seasons in the SPHL, Darling made the jump to the ECHL in 2012-13 with Wheeling, going 13-12-4 in 32 appearances. Scott began to make his mark in the AHL during 2013-14, then arrived in the NHL in 2014-15, compiling a 9-4-0 regular season record and 3-1 postseason mark with the Blackhawks. Joining Darling in Monday's celebration was Daniel Carcillo, who became the first former Nailer to hoist the Stanley Cup twice. Carcillo racked up five points in six games with Wheeling during the 2005-06 campaign, and has gone on to appear in 429 NHL contests, registering 100 points and 1,233 penalty minutes.
Scott Darling became the third former Nailer player to win the Stanley Cup, joining Daniel Carcillo (2013, 2015 - both with Chicago) and David Aebischer (2001 - Colorado). In total, six Wheeling alumni have earned the opportunity to raise Hockey's Holy Grail, as Peter Laviolette (2006 - Carolina; Head Coach), Tom McVie (2011 - Boston; Pro Scout), and Dave Goucher (2011 - Boston; Radio Broadcaster) earned their opportunities as staff members.
The Wheeling Nailers will start the 2015-16 season with a two-game road series against the Norfolk Admirals on October 16th and 17th, before playing their home opener on October 24th against the Brampton Beast at 7:35.
WheelingNailers 2015-16 season tickets are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.
Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.
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