Nailers Begin Four Game Series With League's Top Team
January 24, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Sunday, 4:00 (North Charleston Coliseum ) - Wheeling Nailers at South Carolina Stingrays
Tuesday, 7:05 (North Charleston Coliseum) -Wheeling Nailers at South Carolina Stingrays
Saturday, 7:35 (WesBanco Arena, Wheeling) - South Carolina Stingrays at Wheeling Nailers
Sunday, 3:05 (WesBanco Arena, Wheeling) - South Carolina Stingrays at Wheeling Nailers
Preview -
The Nailers continue their three game road trip to the Carolinas and open a four game series with the top team in the league as Wheeling takes on the defending league champion South Carolina Stingrays Sunday at 4:00.
The series continues Tuesday night at 7:00 in North Charleston, SC and then heads up to WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, WV next Saturday and Sunday for games at 7:35 and 3:05.
The Nailers opened the 3 game road-trip with a 5-4 setback at the Charlotte Checkers Friday night and then had a day off. Wheeling led 4-2 in the 3rd period on the strength of a pair of T.J. Fox goals but penalties did in the Nailers as Charlotte scored 3 straight power play goals for the comeback win.
The Nailers are 21-18-3 overall this season for 45 points, 8th place in the American Conference as they hang on to the last playoff spot (the top 8 teams out of 12 qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in April) with just a one point lead over 9th place Elmira. Wheeling trailed 7th place Reading by 3 points. The Nailers are 8-3-1 in their last 12 games but are only 1-2-1 in their last 4 as they look to get back to their winning ways against the ECHL's top team.
The Stingrays are the first place team in the American Conference with a league best mark of 30-9-6 for 66 points which is 15 points better than 2nd place Cincinnati. The Stingrays are coming off a weekend sweep of the Reading Royals on Friday and Saturday nights. South Carolina features a balanced scoring attack as seen in their 8-5 win vs. Reading on Friday in which the Stingrays tied an ECHL record with 15 different players registering at least one point.
South Carolina is also the defending Kelly Cup Champions after defeating the Alaska Aces in a seven game finals series last year. Wheeling is 0-2 against South Carolina this year including an 0-1 mark in North Charleston from a loss in the season opener on Friday, October 16th. The two games in South Carolina opens a four game home-and-home series between the Nailers and the league's top team. The Stingrays will be coming to WesBanco next Saturday and Sunday for a pair of games as well.
Congratulations Mitch!
Wheeling Nailers defenseman Mitch Ganzak made his first trip to California a memorable one. He scored in the 3rd round of the shootout as the American Conference knocked off the National Conference 10-9 in the ECHL All-Star Game late Wednesday night in Ontario, California (near Los Angeles). The American Conference won the shootout 3-1 in four rounds sealed by Elmira's Justin Donati to finish the contest. Ganzak also got an assist in the contest and made a fine hustling defensive play to save a goal. In a game that typically doesn't feature as much hard-nosed defense, Ganzak showed his mettle by taking the team's only penalty as well on a tripping call in the 3rd period. The Miami (Ohio) University product was the Nailers lone All-Star representative at this year's game.
Notes
The Pittsburgh Penguins have reassigned left wing Casey Pierro-Zabotel from the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, it was announced Thursday January 21. Pierro-Zabotel, has posted 33 points (9-24-33) in 38 games with the Nailers this season, and departs for northeastern Pennsylvania ranking second on the squad in scoring and first in assists. He posted a season-high nine-game point streak which was halted last weekend, and has registered 20 points (6-14-22) in his last 18 games. Pierro-Zabotel is the 3rd round pick of the Penguins from 2007 who was the leading rookie scoring in the ECHL since December 1.
Thomas Beauregard got called up to play with the Springfield Falcons, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday January 21. The Montreal, Que. native has been red-hot of late scoring 8 goals in his last 6 games and led the ECHL with 26 goals in his 41 games with the Nailers. He was the 12th Nailer to get the call up to the AHL.
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. Teslak went 1-1-1 this weekend and is 9-8-3 for the year. The Michigan Tech product on contract with the Philadelphia Flyers will be making his 6th start in a row.
T.J. Fox scored 2 goals in Friday night's 5-4 loss at the Charlotte Checkers. It was his 3rd multi-goal game in the past month dating back to December 26th and ended a 5 game goal-less drought for the Oswego, NY native. T.J.'s 15 goals Is 2nd among active Nailers trailing only Thomas Beauregard's 26 (currently with Springfield in the AHL).
Jordan Fox had a goal in back to back games last Friday and Saturday against Toledo and Johnstown giving him 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points. Jordan is 2nd among active Nailers in goals and points.
Cliff Loya played his 216th game for the Wheeling Nailers Sunday January 17th. That is 2nd all-time in Wheeling Nailers history passing Tim Roberts(215 games, 1992-96). Next up on the all-time list is all-time leader Stephan Brannare (231 games, 1997-99, 00-01, 03-06).
Congratulations to Nick Johnson who maintained an impressive trend by scoring a goal in his NHL debut Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. While wearing #42, Johnson became the 42nd Wheeling Nailers alum to make it to the National Hockey League.
Sunday- Wheeling Nailers (21-18-3)
South Carolina Stingrays (30-9-6)
Head Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski
South Carolina- Cail MacLean
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Charlotte - New York Rangers (NHL), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL),
Lake Erie Monsters (AHL)
South Carolina- Washington Capitals (NHL), Hershey Bears(AHL)
Top Nailers
Wheeling - T.J. Fox (15-15-30), Jordan Fox (12-17-29), Aaron Clarke (11-16-27)
Top Stingrays
South Carolina- Keith Johnson (18-25-43), Trent Campbell (10-27-37), Rob Ricci (17-19-36), Gregg Johnson (12-22-34)
Top Goalies
Wheeling- Michael-Lee Teslak (9-9-2, 3.41, 0.882%) (with Wheeling, 4-4-1, 4. 00,.871)
South Carolina- Shane Connelly (9-7-3, 3.54, 0.889% / with SC 6-0-1, 2.71,. 918), Parker Van Buskirk (6-9-2, 3.62, 0.877%)
Upcoming Home Games
The Nailers return to Wheeling for back to back home games on Saturday and Sunday January 30th and 31st to host the South Carolina Stingrays. Saturday, January 30th is Doug Sauter Bobblehead Night for the first 2,500 fans courtesy of WesBanco and Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night. 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.
Sunday, January 31st is a KoSports Ice of Dreams Day for the 3:05pm game and will feature an open-skate with the Nailers players after the game. Don't forget to bring your skates, gloves, and camera!
Nailers hockey is always the most awesome family entertainment value in town and we want you there cheering on your hometown team. Kids tickets are always $5 and students get in for only $7. Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL
Nailers Inaugural Education Day
There are still openings available for the Nailers inaugural Education Field Trip Day on Tuesday, February 9th. Tickets are free for all students and teachers when the Nailers play the Johnstown Chiefs at 11:00am. All the kids will be receiving an educational book and will quizzed on the material they learn at the game when they return to the classroom. It's going to be a really fun time for the kids so get your school signed up for the special event with the Nailers by calling 304-234-GOAL.
Experience Counts:
Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rdfor the Nailers. He is second among all ECHL coaches with 601 coming into this season trailing only Steve Martinson who had 650 wins entering this year. Puhalski has over 200 ECHL wins dating back to the beginning of his coaching career with the Toledo Storm from 1994-98.
Right-Hand Man:
Greg Puhalski has an assistant coach on the staff this year. Doug Doull joins the Nailers and the Penguins organization after doing some coaching in Canadian University hockey for a couple seasons following his 8 year playing career in the AHL and NHL. Doull fought some of the NHL's toughest customers in his time with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04. He played 37 games in the NHL mostly with Boston (and 2 with Washington) and racked up 151 PIM's. His AHL career included stays with Hershey, San Antonio, Utah, Providence, St. John's, Saint John and with other AAA level teams in the old IHL in the late 90's with Michigan (now Kalamazoo), Detroit Vipers and Manitoba.
It's a Girl!!
Wheeling head coach Greg Puhalski is the Ohio Valley's newest Dad! His wife Ally is doing well after giving birth to that couple's first child, a healthy baby girl. Zara Katherine Puhalski was born at 7:05 p.m. on October 29th.
Nailers broadcaster Bob Rotruck and Nailers Accountant Linda Timberlake also share that birthday and both say they heartily approve of the date chosen by the newest member of Nailers Nation!
Congratulations Greg and Ally. And welcome to Nailers Nation Zara!!
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