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Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Tangle With Rival Cincinnati

February 19, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Friday, February 19th 7:30pm (U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH)-Wheeling Nailers at Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday February 20th 7:30pm (U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH)-Wheeling Nailers at Cincinnati Cyclones

Sunday February 21st 4:00pm (Sun National Bank Center, Trenton, NJ)-Wheeling Nailers at Trenton Devils

North Division Standings

1. Cincinnati Cyclones (34-17-2) - 70

2. Kalamazoo Wings (26-17-6)-58

3. Toledo Walleye (27-21-4)-58

4. Wheeling Nailers (26-23-4)-56

American Conference Standings (Top 8 qualify for Kelly Cup Playoffs in April)

1. South Carolina Stingrays 73

2. Cincinnati Cyclones 70

3. Elmira Jackals 59

4. Charlotte Checkers 62

5. Florida Everblades 62

6. Toledo Walleye 60

7. Kalamazoo Wings 58

8. Wheeling Nailers 56

9. Gwinnett Gladiators 55

10. Reading Royals 54

11. Trenton Devils 47

12. Johnstown Chiefs 36

Preview

The Nailers proceed with their 7 game road series with games 2 and 3 Friday and Saturday at Cincinnati for 7:30pm start times and then travel to Trenton Sunday for a 4:00pm game.

Wheeling enters action having gone 26-23-4 overall this season with 56 points, 8th in the Conference. The Nailers are 3-5-0 against Cincinnati including 1-2-0 against them at U.S. Bank Arena. The Nailers and the Devils only have 5 match ups this season and the Nailers are 1-1-0 overall.

The Cincinnati Cyclones record is 34-17-2, 1st in the Northern Division and 2nd in the Conference. The Cyclones are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and their recent loss to Toledo on Wednesday ended their 7 game win streak.

Trenton is 19-23-9 overall, 3rd in the Eastern Division and went 6-4-0 in their last 10 games. Wheeling lost at Trenton (2-5) in their last match up on January 2nd and prior to that won in a shoot out 6-5 in their first meeting on October 28th in Wheeling.

Last Week

The Nailers wrapped up their 4 game homestand with a pair of games in which they short to the Elmira Jackals last Friday (4-3) and Saturday (5-3) and spent Valentine's Day in Reading where they took a loss (5-3).

Friday, against the Jackals, the Nailers took an early 3-0 lead with Aaron Clarke's 4th shorthanded goal of the season (16) and goals by Thomas Beauregard (32) and Jordan Fox (15). The Donati brothers scored 4 unanswered goals for a final score of 4-3.

Saturday, the Nailers trailed 4-1 to begin the 3rd, and were able to close it to a one goal game with 1:02 left when Andrew Lord knocked in a rebound on the drive of Thomas Beauregard. Defensemen Mitch Ganzak and Kevin Schmidt scored their 7th goals of the season. An empty netter sealed the deal for the Jackals.

The Nailers opened their seven game road trip on Valentine's Day in Reading where they lost 5-3. Kyle Bushee (5), Andrew Lord (11) and Chris Davis (8) lit the lamp for Wheeling however, Michael-Lee Teslak was stuck with the (5-3) setback.

Notes

The Nailers announced that they signed Center Billy Ryan to a contract. He played 22 games for the Nailers in February and March last season where he immediately went on a scoring tear racking up 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points. He added another 5 points in the Nailers' playoff run. Before that he was a member of the 2008-2009 AHL Philadelphia Phantoms team, where he participated in 15 games before being acquired by Wheeling. Ryan has been recovering from an injury this year as he gets ready to rejoin the Nailers.

Adam Berkhoel was reassigned from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. Berkhoel picked up the win for the Baby Pens on Valentine's Day in a 4-3 decision against the Adirondack Phantoms.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel was reassigned to Wheeling from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In his call-up to the AHL, Pierro-Zabotel registered an assist in 7 games.

Jon D'Aversa was also reassigned to Wheeling from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He has played 21 games with an assist and 23 penalty minutes. This is D' Aversa's second assignment to the Nailers this year.

Wheeling's overall record is 26-23-4 and is 13-13-0 on the road this season.

There are only 19 games left in the regular season. Wheeling sits in 8th place in the American Conference. The top 8 teams qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

This will be game 2 of the Nailers 7 road game trip, the longest of the season.

The Nailers will play the North Division leading Cincinnati Cyclones three times during their 7 game road swing.

Wheeling's record against Cincinnati is 3-5-0 and against Trenton 1-1-0.

Wheeling is 10 for 29 on the power play in their last 4 games.

Wheeling has scored 2 or more PPG's in 5 of their last 9 games.

Aaron Clarke leads the ECHL with 4 shorthanded goals and is in a four-way tie for 2nd in the league with 5 shorthanded points.

Andrew Lord has a 4 game point streak (2-2-4) and 2 game goal streak and 13 points in his last 13 games (6-7-13) He is also 3rd in the league with 19 major penalties.

Mitch Ganzak leads ECHL defensemen in assists with 31.

Thomas Beauregard is 3rd in the league and 1st in the American Conference with 32 goals.

Beauregard is also 2nd in the league with 11 power play goals.

Ryan Schnell is tied with Chris Morehouse of Cincinnati for 2nd among ECHL rookies with 14 major penalties.

Schnell is also 2nd among rookies with 128 penalty minutes.

Cliff Loya has played 226 games in a Wheeling jersey in his 4 seasons with the Nailers. He is just 5 games away from passing the all-time Nailers leader Stephan Brannare (231 games, 1997-99, 00-01, 03-06).

The Cincinnati Cyclones are led by Barret Ehgoetz (20g 30a) and Scott Reynolds (53g 19a).

Cincinnati is 8-2-0 in their last 10 games.

Friday-Wheeling Nailers (26-23-4)

Cincinnati Cyclones (34-17-2)

Saturday-Wheeling Nailers (26-23-4)

Cincinnati Cyclones (34-17-2)

Sunday-Wheeling Nailers (26-23-4)

Trenton Devils (19-23-9)

Head Coach:

Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)

Cincinnati - Chuck Weber

Trenton-Rick Kowalsky

Affiliation:

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

Cincinnati - Montreal Canadiens (NHL) Nashville Predators (NHL)

Trenton-New Jersey Devils (NHL) Lowell Devils (AHL)

Top Nailers

Thomas Beauregard (32-21-53), T.J. Fox (19-25-44), Jordan Fox (15-24-39),

Mitch Ganzak (7-31-38), Aaron Clarke (16-20-36)

Top Cyclones

Barret Ehgoetz (20-30-50), Scott Reynolds (19-27-46), Matt Pierce (26-19-45),

Dustin Sproat (18-25-43)

Top Devils

Jeff Prough (18-18-36), Tony Zancanaro (13-17-30), Brett Wilson (7-20-27), Trevor Kell (12-14-26)

Top Goalies

Wheeling- Adam Berkhoel (7-6-2,.889, 3.24), Michael-Lee Teslak (11-12-3,.879, 3.41 / with WHL, 6-7-1,.869, 3.80)

Cincinnati - Jeremy Smith (17-10-1,.902, 2.58), Robert Mayer (15-7-1,.892, 2.76)

Trenton-Dave Caruso (10-14-2,.904, 3.25), Gerald Coleman (9-9-7,.889, 3.44)

7 Game Road Trip:

The Nailers will be logging some serious miles over the next couple of weeks as they embark on a stretch of seven consecutive away games. Three of the games will be at North Division leading Cincinnati.

Sunday, Feb 14 5:00 - at Reading Royals

Friday, Feb 20, 7:30 - at Cincinnati Cyclones

Saturday, Feb 21, 7:30 - at Cincinnati Cyclones

Sunday, Feb 22, 4:00 - at Trenton Devils

Wednesday, Feb 24, 7:30 - at Cincinnati Cyclones

Friday, Feb 26, 7:30 - at Reading Royals

Saturday, Feb 27, 7:00 - at Elmira Jackals

Upcoming Home Games:

The Nailers wrap up their 7 game road series on Wednesday Feb. 24th in Cincinnati, Friday Feb. 26th at Reading and Saturday Feb. 27th in Elmira.

Wheeling's next home games are March 5th through 7th on a 3-in-3 weekend including a WTRF Friday Family Four Pack night on March 5th and an O.V. McBear Bobblehead giveaway night on March 6th and finishing with a Sunday Family FunDay and post-game open skate with the Nailers as part of every Sunday home game.

Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at the team's website at wheelingnailers.com

More Great Upcoming Promotions!

Tuesday, March 9th - Meet the Nailers! The team will be appearing at Perkins on National Road in Wheeling from 6-8 p.m.

Saturday, March 20th - Affiliation Night celebrating the Penguins organization. Wheeling to wear the Baby Blue Penguins replica jerseys for the last time to be auctioned on eBay.

Sunday, March 21st - Pups and Pucks. Bring your dog to the game and cheer on the Nailers with man's best friend!

Friday, March 26th - Team Poster Giveaway Night for the first 2500 fans and Team Autograph Night after the game with the entire Nailers team appearing.

Friday, April 2nd - Nailers Baby Blue Ball-Cap Giveaway for the first 2500 fans courtesy of Main Street Bank.

Saturday, April 3rd - Fan Appreciation Night and Ticket Extravaganza. Lots of gifts and prizes on the last game of the regular season.

Extended Office Hours: The Wheeling Nailers have extended office hours during the week by popular demand and to accommodate our fans' busy schedules. Monday through Friday the Wheeling Nailers offices will be open until 6:00 pm. The Nailers are located at 1315 Main Street in downtown Wheeling for all your ticket and souvenir purchasing needs.

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 and wife Ally had their first child earlier this season. 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!!

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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