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Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Week In Review

October 17, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


This Week's Game

Sat., Oct. 22 NAILERS@ Trenton Titans 7 p.m. The Mix WK 97.3FM/ESPN Radio Pittsburgh 1250AM/B2 Networks

Game On: Wheeling will drop the puck on its 14th season in the Ohio Valley at Soverign Bank Arena this Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. versus the Trenton Titans. The Titans will celebrate their Kelly Cup championship won in June against Florida. Wheeling returns home the following weekend to face Reading and Dayton.

Get Your Tickets: Tickets for all 36 Nailers regular season home games can be purchased in person at WesBanco Arena and all Ticketmaster locations, by phone through the Nailers office at 304-234-GOAL/1-877-NAIL-TIX. Full season tickets, 18 and 10-game packages, and group ticket packages starting as low as $66 are available through the Nailers office at 304-234-GOAL.

Patrick behind bench: The 2005-06 season will feature a new face guiding the Nailers. Glenn Patrick was hired in August to replace Pat Bingham. Bingham has moved on to the AHL as an assistant coach with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Patrick most recently was a scout in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. His last time behind the bench was in the AHL where he guided Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 2001 appearance in the Calder Cup Finals. Glenn is surrounded by family in Wheeling. His son, Curtiss, will play for him while his nephew Ryan is the Nailers Director of Public Relations. Patrick's brother Craig is the General Manager of the Penguins.

Virtue Is Back: Defenseman Terry Virtue took a roundabout way to return to Wheeling but he's back. Virtue will also act as a player/assistant coach. Virtue played in Wheeling for the Thunderbirds in the 90's. Overall, Virtue has logged more than 1,000 professional games from coast to coast. Last year he laced up the skates in the AHL with Springfield and Utah. Virtue resides in Wheeling and will be honored later this year with "Terry Virtue Bobblehead Night." Virtue's former teammate in Wheeling Brock Woods is the radio color analyst.

The New ECHL: As the ECHL Hockey League begins its 18th season, the Nailers find themselves in the Northern Division, alongside Johnstown, Trenton, Reading, Dayton and Toledo. Due to Hurricane Katrina and Rita; Mississippi and Texas have suspended play for 2005-06 season. The ECHL has added three new teams (Stockton, Phoenix, and Utah) and several new rules for the 2005-06 season, including: permission of two-line passes, reducing the maximum dimensions of goaltender equipment, the addition of the trapezoid area behind the net limiting the area in which goalies can play the puck, and any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass in his defending zone will be penalized for delay of game.

Pull Up a Chair: In conjunction with B2 Networks and the ECHL, live video broadcasts of every Nailers game this season will be offered through a link at wheelingnailers.com. Any fan worldwide with a high-speed internet connection will be able to watch the action for just $6, while listening to Gary Sharp's play-by-play.

Tune-up Tests: The Nailers dropped 2 shootout games to Johnstown. Thursday in Greensburg, PA the Nailers lost 3-2 and Saturday at home before 3,000 fans, dropped a 4-3 decision. The Nailers and Chiefs will play 4 times in the first 14 Nailer contests.

You Look So Familiar: Nine Nailers return from last year, including forwards Bo Cheesman, Brendon Hodge, Pascal Morency, Cam Paddock, Curtiss Patrick; defensemen Drew Fata, James Laux, Cliff Loya, and Alexandre Rouleau.

Welcome to the Friendly City: Sean Collins (NCAA New Hampshire), Mike Doyle (NCAA St. Cloud State), Kurtis McLean (NCAA Norwich), Jeff Petruic (LNAH), Tim Verbeek (ECHL Idaho), Justin Dziama (CHL Rio Grande), Ben McNamna (UHL Kansas City), Paul Bissonnette (OHL), Terry Virtue (AHL), Daniel Fernholm (AHL), Luis Trembley (ECHL Bakersfield), Derek Dolson (CHL Odessa), Andy Franck (NCAA Mercyhurst).

Who's Up in the A?: Eleven players from last year's roster now find themselves in the AHL, most notably Mike Sgroi (Albany), Ray DiLauro (Cleveland), Jason Jaffray (Manitoba), T.J. Reynolds (Milwaukee), Steven Crampton (Norfolk), Jake Riddle (Portland), Ben Eaves (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), Kenny Corupe (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), Arpad Mihaly (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), Dany Sabourin (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) and Andy Chiodo (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). Former Head Coach Pat Bingham is an assistant with Bridgeport.

How Fast Can You Get Here? The Wheeling Nailers had their first player re-called to the NHL directly. Goaltender Andy Chiodo was summoned to Pittsburgh to dress as the backup goalie for the Penguins home opener on October 15th. Chiodo was needed due to an injury to Jocelyn Thibault. Chiodo was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and is expected to be returned to Wheeling before the season opener.

Nailers History: The Nailers finished the 2004-05 season in sixth place in the Northern Division with a 38-29-5- mark (81 pts.) The Nailers allowed only 2.40 goals per game, second best in the ECHL. The franchise enters the season with 589 career wins.

Practice/Game Schedule: Tuesday, October 18 - Practice @ WesBanco Arena - 10:00am Wednesday, October 19 - Practice @ WesBanco Arena- 10:00am; Meet the Nailers at TJ's Sports Garden-6:30pm Thursday, October 20 - Practice @ WesBanco Arena - 10:00am;Coaches Show at Generations-7pm Friday, October 21 - Pre-game skate @ WesBanco Arena - 10:00am Saturday, October 22 - Pre-game skate @ Soverign Bank Arena - TBA Game @ Trenton - 7:00pm

SCOUTING REPORT

Sat., Oct. 22 @ Trenton Titans - Sovereign Bank Arena - 7 p.m. Radio: The Mix WK 97.3FM//ESPN Radio Pittsburgh 1250AM at 6:40 p.m. Web Casts: Video ($6 - B2 Networks) and audio (free) available through wheelingnailers.com. Season Series: First of thirteen meetings overall, first of seven in Trenton. NHL Affiliation: Philadelphia Flyers/New York Islanders. Head Coach: Doug McKay (1st season). Remember the Titans: The Titans won the first ever Kelly Cup last year. They finished tied for first in the Northern Division in 2004-05 with a 42-21-9 record. Wheeling went 6-3 against the Titans last year, including a 2-2 mark at Soverign Bank Arena. Six of the nine games were decided by 1 goal. Trenton has a 3-game winning streak against the Nailers entering the 2005-06 season.

NAILERS BROADCAST INFO: Tune in as the voice of the Nailers, Gary Sharp delivers all of the Nailers hockey action on The Mix WK 97.3/ESPN Radio Pittsburgh 1250AM. Fans can also watch or listen in on the Nailers website, www.wheelingnailers.com.

THE COACH IS TALKING AND YOU CAN TO

Join Head Coach Glenn Patrick and Gary Sharp every Thursday for "Nail Talk" at Generations. The hour-long show will be carried on WWVA 1170AM beginning at 7pm. Players, coaches, special guests, phone calls, and more will highlight the fast paced 60 minute show.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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