Archibald Becomes 57th Former Nailer to Reach NHL
March 6, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Former Wheeling Nailer Josh Archibald
(Wheeling Nailers)
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce that a 57th former Nailer/Thunderbird has made his National Hockey League debut. Josh Archibald reached the NHL on Saturday afternoon, delivering a check and blocking a shot, as the Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Calgary Flames, 4-2 at Consol Energy Center.
Archibald, 23, was selected by Pittsburgh in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, right before his freshman season at University of Nebraska-Omaha. Josh went on to spend three years with the Mavericks, gathering 58 goals, 36 assists, 94 points, and 129 penalty minutes in 112 games. At the conclusion of his third collegiate season, the Regina, Saskatchewan native joined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, with whom he appeared in seven regular season games and two postseason contests.
Last season, fans in Wheeling got a somewhat quick glimpse at Archibald, who sported a Nailers uniform for nine games. During that time, it was apparent that Josh clearly had a knack for finding the scoresheet, as he racked up seven goals, four assists, and 11 points. Four of those points came on February 22nd, when he netted his first professional hat trick, while adding an assist in a 4-1 victory at Kalamazoo. Archibald ended up returning to the club later in the season, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 triumph at Reading on April 8th - the first of four straight wins by the Nailers to secure a spot in the playoffs. Prior to Saturday, the remainder of his career has been spent in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he has accumulated 14 goals, 14 assists, 28 points, and 65 penalty minutes in 103 games.
On Saturday, Josh saw 5:02 of ice time over the course of eight shifts for the Penguins. He dished out one hit and blocked one shot - both of which came against captain Mark Giordano. The majority of his shifts came playing alongside fellow former Nailer Tom Kuhnhackl, who debuted and scored his first NHL goal earlier this season. Despite those efforts, Pittsburgh fell to Calgary, 4-2.
Josh Archibald becomes the 57th Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the NHL and already the fifth this season, joining Montreal's Mike Condon, New Jersey's Paul Thompson, Pittsburgh's Tom Kuhnhackl, and Montreal's Morgan Ellis. Ellis and Archibald were teammates for six games on the 2014-15 Wheeling team, and both players ended up making their debuts in the same week.
Images from this story
 Former Wheeling Nailer Josh Archibald |
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 6, 2016
- Komets Score Four Points in First Leg of Western Swing - Fort Wayne Komets
- Thunder Rides Four Unanswered to Win in Evansville - Wichita Thunder
- Missouri Outlasts Late Rally by Tulsa - Kansas City Mavericks
- Thunder Erase Two Goal Deficit to Snap IceMen Winning Streak - Evansville IceMen
- Royals Close out Home Stand with Win over Norfolk, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Rush Rally Falls Short - Rapid City Rush
- Eagles Pick up Point in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Komets - Colorado Eagles
- Oilers Fall 2-1 to Mavericks - Tulsa Oilers
- Two Third-Period Goals Sink Admirals in Reading - Norfolk Admirals
- Monarchs Fall in Shootout, 3-2, to Orlando - Manchester Monarchs
- Solar Bears Storm Back in Third, Beat Monarchs 3-2 in Shootout - Orlando Solar Bears
- Jackals Break out Brooms in Brampton - Elmira Jackals
- Rashid, Fleming Score Twice in 4-1 Win against Atlanta - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Archibald Becomes 57th Former Nailer to Reach NHL - Wheeling Nailers
- Comeback Falls Short as Jackals Edge Beast - Brampton Beast
- Swamp Rabbits Best Gladiators 4-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - March 6 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- Goaltender Martin Ouellette Loaned to Reading - Reading Royals
- Colin Stevens Back to Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Knight Recalled by Iowa - Quad City Mallards
- Jackals Meet Beast in Sunday Matinee Matchup - Elmira Jackals
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule - Manchester Monarchs
- ECHL Today - March 6 - ECHL
- Oilers at Mavericks Tonight: Game Preview - Tulsa Oilers
- Game Day Capsule: Wichita at Evansville, March 6th - Wichita Thunder
- Americans Fall in Colorado 3-1 - Allen Americans
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.
