Big Crowd Sees Nailers Drop Home Opener
October 23, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
A large turnout of 4,001 fans for the Nailers home-opener saw plenty of hits and a couple fights but also saw the Nailers fall to the Cincinnati Cyclones 5-2. The crowd was the biggest for a Nailers home opener in several years.
Officials of the City of Wheeling, including Mayor Andy McKenzie dropped the puck in a pre-game ceremony to kick off the Nailers home opener Friday night.
Alex Grant and Thomas Beauregard scored for the Nailers. Grant$B!G(Bs was his first as a pro. Beauregard picked up his team leading 3rd of the year against his former team.
The Nailers fall to 1-3-0 with the setback while Cincinnati improves to 2-1-0 with the win.
The two teams will continue their home-and-home series Saturday night at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati at 7:30.
Tom Harrison delighted the crowd with some of his extra-curriculars eventually ending in a match penalty in the 3rd period. Adam Berkhoel took the loss in his Nailers debut. Berkhoel had won Goalie of the Year honors in the ECHL with Dayton in 2006-07 and played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season.
Mark Voakes led the way for Cincinnati with a hat-trick scoring in each period. They were the first goals in his pro career.
Mark Voakes lit the lamp at 15:11 of the 1st to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead after one.
Alex Grant tied the score at 1-1 at 4:40 into the 2nd sending a low hard shot past the body of Cyclones goalie Jeremy Smith to his glove-hand side after Casey Pierro-Zabotel dug it away in the corner and fed it across for a nice assist. Blair Yaworski had the other assist on the goal.
Grant is a native of Antigonish, Nova Scotia who played for Shawinigan of the Quebec League in major-juniors last season.
Chris Mueller and Mark Voakes both scored for the Cyclones in the 2nd to stretch the lead to 3-1.
Scott Reynolds and Voakes stretched the lead to 5-1 with back to back goals at the beginning of the 3rd in the opening two minutes.
Beauregard recorded the last goal of the night for the Nailers at 14:57 of the 3rd with his 3rd of the year on a nice assist from Mitch Ganzak in the corner. Joey Haddad also assisted on the play.
Cincinnati outshot Wheeling 39-20. The Cyclones were 2-for-5 on the power play while the Nailers were 0-for-4.
Game 2 of the 3 game weekend set is Saturday at 7:30 at Cincinnati.
The Nailers wrap up their opening weekend homestand Sunday at 6:35 against the Elmira Jackals.
Nailers Notes:
Lane Caffaro also made his Wheeling Nailers debut having arrived from Wilkes-Barre Scranton the day prior.
Nailers scratches for the game included Kevin Schmidt, Chris Cloud, Scott Kalinchuk and Jordan Fox.
Home opening weekend continues on Sunday, October 25th against the Elmira Jackals at 6:35. It's a Sunday Family FunDay featuring an open post-game skate with the Nailers players. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves. It's also an NFL Sunday Special. Wear an NFL jersey to the game for a special $10 adult ticket.
Season tickets are on sale now for all 36 exciting Nailers home games at WesBanco Arena. Great season ticket plans are available for every budget. Also take advantage of the Nailers new $87 package for 7 Nailers home games. Call the Wheeling Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL, that's 234-4625. Or log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from October 23, 2009
- Victoria Shuts Down Condors - Bakersfield Condors
- Salmon Kings Shutout Condors - Victoria Salmon Kings
- 7,192 Watch Grizzlies Fall 3-2 On Opening Night - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads Win In Utah, 3-2 - Idaho Steelheads
- Campbell And Johnson's Eight Combined Points Not Enough To Top Gladiators - South Carolina Stingrays
- Royals Explode For First Win Of Season, 7-3, Over Toledo - Reading Royals
- Blades Top Checkers, 5-3 - Florida Everblades
- Checkers Handed First Loss By Florida - Charlotte Checkers
- Big Crowd Sees Nailers Drop Home Opener - Wheeling Nailers
- Cyclones Rookie Mark Voakes Nets Hat Trick In 5-2 Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Chiefs Felled By Jackals - Johnstown Chiefs
- Gladiators Gain Victory in Shootout - Atlanta Gladiators
- Matt Cohen Returns - Trenton Devils
- Every Team Is On The Ice Saturday - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Thunder Fights Cancer With Saturday Fundraiser - Stockton Thunder
- Ludwig Reassigned To Idaho, McCutcheon Loaned To Portland - Idaho Steelheads
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign - Stockton Thunder
- Goaltender, Forward Assigned; Sauer Recalled - Charlotte Checkers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Stingrays Battle Gladiators Tonight At 7:05 p.m. - South Carolina Stingrays
- Dubuc Recalled To Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Wranglers Fall To Aces, 5-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Aces Cruise In Vegas, Now 4-0 - Alaska Aces
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.
