ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Bogdan Rudenko Returns to Nailers

November 20, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV – The Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL announce the signing of former Nailer forward Bogdan Rudenko.

Rudenko, a 6'1", 210 pound native of Russia, returns to the Nailers after appearing in 32 games for Wheeling during the 2001-2002 season. That season he had 20 points on 12 goals and eight assists with 63 penalty minutes. Rudenko began this season playing in Russia and return to North America for his seventh season of professional hockey.

Rudenko is reunited with head coach Pat Bingham, the third team he has played on a team with Bingham as head coach. Bingham coached Rudenko during the 2000-2001 season with the Asheville Smoke of the United Hockey League. He was with Bingham in Wheeling when Bingham was the team's assistant coach in 2002-2002. Last season Rudenko played for the Adirondack IceHawks in the UHL, again under Bingham.

"Rudenko is a great offensive player and will have an immediate impact on our club. I have coached Rudenko on a few occasions and he is familiar with my systems and will fit into the mix flawlessly." Bingham stated.

The Nailers will also have goaltender Andy Chiodo who was assigned to Wheeling by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Chiodo, a 21-year-old native of Toronto, Ontario, is in his first season of professional hockey after a three year career in the Ontario Hockey League with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors. In eight games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Chiodo had a record of 4-2-0 with one shutout, a goals against average of 2.19 and a save percentage of .923.

"Andy is a good goaltender and has played well this season in the AHL. We are excited about having him play for the Nailers," said Bingham. "This is certainly not a demotion for him, just a chance to get more playing time and stay sharp. Just like when we were given Martin Brochu, Chiodo is coming down with a great attitude and is ready to play."

The Nailers play two games this weekend, both on the road. Friday night the Nailers play in Johnstown at 7:00p.m. and Saturday night in Toledo at 7:30p.m. The Nailers return home on Wednesday, November 26 against the Johnstown Chiefs at 7:00p.m. at WesBanco Arena. The first 2,000 fans in attendance that night will receive a Wheeling News Register/The Intelligencer Binder. For ticket information to all Nailers home games, call the Nailers ticket office at 234-4625 or toll free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX.

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ECHL Stories from November 20, 2003


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