Condon Becomes 53rd Former Nailer to Reach NHL
October 11, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Former Wheeling Nailer Mike Condon
(Wheeling Nailers)
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce that a 53rd former Nailer/Thunderbird has made his National Hockey League debut. Mike Condon reached the NHL on Sunday night, earning his first career victory with 20 saves, as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators, 3-1 at Canadian Tire Centre.
Condon, 25, played four years of college hockey at Princeton University, before breaking into the pros with the ECHL's Ontario Reign and AHL's Houston Aeros at the end of the 2012-13 season. In the summer of 2013, Mike inked a contract with the Montreal Canadiens, leading him to Wheeling for the start of the 2013-14 campaign. The Needham, Massachusetts native immediately earned the support of his new fan base, thanks to a 40-save performance in a 3-2 win over the Elmira Jackals on Opening Night. Condon went on to post a 23-12-4 record, a 2.18 goals against average, a .931 save percentage, and six shutouts in his lone season with the Nailers. His six shutouts are the most in a single season in team history, while his save percentage is the second highest, his goals against average is the third best, and his win total is the fifth most. Mike also backstopped six playoff wins, which included two shutouts, giving him five in the month of April, to go along with a perfect 8-0 record.
The third year pro spent the entire 2014-15 season with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, ultimately earning the starting role over Joey MacDonald, who had 133 NHL games on his resumé. Condon appeared in 48 games with Hamilton, going 23-19-6, with a 2.44 goals against average, a .921 save percentage, and four shutouts. Mike had a personal seven-game winning streak from January 16th through February 10th, which included two of his shutouts.
On Sunday, Condon made 20 saves on 21 shots for the Canadiens, with nine of the 20 coming in the third period, as he notched his first NHL win in Montreal's 3-1 triumph over the Ottawa Senators. Condon turned away three shots each from Mike Hoffman, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mark Stone, and Kyle Turris in the victory.
Mike Condon becomes the 53rd Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the NHL and first this season. He is the first former Wheeling goaltender to reach hockey's highest level since Scott Darling, who debuted against the Ottawa Senators 351 days earlier as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks. Condon is the 15th of the 53 graduates to be a netminder.
Individual tickets, season tickets, mini plans, and group tickets are on sale now, with prices starting as low as $10 per seat. The Nailers will begin the 2015-16 regular season on October 16th and 17th in Norfolk, before the home opener takes place on October 24th against Brampton at 7:35. For tickets and more information, call the Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL or online at wheelingnailers.com.
Images from this story
 Former Wheeling Nailer Mike Condon |
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