Former Nailer Wins Gold Medal
January 6, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Wheeling Nailers, the proud AA affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, congratulate the gold medal winning USA under-20 team and especially former Nailer goalie Joe Exter who was an assistant coach for the team.
Team USA snapped Team Canada's five year reign on the gold with a thrilling 6-5 overtime win in the championship game Tuesday night in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. John Carlson scored Team USA's game-winning goal after Team Canada mounted a dramatic two goal comeback in the final three minutes of regulation in one of the most exciting and memorable games in World Juniors history.
Exter has been the goaltender coach for the USA NTDP (National Team Develop Program) while also working with the National Under-20 team for the World Juniors competition. The 31 year old Cranston, RI native served under legendary college coach Dean Blais on this year's U.S.A. team and got plenty of air-time too as he was interviewed frequently on the NHL Network coverage between periods.
Team USA's quality goaltending was considered to be a significant factor in the championship run.
"We are very proud of Joe and congratulate him on his Gold," said Wheeling Nailers President Jim Brooks. "From the day he arrived in Wheeling, he was always striving to better himself and learn as much as possible - and that surely has made Joe a very valuable asset to Team USA's coaching staff."
Exter played for the Nailers in 2003-04 and 2004-05 going a very impressive 8-2-0, 2.30,.924 in his rookie season. He then went 10-13-2, 2.89,.906 the next year before turning to coaching.
But the way his college career ended there wasn't supposed to be a pro career at all for him. While with Merrimack College, Exter was involved in a near fatal accident on the ice in a violent collision on March 7, 2003 in a race for the puck that resulted in him taking a knee to the side of his head and then falling hard on the ice. Exactly one year after trainers on the ice were able to save him he was thrilled to be partway through his debut professional season for Wheeling after convincing the Penguins organization to give him a chance.
After his two seasons with the Nailers. he turned to coaching at the college ranks and then with the US National Development Program. And now he has a gold medal as well following an intense couple of weeks in the preliminary rounds and concluding with a wild and exciting win in the finale.
Congratulations to Joe Exter from all of us at the Wheeling Nailers!
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