ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Gulls soar into Wheeling for first time ever

February 3, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV – The first weekend of February in the ECHL's 2004-2005 season will match two teams that have never faced each other, but had a very real rivalry from the previous season. The Wheeling Nailers, last seasons ECHL win leader, will host the San Diego Gulls, last seasons ECHL point leader.

The Henry Brabham Cup is awarded annually to the regular season point champion of the ECHL. The 2003-2004 Brabham Cup wasn't decided until the final day of the regular season. After battling for 71 games and setting a franchise record with 51 wins, the Nailers needed a win in Atlantic City on the final day of the regular season to claim the fourth Brabham Cup in franchise history and third since moving to Wheeling. The Nailers carried a three game win streak into the game, but came up on the wrong end of a 4-3 score. The Brabham Cup was not won in Atlantic City, but it wasn't lost either. With a San Diego loss at home against Alaska, the Nailers could still win the ECHL point championship.

The San Diego Gulls caught the Nailers in points by winning its last seven games going into their regular season finale. Knowing the Nailers had already lost in regulation at Atlantic City to close the season, the Gulls just needed one point to claim the Brabham Cup in just their first season in the ECHL. They did better than that; they secured the Brabham Cup by beating Alaska 2-1 for a two point lead on the Nailers with 108 points for the season. San Diego, 49-13-10, won its last eight games of the regular season to deny Wheeling, 51-17-4, the point championship and claim a moral victory in a rivalry and a race that never went head-to-head.

Last season was a battle for first between two programs with a rich history. Including the Wheeling franchises three Brabham Cups, the franchise also won the first playoff championship in ECHL history by claiming the 1989 Riley Cup and went to the Riley Cup Finals two more times. The organization has advanced to the playoffs ten times in 16 seasons in the ECHL. In eight seasons in the West Coast Hockey League, the San Diego Gulls advanced to the playoffs every year and won four regular season point titles. The Gulls advanced to the finals five times and won four Taylor Cups.

Neither the Nailers nor the Gulls are leading the league in points entering this weekend, but both are following last season's success with another successful season this year. The Nailers are tied for the Northern Division lead with 52 points and lead the division with 25 wins. The Gulls are two points out of a playoff position but have the fourth best point percentage in the Western Division. Entering this weekend the Nailers are eight points out of the point lead in the ECHL while the Gulls are 12 points behind in their defense of the Brabham Cup.

Despite the fact this rivalry has never been played out on the same ice surface, there is one link that connects last season Brabham Cup race to this weekend's first meeting between these new conference rivals, defenseman Cliff Loya. Loya, now playing near his hometown of Pittsburgh, played for San Diego last season. A seventh round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Loya played four years at the University of Maine before beginning his professional career with San Diego last season.

Loya is the only player connection between the Nailers and the Gulls, but there is another common thread between these teams. Both teams have had players with NHL experience on their rosters this season. The Nailers have started two goalies with NHL experience this season, Dany Sabourin and Andy Chiodo. The Gulls have had three players with NHL experience on their roster, Curtis Brown, Mark Pederson and Mathieu Chouinard.

Sabourin, a 1998 draft pick of the Calgary Flames, appeared in four games for Calgary last season with two starts and went 0-3-0. Chiodo was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 draft. In his first professional season, he played in eight games for the Penguins and compiled a record of 3-4-1.

Curtis Brown, a 1994 draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres, played 10 seasons in the NHL with Buffalo and the San Jose Sharks. He has 256 points in 554 games. Mark Pederson was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1986 and has played parts of five seasons for Montreal, the Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose and the Detroit Red Wings. In 169 games he has 85 points. And Mathieu Chouinard, a 2000 draft pick of the Ottawa Senators, appeared in goal one game for the Los Angeles Kings last season and did not factor in the decision.

The Nailers and the Gulls will face each other three times this season, Friday and Sunday in Wheeling and on February 16 in San Diego. The rosters may look a little different from last season and the teams may not be first and second in this year's Brabham Cup race, but the rivalry will finally be played head-to-head on the ice.

Friday night is Corona Beach Party Night with the first 1,500 fans receiving a free lei. It will also be American Heart Association Night, all fans wearing red to the game will receive $1 off their ticket. Call the Nailers at 234-4625 or toll free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX for ticket information.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 3, 2005


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