ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Hartzell's Heroics Hoist Nailers at Gwinnett

December 29, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


DULUTH, GA- The Wheeling Nailers received great news on Monday morning, as they received Eric Hartzell from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Despite playing two men short, Hartzell and his teammates battled the adversity, taking two points away from the Gwinnett Gladiators at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. Hartzell stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced, while Chaz Johnson netted a pair of goals, as the Nailers were triumphant, 3-1.

For the first time on the road trip, the Nailers opened the scoring, needing just 2:25 to do so. Nicholas Kuqali snapped a long pass ahead, leading Chaz Johnson into the offensive zone alone. Johnson got goaltender Adam Brown moving to the left, opening up the right side of the cage, which was exactly where Chaz slid his shot for the tally.

In the second period, Wheeling upped its lead, tacking on a pair of goals. At the 8:57 mark, Bobby Shea spun around the Gladiators, feeding a puck toward the slot. The shot redirected off of Shawn Skelly and into the net, giving Skelly his first goal as a Nailer. Kuqali was also credited with a helper, giving him three points in three games. With 7:39 to go in the frame, another bomb pass put the visitors ahead by three, as Johnson wired in a wrist shot from the top of the right circle, off of a feed by Derek Army.

The Gladiators got one goal back in the third period, as Joe Stejskal's right point drive trickled through Eric Hartzell and just over the line for a power play marker, giving the game its 3-1 final score in favor of the Nailers.

Eric Hartzell was dominant between the pipes for Wheeling, turning aside 38 of the 39 shots he faced, earning the victory. Adam Brown took the loss for Gwinnett, making 30 saves on 33 shots.

The Nailers will play their fourth straight road game on Friday night at 8:00, when they visit the Fort Wayne Komets. Wheeling's next home game takes place on January 9th at 7:35 against the Reading Royals.

The Nailers will have a three-game homestand from January 9th-11th.

Reading comes to town on the 9th for Faith & Family Night, which will also be a Flat Screen Friday, courtesy of The Highlands, as well as the Law Firm of Bordas and Bordas. In addition, a player poster will be given to the first 2,000 fans in attendance, thanks to RSQP Print & Design.

Elmira is the opposition on the 10th, as the Nailers will be holding a Princess Party from 6-7. Only 100 tickets are available for the party. That game will also be the annual Girl Scout Night.

Finally, Indy pays a visit on the 11th for a Family Funday with $5 kids tickets, a post game skate with the team, and another Oglebay Good Zoo Day.

Wheeling Nailers 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 29, 2014


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