Nailers Acquire Ross from Bakersfield
December 1, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Wheeling Nailers, AA affiliate for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, have made a transaction, which is effective immediately. Wheeling has traded forward Chris Kushneriuk to the Bakersfield Condors, in exchange for defenseman Adam Ross.
Ross, 25, is currently playing in his first full season of professional hockey, following three years in the AJHL with the Olds Grizzlys, and four seasons at Merrimack College, where he was teammates and roommates with current Nailer Chris Barton. In 139 career games with Merrimack, Ross accumulated seven goals, 23 assists, 30 points, and 209 penalty minutes. The Red Deer, AB native has experience in being a leader, as he was an alternate captain for the Warriors in his junior season, and a co-captain in his senior season. After playing in two games last season with the now defunct Victoria Salmon Kings, Ross has appeared in 13 games this season with the Condors, registering 33 penalty minutes, while having an even plus-minus.
"Adam is a great character player," said head coach Stan Drulia. "He is a big body, as well as a left-handed shot, who we will look to as a shutdown defenseman on our penalty kill," he said.
Kushneriuk, 24, is also still considered a rookie, after having played in just eight regular season games last spring. Following one year at Wayne State University and three years at Robert Morris University, Kushneriuk turned pro, joining the Wheeling Nailers. The Ottawa, ON native had seven points in eight regular season games, before recording nine points in 15 playoff games, including the overtime winning goal in game seven of Wheeling's second round playoff series win against Greenville. Thus far this season, Kushneriuk has appeared in 14 games with the Nailers, picking up one goal, one assist, and six penalty minutes.
"On behalf of the organization, we would like to thank Chris for everything he did here in Wheeling, and we wish him the best of luck in Bakersfield," Drulia said. "He is a talented hockey player and tremendous human being," he said.
Ross will wear uniform number 25, and will join the Nailers this weekend.
Wheeling will play a pair of games this weekend, starting on Friday night, when they visit the Reading Royals at 7:05. Then, on Saturday night, the Nailers will return to WesBanco Arena for a 7:35 face-off against the Trenton Titans.
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