ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Announce Roster, Captains

October 17, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, are excited to announce their opening roster for the 2013-14 regular season. The roster consists of 21 active players, two reserve players, and three players on injured reserve, for a total of 26.

In goal, the Nailers will have a completely different look this season, as both netminders will be spending their first campaigns in Wheeling. However, the two come from completely different backgrounds. Mike Condon enters his first full season of professional hockey, following a four-year collegiate career at Princeton University. On the other hand, Alex Westlund is a 37-year old veteran, who spent time in the AHL and ECHL, before heading to Europe, where he has spent the past six seasons.

On the blueline, Wheeling succeeded in the free agent market this summer, locking up lethal offensive players in Mike Ratchuk and Barry Goers. Matt Grassi is the lone affiliate player among the defense, as he was assigned to the team by the Hamilton Bulldogs. Paul Cianfrini returns to the Ohio Valley, after beginning the 2012-13 season with the Nailers, while Ryan Blair and Jake Areshenko changed addresses, following a trade with Orlando. Rookie Ryley Miller rounds out the defensive core, while Gentry Zollars will start the year on injured reserve.

Up front, the Nailers will also have an experienced feel, thanks to free agency, as Chaz Johnson leads the way with eight professional seasons under his belt. Christiaan Minella, Zack Torquato, Denver Manderson, and Scott Zurevinski will be familiar faces at WesBanco Arena as well, as each has played at least one full season with the squad. The group of forwards also contains rookies with lots of potential, featuring Cody Sylvester, Carter Rowney, Stephen MacAulay, Patrick McGrath, Justin Smith, Colin Mulvey, and Sahir Gill. Jack MacLellan and Ryan Flanigan are both entering their second professional seasons, looking to build on success from their rookie years. Max MacKay and Jordy Trottier are the forwards who will start the season on injured reserve.

Head Coach Clark Donatelli has also named his captains for the 2013-14 season. Wheeling will not have a primary captain, but will have three alternates - Barry Goers, Chaz Johnson, and Denver Manderson.

"We will name a captain at some point during the season, but with it being this early in the season with a relatively young team, I want to see how the makeup of the teams feels, as well as how they respond," Donatelli said.

The 2013-14 Wheeling Nailers open the regular season on Friday night at 7:00, when they play host to the Elmira Jackals at WesBanco Arena.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



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