ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Beast Game Day Snap Shot

Published on January 16, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (16-17-0-0, 32 PTS) at Brampton Beast (11-19-2-0, 24 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(16-17-0-0, 32 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

96 GF, 107 GA

PP: 20.8% (25-for-120), 5th

PK: 84.6% (121-for-143), 8th

23-F-Riley Brace (9 goals, 19 assists, 28 points in 22 games)

16-F-Derek Army (12 goals, 14 assists, 26 points in 33 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (8 goals, 17 assists, 25 points in 21 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (9 goals, 10 assists, 19 points in 30 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points in 25 games)

21-F-Sahir Gill (4 goals, 10 assists, 14 points in 14 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (8-10-0 record, 3.56 GAA, .885 Sv% in 19 games)

BRAMPTON BEAST

(11-19-2-0, 24 PTS, 7th Central, 14th West)

78 GF, 128 GA

PP: 13.9% (14-for-101), 21st

PK: 84.0% (100-for-119), 12th

10-F-Chad Painchaud (8 goals, 20 assists, 28 points in 32 games)

17-F-Jason Pitton (12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points in 32 games)

19-F-Tyler Donati (8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points in 18 games)

6-D-Mathew Maione (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 29 games)

23-F-Tyson Fawcett (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points in 29 games)

32-F-Calin Wild (5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points in 32 games)

34-G-Trevor Cann (7-9-2 record, 3.93 GAA, .905 Sv% in 24 games)

Head-to-Head

First All-Time Meeting

Two of Three at Home

The Wheeling Nailers played three of their five January home games last weekend, coming away with two wins and four points. Wheeling opened the weekend with a wild 6-5 victory over the Reading Royals, in which it erased three separate one-goal deficits. On Saturday, another thrilling comeback was in store, as the Nailers rallied from being down 2-0, defeating the Elmira Jackals 4-2, as Tyler Fernandez snapped a 2-2 deadlock with 26 seconds left. Unfortunately, the homestand was unable to be punctuated with a third straight triumph, as the Indy Fuel rained on the parade with a 3-0 decision on Sunday afternoon. Shane Owen made 28 saves in net for Indy, who received goals from three different players.

Eastern Visitors to Brampton

The Brampton Beast are currently in the midst of a stretch that sees them play nine straight games against Eastern Conference opponents, after traveling to Elmira and Reading last weekend. The Beast ended up posting a 1-2-0 record on enemy ice, with the lone victory coming on Saturday night, when Trevor Cann made 39 saves in a 4-2 triumph over the Royals. ECHL All-Star Tyson Fawcett had two goals in that contest for Brampton, including the eventual game winner at the 9:12 mark of the second period. The Beast suffered 4-1 and 6-2 losses in the other two games of the trip, and are 1-6-0 against the Eastern Conference this season. Brampton will host Elmira for three games next weekend.

Roster Getting Back to Normal

This week, the Nailers received a pair of players back from professional tryouts in the American Hockey League, as Riley Brace returned from the Worcester Sharks and Sahir Gill came back from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The two combined to play in 18 AHL contests, with both players recording one goal, two assists, and three points. Brace remains the leading scorer for Wheeling, having racked up nine goals, 19 assists, and 28 points in 22 games, and thus, will represent the team at the 2015 All-Star Game next week. Gill registered four goals, ten assists, and 14 points in 14 games, prior to his stint at the next level. Seven members of the 2014-15 Nailers are currently on AHL rosters (Bakker, Boak, D'Agostino, Fournier, Makowski, Marcantuoni, Rowney).

Musing Down Memory Lane

Six members of Wheeling's current roster played junior hockey contests at Powerade Centre as opponents of the then Brampton Battalion in the OHL. Paul Cianfrini made his OHL debut with the Belleville Bulls, eventually going on to play six games in Brampton, grabbing one assist. Riley Brace has the most experience in the Flower City, having played in nearby Mississauga. He had 12 points in 17 games. Franky Palazzese has one of the happiest memories, as his 35-save shutout lifted the Sudbury Wolves to a 1-0 overtime win in the series clincher, which turned out to be the final game in Brampton Battalion history. Clark Seymour (13GP, 1-1-2), Zack Torquato (6GP, 3-1-4), and Tyler Murovich (2 GP, 0-3-3) have also taken the ice as visiting players at Powerade Centre. The Battalion have since relocated to North Bay, Ontario.

First One in Canada

Friday night marks the first ever meeting between the Nailers and Beast, who will go to battle on four occasions this season. This is also the first trip to Canada in the 23-year history of hockey in Wheeling, as the previous 1,696 games (regular season and playoffs) all took place on American ice. Brampton is the Nailers' second Canadian opponent all-time, as they defeated the Victoria (BC) Royals, 7-3 on November 6, 2005. This weekend will serve as the third, fourth, and fifth games against Western Conference teams for Wheeling this season, following a two-game sweep over the Utah Grizzlies back in December. The Nailers' last visit to a Western Conference building took place on February 17, 2005, when they visited (and beat) the Bakersfield Condors.

January 23rd & 24th will be a two-game series at home against Fort Wayne, as the new jumbotron will make its debut.

Friday's promotions include: Flat Screen Friday, courtesy of The Highlands and The Law Firm of Bordas and Bordas... Mike Ratchuk Poster Giveaway (2,000), presented by RSQP Print & Design... Wheeling Island Nailer Night... Frosty Friday .

Saturday's game will be Star Wars Night, as well as a ski cap giveaway to the first 1,000 kids (14 & under) in attendance. That night will also feature the annual Boy Scout Sleepover. McDonald's Friends & Family Tickets are available for $39.99, and include four tickets, four hats, and four McDonald's Value Meal coupons.

On February 7th, the Nailers will host Duck Dynasty Night, featuring an appearance by Jep Robertson.

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

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ECHL Stories from January 16, 2015


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