Nailers Changing the Record Book
March 31, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Everyone Contributing
Wheeling leads the league in total goals scored with 257 placing them just ahead of Florida with 252. The only time Wheeling has led the league in total offense was in 1994-95 when they scored 313 goals to edge out Dayton who had 307.
Boomer the Scoring Machine
Congratulations to Bryan "Boomer" Ewing on a phenomenal rookie season. A leading candidate to win ECHL Rookie of the Year honors, the first ever Wheeling native and WAHA product to play professional hockey has put together an incredible and memorable campaign.
After beginning the season with just one goal in his first 8 games Ewing found his scoring touch and burned goalie after goalie with his knack for the net. After scoring just 5 goals in November he went on to score 9 goals in November and then 14 goals through a torrid January that included a 7 game goal scoring streak.
Ewing leads the league in rookie points and goals and is 2nd overall in points and 3rd in goals.
On March 14, 2009 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown he became the first Wheeling Nailer in 12 years to enter the 40 goal club joining just 5 others.
On March 28, 2009 in Elmira, NY he established a new Wheeling Nailers record for goals by a rookie when he lit the lamp for the 43rd time this year. The old record of 42 goals in a rookie season was set by Steve Gibson in 95-96. "Boomer" is also the first Wheeling Nailer to record 90 points in a season since 96-97 when Eric Royal and John Varga both did it.
It's been a special season for Ewing who gets to see his name alongside some former Nailers and Thunderbirds greats as a result.
Most Goals in a Season:
62 - Darren Schwartz 92-93
56 - John Varga 96-97
54 - Darren Schwartz 93-94
46 - Devin Edgerton 92-93
43 - Bryan Ewing 08-09
42 - Steve Gibson 95-96
41 - Derek DeCosty 94-95
39 - Vadim Slivchenko 93-94
37 - Vadim Silvchenko 94-95
37 - Steve Gibson 94-95
37 - Jason Jaffray 03-04
35 - Samuel Groleau 95-96
Most Points in a Season:
117 - Devin Edgerton (92-93)
114 - Darren Schwartz (92-93)
101 - John Varga (96-97)
95 - Steve Gibson (95-96)
94 - Keli Corpse (95-96)
92 - Eric Royal (96-97)
92 - Darren Schwartz (93-94)
90 - Bryan Ewing (08-09)
Aiming for 50
The 50 Assist Club is also a pretty exclusive group in Wheeling Nailers history. It's only been done 10 times by 9 different players. Bryan "Boomer" Ewing and Jordan Morrison are both knocking on the door and if either or both get 3 assists in the remaining 3 games they will join some elite company.
Most Assists in a Season:
71 - Devin Edgerton (92-93)
62 - Keli Corpse (95-96)
61 - Eric Royal (96-97)
58 - Eduard Pershin (03-04)
58 - Louis Dumont (94-95)
58 - Tim Roberts (94-95)
58 - Tim Roberts (93-94)
57 - Tim Tisdale (93-94)
53 - Steve Gibson (95-96)
52 - Darren Schwartz (92-93)
47 - Bryan Ewing (08-09)
47 - Jordan Morrison (08-09)
Workhorse Darling
Curtis Darling has worked his way up some impressive lists amongst Nailers goalies all-time. The Nailers netminder is 3rd in games played in a season and total minutes between the pipes. He is 2nd all-time in saves in a season and is 5th in wins. When David Brown has been healthy and with the Nailers the two netminders have mostly shared the duties. But Brown spent time in the AHL earlier this year and when Brown went down for several weeks following a knee injury January 10th the goaltending duties were mostly left for Darling to be filled on a daily basis and he rose to the occasion to answer the call time and time again.
Most Games, Season (Goalie)
59 - Andy Franck (06-07)
55 - Andy Franck (05-06)
47 - Curtis Darling (08-09)
47 - Joel Laing (00-01)
44 - Mike Valley (02-03)
43 - Joel Laing (01-02)
43 - Luciano Caravaggo (98-99)
43 - Brett Abel (93-94)
43 - Francis Ouellette (92-93)
Most Minutes, Season
3470 - Andy Franck (06-07)
3214 - Andy Franck (05-06)
2790 - Curtis Darling (08-09)
2614 - Joel Laing (00-01)
2439 - Mike Valley (02-03)
2381 - Joel Laing (01-02)
2376 - Francis Ouellette (92-93)
2358 - Brett Abel (93-94)
Most Saves, Season
1736 - Andy Franck (06-07)
1407 - Curtis Darling (08-09)
1378 - Andy Franck (05-06)
1351 - Joel Laing (01-02)
1294 - Mike Valley (02-03)
1283 - Joel Laing (00-01)
1202 - Brett Abel (93-94)
Most Wins, Season
33 - Andy Franck (05-06)
27 - Andy Franck (06-07)
26 - Geoff Finch (94-95)
23 - Olie Sundstrom (96-97)
21 - Curtis Darling (08-09)
20 - Nick Boucher (03-04)
20 - Joel Laing (01-02)
20 - Tomas Vokoun (95-96)
ECHL Stories from March 31, 2009
- Steelheads down Roadrunners, 3-2 - Idaho Steelheads
- Phoenix Eliminated From Playoff Contention With 3-2 Loss - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Grizzlies Mathematically Clinch Playoff Spot - Utah Grizzlies
- Blades win 5th straight; Baker ties EC HL record with 27th power play goal - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Fall to Everblades 4-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Aspenlind Returns - Elmira Jackals
- Jackals Lead ECHL in Sell Outs - Elmira Jackals
- Free Agent Naurato, Thunder Agree to Terms - Stockton Thunder
- Steelheads' Climie Named Reebok ECHL Goaltender Of The Week - ECHL
- Checkers Announce Playoff Dates Presented By Bud Light - Charlotte Checkers
- Nailers Changing the Record Book - Wheeling Nailers
- Big Games, Big Promotions - Wheeling Nailers
- Blades make changes to roster - Florida Everblades
- Wranglers Qualify For 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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