Nailers Have Best Team Name According to USA Today
October 11, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers, proud members of the ECHL, are excited to announce that they have been recognized by USA Today for having the best team name in minor league hockey.
"We wanted to look at the best team names in the lower leagues and celebrate them," said Nate Scott, author of the story.
Concerning the Nailers name, Scott writes, "Perhaps best known from the Coyotes' Paul Bissonnette's Twitter profile, the Wheeling Nailers...used to be called the Wheeling Thunderbirds, but a name dispute with another team led them to hold a contest where fans submitted names to the team. Due to the town's history as nail manufacturers, and perhaps showing that the club has a pretty good sense of humor about things, they landed on the Nailers, and they've been the Nailers ever since 1996."
"We are excited to be recognized for our unique name," said Nailers Coach Clark Donatelli. "Aside from being the home of the stars of the future, things associated with minor league hockey are promotions, entertainment and team names. We'll take this as a sign of great things to come for the team this season."
Scott also writes the Nailers, "can take pride knowing they have the best team name for any minor league hockey team out there. Go on you Nailers!"
The Nailers logo has also been recognized previously as one of the best minor league sports logos.
The Wheeling Nailers are an original ECHL franchise and hold several league records including most wins, most home wins and most road wins as well as three Brabham Cup titles. In addition, the Nailers have the most former players in the NHL - 43.
Wheeling enters its 14th consecutive season as the ECHL affiliate for both Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, as well as its 15th season overall with the NHL Penguins. Over the course of those years, 10 former Nailers have made their NHL debuts with the Penguins, with goaltender Brad Thiessen being the most recent. In addition, a total of 12 former Nailers/Thunderbirds have suited up with Pittsburgh, including goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who led the Penguins to the Eastern Conference Final this past spring.
The team also enters its fourth consecutive season as the ECHL affiliate for both Montreal and Hamilton, as well as its ninth season overall with the Canadiens. Over the course of those years, seven former Nailers/Thunderbirds have made their NHL debuts with the Canadiens. In addition, a total of eight former Nailers/Thunderbirds have suited up with Montreal, including defenseman Francis Bouillon, who appeared in all 53 regular season and playoff games for the Canadiens in 2012-13.
ECHL Stories from October 11, 2013
- Idaho Beats Utah 6-5 in Overtime Preseason Game - Utah Grizzlies
- Mercier Nets Three in OT Win - Idaho Steelheads
- Furious Rally Comes up Short in Blades' Preseason Opener - Florida Everblades
- Countdown to Face-Off: K-Wings at Walleye Preseason - Kalamazoo Wings
- K-Wings stay perfect in the preseason with a 5-2 win over the Komets - Kalamazoo Wings
- Solar Bears Hold off Everblades in 5-4 Win - Orlando Solar Bears
- Royals Pre-Season Begins with Come-From-Behind Win over Wheeling, 2-1 - Reading Royals
- Royals Take Defensive Battle, 2-1 - Wheeling Nailers
- Maylan Leads Stingrays Past Gladiators - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - October 11 - ECHL
- Q&A with Solar Bears Goaltender Peter Delmas - Orlando Solar Bears
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Florida Everblades - October 11 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Coyotes Assign Experienced Forward to Gwinnett - Atlanta Gladiators
- Solar Bears Complete Flurry of Moves - Orlando Solar Bears
- Elmira Jackals Announce $5 Tickets for Exhibition Game - Elmira Jackals
- Bulls Announce Team Medical Staff - San Francisco Bulls
- Countdown to Face-Off: K-Wings vs Komets Preseason - Kalamazoo Wings
- Gudlevskis Recalled to NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning - Florida Everblades
- Eagles Trade for Defenseman Mark Nemec - Colorado Eagles
- Game Preview: Stingrays Open Preseason against Gwinnett Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- Nailers Have Best Team Name According to USA Today - Wheeling Nailers
- Bulls Drop Preseason Opener to Bakersfield - San Francisco Bulls
- Condors Bury Bulls with Less Than a Minute Left, 3-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Colorado Eagles Top Wranglers, Yet Again - Colorado Eagles
- Wranglers Fall to Eagles, 4-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
