ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Hockey Continues This Weekend

Published on November 28, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


The Nailers are coming back home following one of their best wins of the season in a 4-1 win at the Elmira Jackals Friday night. Wheeling is especially motivated against this weekend's opponent as Cincinnati has taken all three meetings from the Nailers so far this year.

Saturday night the Nailers take on the Cincinnati Cyclones on Pink in the Rink night. $2 from special tickets sold will go to benefit breast cancer patients of the Ohio Valley as well as proceeds from the post-game jersey auction where you can buy the special pink Nailers jerseys right off the players' backs. It's also George Kellas bobblehead night for the first 2500 hands honoring the great area sportscaster. And bring your new teddy bears and stuffed animals to throw on the ice after the Nailers score their first goal. The annual Nailers Teddy-Bear Toss is always a blast and the donations go to benefit area kids.

Sunday night the Nailers wrap up the big week with another game against Cincinnati. Wear an NFL jersey to the game and get a special discounted adult ticket for only $10. It's Sunday Family FunDay featuring a post-game skate with the Nailers players. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves$B!D(Band don't forget the camera!

Nailers hockey is always the most awesome family entertainment value in town and we want you there cheering on your hometown team. Kids tickets are always $5 and students get in for only $7. Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL.

Last Time Out -

The Wheeling Nailers got back on the winning track with one of their best games of the season in a 4-1 pasting of the Elmira Jackals Friday night in Elmira, NY. The three goal margin represents the biggest win of the season for the Nailers who got goals from Thomas Beauregard (12), Chris Capraro (2), Aaron Clarke (4) and Slavomir Tomko (2).

Goalie Adam Berkhoel's bid for a shutout was spoiled late in the 3rd period on a goal by Olivier Proulx with 7:07 remaining in the game. The Nailers held Elmira to 0-for-11 on the power play. It was probably Berkhoel's best game of the year as he turned aside 20 of Elmira's 21 shots. He received #1 Star of the Game honors making several spectacular stops. Berkhoel improved to 4-3-1 with the win and for a goalie recovering from a couple of injuries showed terrific flexibility in his many kick saves.

Wheeling improves to 6-9-2 with the win and owns a winning record on the road of 5-4-0. Elmira falls to 9-5-3.

Four out of Wheeling's 5 previous wins had been decided in overtime or shootouts. Their lone victory that was not a one goal game had been their first of the year October 18th in a 3-1 decision at Gwinnett.

Beauregard moved into a tie for 3rd in the league with his 12th goal of the season Friday night. Matt Pierce of Cincinnati also has 12 goals.

T.J. Fox was called up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. It is his second call-up to the AHL in about a week.

Casey Pierro-Zabotel missed Friday night' game at Elmira and did not travel with the team. He had flu-like symptoms and stayed back in Wheeling to rest. His status for Saturday night's game is unknown.

Cincinnati has won 2 straight and 3 of their last 4. Last night they overcame a 2-goal deficit on two different occasions in an exciting 6-5 comeback win over first place Kalamazoo.

The Nailers have added Ryan Hillier to the roster. The 3rd round pick of the New York Rangers in 2006 has been playing this season with Charlotte of the ECHL and Hartford of the AHL. Last year with Charlotte he had 10 goals and 26 points in 66 games. The 22 year old from Halifax, NS played 4 seasons with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior League including back to back seasons of 32 and 34 goals to complete his juniors career.

Goalie Adam Berkhoel is 4-1-1 in his last 6 starts.

The Nailers are 4-2-1 in their last 7 games including a streak of 4 overtime games in a row from November 8th through November 19th.

TONIGHT'S GAME

Wheeling Nailers (6-9-2) Cincinnati Cyclones (9-7-1)

Head Coach: Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey) Chuck Weber (4th season)

Affiliation: Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) Cincinnati - Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Nashville Predators (NHL), Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

Welcome Home!

Welcome back to Wheeling to both Jordan Morrison and Elgin Reid. Both players made the ECHL All-Rookie Team as members of the Nailers last year. They are both continuing their careers with the Florida Everblades now. Three out of the four Wheeling members of the All-Rookie team are reunited for this weekend as Mitch Ganzak is skating for the Nailers side in his second season.

Top Players: Wheeling - Thomas Beauregard (12-3-15), Mitch Ganzak (3-9-12), Casey Pierro-Zabotel (1-9-10) Cincinnati - Dustin Sproat (9-10-19), Matt Pierce (12-6-18), Scott Reynolds (7-7-14), Barrett Eghoetz (6-7-13)

Top Goalie: Wheeling - Jordan Parise, 2-5-1, 3.54,.874 / Adam Berkhoel, 4-3-1, 3.60,.879 Cincinnati - Jeremy Smith, 6-4-1, 2.45,.903

Upcoming Home Games and Promotions:

Sat, November 28 (8:05) - Wheeling Nailers vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

George Kellas Bobbleheads and Pink in the Rink and Toys for Tots and Teddy Bear Toss. The great sportscast George Kellas to be honored at the game and the first 2500 fans to receive Kellas bobbleheads. Nailers to wear pink jerseys in support of breast cancer awareness. Pink jerseys to be auctioned later. Bring new toys to donate to area needy kids for the holidays. Teddy Bear toss to benefit local charities. Fans get to throw the Teddy Bears after the Nailers score the first goal.

Sun, November 29 (6:35) - Wheeling Nailers vs. Cincinnati Cyclones

NFL Jersey Sunday and Skate with the Nailers. Wear an NFL jersey to get $2 off any adult ticket. Post-game skate with the Wheeling Nailers players. Bring your own skates and gloves as well as pens and cameras to get autographs and pictures. Nailers to wear their special pink jerseys again and the Toys for Tots drive continues.

Sat, December 5 (7:35)- Wheeling Nailers vs. Johnstown Chiefs

Spike Bobbleheads for the first 1,000 kids age 14 and under presented by United Bank. It's also Boy Scout Night with the Nailers at WesBanco Arena and the Nailers Toys for Tots program continues for area needy kids so bring your new toy donations to the Nailers game and donate to a wonderful cause.

Sun, December 6 (6:35) - Wheeling Nailers vs. Toledo Walleye

First ever matchup between the Nailers and Toledo's new entry into the ECHL. Sunday Family FunDay at WesBanco Arena. Skate with the Nailers players on the ice after the game. Be sure to bring your own skates and gloves$B!D(Band your cameras! It's a really fun time for the fans and an awesome opportunity to meet your favorite Nailers. It's another NFL Jersey Sunday too. Wear an NFL Jersey and get a discount adult ticket for only $10.

Give the Gift of Nailers hockey this holiday season. Nailers Santa Packs start as low as $25 including Nailers Ticket Vouchers, Nailers T-Shirt or Cap, Nailerrs Autographed Puck, all wrapped in a game-worn hockey sock from a Nailers player.

Also get free shipping in the domestic U.S. on all Nailers souvenir products ordered through shop.wheelingnailers.com. This special runs through December 31st so take advantage of this great offer!

Wheeling-Mountaineer College Hockey Club Tournament at WesBanco Arena:

Saturday, November 28 - Noon and 3pm. West Chester vs. Duquesne and Ohio U vs. West Virginia.

Sunday, November 29 - Noon and 3pm. Consolation and Championship games.

All part of a hockey triple-header at WesBanco with the Wheeling Nailers playing at home both nights.

Experience Counts: Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rd for the Nailers. He is second among all ECHL coaches with 601 coming into this season trailing only Steve Martinson who had 650 wins entering this year. Puhalski has over 200 ECHL wins dating back to the beginning of his coaching career with the Toledo Storm from 1994-98.

Right-Hand Man: Greg Puhalski has an assistant coach on the staff this year. Doug Doull joins the Nailers and the Penguins organization after doing some coaching in Canadian University hockey for a couple seasons following his 8 year playing career in the AHL and NHL. Doull fought some of the NHL's toughest customers in his time with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04. He played 37 games in the NHL mostly with Boston (and 2 with Washington) and racked up 151 PIM's. His AHL career included stays with Hershey, San Antonio, Utah, Providence, St. John's, Saint John and with other AAA level teams in the old IHL in the late 90's with Michigan (now Kalamazoo), Detroit Vipers and Manitoba.

It's a Girl!!

Wheeling head coach Greg Puhalski is the Ohio Valley's newest Dad! His wife Ally is doing well after giving birth to that couple's first child, a healthy baby girl. Zara Katherine Puhalski was born at 7:05 p.m. on October 29th.

Nailers broadcaster Bob Rotruck and Nailers Accountant Linda Timberlake also share that birthday and both say they heartily approve of the date chosen by the newest member of Nailers Nation!

Congratulations Greg and Ally. And welcome to Nailers Nation Zara!!

Divisional Foes: The Wheeling Nailers are competing in the North Division again but there has been some realignment in the American Conference. In the four team North the Nailers' divisional rivals will be the Cincinnati Cyclones, Toledo Walleye and Kalamazoo Wings. Toledo returns to the league after a two year hiatus to build their new arena. Kalamazoo (Mich.) enters the ECHL for the first time after 34 years of professional hockey tradition in other leagues.

Wheeling will maintain their rivalries with teams like Johnstown and Elmira and will play them just as many times as typical but those teams will be part of the new four team East Division along with Trenton and Reading. The South Division will comprise Florida, South Carolina, Charlotte and Gwinnett. Wheeling will face all 11 American Conference opponents this year both at home and on the road so there will be a wide variety of foes hitting the ice at WesBanco in the coming months. The top 8 teams out of 12 in the American Conference qualify for the playoffs with the division winners securing the top 3 seeds.

Nailers on the Radio: All Wheeling Nailers games are broadcast on the Nailers Hockey Network presented by Amica Insurance led by flagship station The Mix 97.3 and on wheelingnailers.com and the B2 network. Bob Rotruck is in his second season with the play-by-play action while former Wheeling Thunderbirds defenseman Brock Woods enters his 10th season of providing color commentary on the home games. Catch the preview of the night's action beginning with the Subway Countdown to Faceoff beginning 20 minutes before the drop of the puck. The Riesbeck's Food Markets Post-game report features a detailed recap of the night's action, audio-replay highlights, and also interviews with coaches and players on home games.

The Nailers Power Hour Presented by Pepsi airs on Thursdays at 6pm from Generation's Pub and Restaurant featuring the Voice of the Nailers, Bob Rotruck, head coach Greg Puhalski, and a player guest each week. Come join us for the fun. The show also features audio-replay highlights of the previous week's action and a recap of the games and preview of what's coming up for the Nailers. Season tickets are on sale now for all 36 exciting Nailers home games at WesBanco Arena. Great season ticket plans are available for every budget. Also take advantage of the Nailers new $87 package for 7 Nailers home games. Call the Wheeling Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL, that's 234-4625. Or log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information.

Overnight Packages:

Make it a Hockey Night in Wheeling with one of our popular Nailers overnight packages starting at just $99. Come cheer for the proud AA affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins$B!D(Bthe Wheeling Nailers$B!D(Bless than an hour from downtown Pittsburgh!

Two tickets, hotel room, dinner in town$B!D(Byou'll have a great time. Other packages available too including a $159 package at Wheeling Island Hotel and Casino.

To reserve your overnight package with the Nailers call 304-234-GOAL

Birthday Parties with the Nailers:

Have a Birthday Blast with the Nailers! The Birthday Boy or Girl gets all sorts of great stuff including a Team Autographed Birthday Card, Photo with the mascot, Spike, a Nailers Hockey Puck, a free kids meal at Perkins and a special announcement in the arena! Everyone in the group gets tickets to the game, Ice Cream from United Dairy, a free soda, and a special visit from Spike! You can make it a premium birthday package for pizza, hot dogs, cupcakes and more. It's Birthday Party Fun with the Nailers! Call 304-234-GOAL to book your special night!

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from November 28, 2009


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.

OurSports Central