Nailers Play 4 Games In 5 Days
December 9, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Preview -
The Nailers have a home away home away schedule this week. The Nailers start the week with an away game at Toledo on Wednesday, return home Friday to host the Gwinnett Gladiators, hit the road for a game at Kalamazoo Saturday and wrap up the weekend at home against Gwinnett. Lots of big promotions all week long!
The Nailers hit the road Wednesday for a game at Toledo.
Friday night the Nailers host the Gwinnett Gladiators and it's T-Shirt giveaway night for the first 2500 fans and Young Life Night. It's also a Friday Four Pack night and WV Lottery Night. The Nailers will also begin collecting Toys For Tots to benefit area kids during this Christmas season.
Saturday the Nailers are on the road at Kalamazoo.
Sunday night the Nailers wrap up the long week with another game against Gwinnett. Wear an NFL jersey to the game and get a special discounted adult ticket for only $10. It's also Ko-Sports Ice of Dreams Ni ght and Sunday Family FunDay featuring a post-game skate with Santa. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves$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.
Notes -
Goalie Jordan Parise shutout the Johnstown Chiefs Saturday night at WesBanco Arena with 20 saves in 20 shots. Parise went 97 minutes without allowing a goal, 60 minutes Saturday and 37 minutes Sunday against the Toledo Walleye. It was the first Nailers shutout in over a year dating back to Curtis Darling's 4-0 win over the Trenton Devils on November 19, 2008.
Thomas Beauregard had a hat trick Saturday night against the Johnstown Chiefs. He is second in the league with 16 goals in 22 games trailing Ryan Kinasewich of the Utah with 17.
Beauregard has 6 career hat-tricks in the ECHL and 3 of those have come at WesBanco Arena. He had two of his hat-tricks AGAINST the Nailers while playing for the Cyclones including on opening night last season, Oct 17, 2008 and also in March, 2008.
The Nailers took 4 of 6 possible points in the miniseries with the Johnstown Chiefs. The Nailers are 4-1-1 against the Chiefs on the season.
Blair Yaworski had goals in back to back games Wednesday, a goal and Friday, a pair of goals and an assist against the Johnstown Chiefs.
The Nailers added Colin Power to their roster in a trade with the Stockton Thunder for future consideration. Power is a rookie out of St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he played for Wheeling assistant coach Doug Doull. This season with Stockton the 25 year old has 1 goal and 1 assist along with 32 penalty minutes.
T.J. Fox returned to Wheeling from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and released Pierce Norton. The Nailers went 3-1-0 in their last 4 games and took 4 out of a possible 6 points in the miniseries against the Johnstown Chiefs.
Wednesday night -
Wheeling Nailers (10-11-2) Toledo Walleye (9-9-4)
Head Coach: Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey) Toledo - Nick Vitucci
Affiliation: Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) Toledo - Detroit Red Wings (NHL), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), Rockford Icehogs (AHL)
Head Coach Greg Puhalski returns to his pro hockey home of Toledo. The "Chief" got his start in professional hockey with the Toledo Storm as a player and coach for the team for a combined 7 years. Toledo head coach Nick Vitucci was teammates and later a player under Puhalski during his stay. Puhalski is 4th all-time on the Toledo Storm scoring chart and also set the league record for highest winning percentage in a coach's first two seasons.
Top Nailers Wheeling - Thomas Beauregard (16-6-22), Jordan Fox (7-11-18), Mitch Ganzak (3-14-17)
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!
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!
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