ECHL Wheeling Nailers

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Published on November 25, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


This week we're thankful for Wheeling Nailers hockey! The Nailers have home games coming up on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and also have an away game on Friday. Lots of big promotions all week long!

Wednesday night it's the Nailers first ever encounter with the Florida Everblades. It' $1 beer night for the annual night-before-Turkey-Day game and also a WesBanco Wednesday featuring 2-for-1 tickets! Get your 2-for-1 ticket coupons at participating WesBanco locations or just bring your WesBanco card or checkbook to take advantage of this awesome offer. It's also West Virginia University Appreciation night as the Nailers will wear special Blue and Gold jerseys in tribute to the Mountaineers.

Friday night the Nailers hit the road for a single game at the Elmira Jackals where they split a pair of games last weekend.

Saturday night the Nailers take on the Cincinnati Cyclones on Pink in the Rink. $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.

Notes -

The Nailers have added Ryan Hillier to the roster for tonight's game. 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.

Chris Davis scored the overtime winner last Friday at Elmira. It was the first professional goal for the rookie out of UMass-Amherst who was making his Wheeling Nailers debut.

Slavomir Tomko had quite a homecoming in his return trip to his former team. The former Elmira Jackal scored a goal and an assist last Friday night. His goal was his first as a Wheeling Nailer. Tomko spent the first month of the season on the injured-reserve with an injury suffered in training camp. The Slovakia native played at the University of Vermont before breaking into pro hockey with the Jackals last year.

Jordan Fox has been on fire in the scoring columns lately. The Kirkwood, Missouri native leads the Nailers over the last 5 games with a total of 8 points on 3 goals and 5 assists. Fox led the Gwinnett Gladiators in points and goals last year.

Mitch Ganzak is on a 4 game point-streak with 3 goals and 3 assists. He had a career high 2 goals in Saturday night's game at Elmira.

Thomas Beauregard leads the Nailers with 10 goals and 13 points but it's been a couple of games since he's found the back of the net. The Montreal native is tied for 5th in the league in goals.

T.J. Fox is 2nd on the team in points with 12 and is on a 3 game point-streak with 4 assists over that stretch.

Goalie Adam Berkhoel is 3-1-1 in his last 6 starts.

Mitch Ganzak and T.J. Fox both received brief call-ups to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL last week. Both played in the Penguins game at Hartford last Thursday and then were returned to the Nailers on Saturday as various Pittsburgh players were getting healthy (thus allowing them to return the WBS players they had called up).

The Nailers are 3-1-1 in their last 5 games including a streak of 4 overtime games in a row that was snapped this past Saturday. Wheeling won only one overtime decision all of last season but they already have 3 exciting overtime triumphs this year. Mitch Ganzak, Joey Haddad and Chris Davis have all experienced the thrill of firing home and overtime game-winner this season.

TONIGHT'S GAME

Wheeling Nailers (5-8-1) Florida Everblades (8-7-2)

Head Coach: Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey) Johnstown -Malcolm Cameron (2nd season)

Affiliation: Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) Florida - Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Florida Panthers (NHL), Albany River Rats (AHL), Rochester Americans (AHL)

Recently:

Wheeling -Split a pair of exciting games at Elmira last weekend. Chris Davis scored the overtime game-winner Friday night in his Nailers debut for a 3-2 win. Wheeling was led by Adam Berkhoel's fine performance in net as he turned away 33 of Elmira's 35 shots for his best win of the year. Saturday the Nailers were looking good with a 3-1 lead in the 2nd period led by a pair of Mitch Ganzak goals but the Jackals turned it on and the top scorer in the ECHL, Tyler Donati, scored a pair of goals to lead the comeback. Elmira won the weekend finale 5-3.

Florida - Dropped 2 out of 3 home games against the Reading Royals but avoided the sweep with a 4-0 win their last time out Saturday night. Before that they pulled off a three game sweep of the Toledo Walleye the previous week. The last two of those games were decided in shootout or overtime. The Everblades are 4-2-0 in their last 6 games. Florida is led by their long-time captain, veteran Ernie Hartlieb. The 31 year old has over 250 points in his pro career.

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 (10-3-13), T.J. Fox (5-7-12), Mitch Ganzak (3-9-12) Florida - Jacob Micfikier (8-16-24), Scott Hotham (5-9-14), A.J. Thelen (5-7-12)

Top Goalie: Wheeling - Jordan Parise, 2-4-1, 3.47,.914 / Adam Berkhoel, 3-3-1, 3.47,.877 Florida - Chris Beckford-Tseu, 2-2-1, 2.60,.918

Upcoming Home Games and Promotions:

Wed, November 25 - Wheeling Nailers vs. Florida Everblades

WesBanco Wednesday and WVU Appreciation. $1 Beers through the first intermission. 2-for-1 ticket coupons at WesBanco or by showing your WesBanco card or check-book at the game. Nailers to wear Blue-and-Gold jerseys in tribute to the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Sat, November 28 - 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 - 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.

Coming up we'll see the Nailers wear Blue and Gold West Virginia Mountaineer style jerseys on Wednesday, November 25 on West Virginia University Appreciation Night. And then the pink jerseys on Pink in the Rink to promote Breast Cancer Awareness on Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29.

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

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ECHL Stories from November 25, 2009


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