ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Return Home Vs Stingrays This Weekend

Published on January 30, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Saturday January 30th 7:35pm - South Carolina Stingrays at Wheeling Nailers

Sunday January 31st 3:05pm- South Carolina Stingrays at Wheeling Nailers

Preview - The Nailers return to action with two games against the South Carolina Stingrays Saturday at 7:35pm and Sunday at 3:05pm. Wheeling took the first two games of the home-and-home series with 3-2 and 3-1 victories in North Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday and Tuesday.

Saturday, is Doug Sauter Bobblehead Night for the first 2,500 fans courtesy of WesBanco and Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night. Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway will be inducted in pre-game ceremonies featuring the unveiling of their Hall of Fame banners. Sauter is the first and all-time winningest head coach in Wheeling hockey history. Nick Bedway was a long-time beat-writer covering the team and introducing the Ohio Valley to pro hockey. They will be joining the inaugural class including all-time Wheeling leading scorer Darren Schwartz and WAHA founder Bob Otten.

Unfortunately, Doug Sauter was unable to get out of Oklahoma City due to the bad snow storm there. He tried to catch multiple different flights but they were all cancelled. Coach Sauter sends his regrets at being unable to attend.

Sunday is a KoSports Ice of Dreams Day and will feature an open-skate with the Nailers players after the game. Don't forget to bring your skates, gloves, and camera!

Wheeling enters action tonight with a record of 23-18-3. The Nailers have won 2 straight and 6 of their last 9 games. Wheeling is 10-3-1 in their last 14 games and also have won the first two games of this four game series with the defending league champions.

The Nailers have moved into 7th place in the American Conference but trail 3rd place by only a couple of points.

The Stingrays are all alone in first place in the American Conference but are also on a three game losing streak thanks to the back to back wins by the Nailers last Sunday and Tuesday as well as a defeat at Cincinnati Friday night. Wheeling is 2-2-0 against South Carolina this year.

Notes

Goalie Adam Berkhoel has been assigned to the Nailers from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Berkhoel, 28, was first assigned to Wheeling on October 26th. He went on to appear in ten games with the Nailers, posting a 4-4-1 record, a 3.54 goals against average and a save percentage of.881. He was recalled by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on December 2nd and appeared in his first game with the Penguins this season on December 9th at Syracuse. Berkhoel stopped all 25 shots he faced in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton s 6-0 victory, his fifth clean sheet as a member of the Penguins.

Berkhoel has appeared in a total of six games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, posting a 3-3-0 record, 2.97 goals against average, and a.892 save percentage.

The 5-11, 185-lb. native of St. Paul, MN finished last season with a record of 15-11-2 in 28 games, a goals-against average of 2.53 and a save percentage of.910. He also finished tied with John Curry with four shutouts, which included the posting of a new team-record shutout streak of 202:44.

Andrew Lord has a 2 game goal streak and a 4 game point streak.

Aaron Clarke is tied for the league lead with 3 shorthanded goals. Clarke has 8 goals and 16 points in his last 12 games dating back to before his injury.

Mitch Ganzak leads ECHL defensemen with 24 assists and is 2nd in points with 29 trailing only J.C. Sawyer of Toledo.

Andrew Lord is 3rd in the ECHL with 15 major penalties.

Ryan Schnell is 2nd among ECHL rookies in penalty minutes and major penalties with 105 PIM's and 13 majors. Only Brett Gallant of Elmira has more.

The Nailers have 5 shorthanded goals in their last 7 games and also in the last two straight. It began with Zack Sill's shorty at Cincinnati on January 12th. Then Thomas Beauregard registered one against Toledo on January 17th followed by Blair Yaworski's on January 19th vs. Toledo and then Aaron Clarke on January 24th at South Carolina followed by Andrew Lord on January 26th at South Carolina.

T.J. Fox scored 2 goals in Friday night's 5-4 loss at the Charlotte Checkers. It was his 3rd multi-goal game in the past month dating back to December 26th and ended a 5 game goal-less drought for the Oswego, NY native. T.J.'s 15 goals Is 2nd on the Nailers trailing only Thomas Beauregard's 26.

Cliff Loya is playing his 218th game with Wheeling. That is 2nd all-time in Wheeling Nailers history passing Tim Roberts(215 games, 1992-96). Next up on the all-time list is all-time leader Stephan Brannare (231 games, 1997-99, 00-01, 03-06).

Thomas Beauregard is 3rd in the league in goals with 26. He had his 6 game goal scoring streak snapped Tuesday night at South Carolina when he unselfishly opted not to shoot it himself on a 3-on-2 rush and instead gave to an open Kyle Bushee in the slot to slam home a key goal.

Congratulations to Nick Johnson who maintained an impressive trend by scoring a goal in his NHL debut last Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. While wearing #42, Johnson became the 42nd Wheeling Nailers alum to make it to the National Hockey League.

Saturday Night- Wheeling Nailers (23-18-3 = 44)

South Carolina (30-12-6 = 66)

Head Coach/Asst Coach:

Wheeling - Greg Puhalski/Doug Doull

South Carolina - Cail MacLean

Affiliation:

Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)

South Carolina - Washington Capitals (NHL), Hershey Bears(AHL)

Top Scorers:

Wheeling - Thomas Beauregard (26-16-42), Casey Pierro-Zabotel (9-24-33), T.J. Fox (15-16-31), Jordan Fox (13-18-31), Aaron Clarke (12-17-29)

South Carolina - Keith Johnson (18-25-43), Trent Campbell (10-28-38), Rob Ricci (17-19-36), Greg Johnson (12-24-36)

Top Goalies:

Wheeling - Michael-Lee Teslak (11-9-3, 3.24,.885%)

South Carolina - Shane Connelly (9-8-3, 3.53, 0.888%)

Upcoming Games:

After the weekend homestand the Nailers hit the road for a pair of games next week at North Division leading Cincinnati on Wednesday night and at rival Elmira on Friday night.

The Nailers return home on Saturday, February 6th against the Kalamazoo Wings on SnowBird Bobblehead giveaway for the first 1000 kids age 14 and younger courtesy of WTOV

There are still openings available for the Nailers inaugural Education Field Trip Day on Tuesday, February 9th when the Nailers play the Johnstown Chiefs with a special morning start time. Tickets are free for all students and teachers when the Nailers play the Johnstown Chiefs at 11:00am. All the kids will be receiving an educational book and will quizzed on the material they learn at the game when they return to the classroom. It's going to be a really fun time for the kids so get your school signed up for the special event with the Nailers by calling 304-234-GOAL.

Experience Counts:

Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rdfor 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!!

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 30, 2010


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