Nailers Sign Casey DeSmith
Published on July 30, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling Nailers Signee Casey DeSmith with the University of New Hampshire
(Wheeling Nailers)
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their fifth player signing of the 2015 offseason. Wheeling has signed goaltender Casey DeSmith to an ECHL contract.
DeSmith, 23, will be making his professional debut this season, following three seasons of college hockey at the University of New Hampshire. While with the Wildcats, Casey appeared in 97 games, compiling a 48-36-8 record, while posting a goals against average under 2.50 and a save percentage of at least .920 in each of the three campaigns. As a sophomore in 2012-13, DeSmith and his school played in the NCAA National Tournament, defeating the University of Denver in the Regional Semifinal, before falling to UMass Lowell. One year later, the Wildcats reached the Hockey East Final, backed by DeSmith's 20 victories.
"Casey is a big, solid goaltender, who had really good numbers in college, and comes to us with good recommendations," said Nailers Head Coach Clark Donatelli. "He has a calm presence in net, and he moves well, with good fundamentals. We are happy to have him in Wheeling, and I look forward to helping him develop and get to the next level."
This will be the second straight season that the Nailers will have a goaltender from the University of New Hampshire, following DeSmith's former teammate Jeff Wyer, who appeared in two games with Wheeling in 2014-15. DeSmith is also expected to join Wyer as the second ECHL contracted goaltender to start a season with the Nailers since Scott Darling in 2012-13.
"I have heard nothing but good things about Clark Donatelli as a coach and as a person, and I can't wait to get out to Wheeling and be a part of the Nailers," DeSmith said. "Wheeling's affiliation with Pittsburgh is a massive plus, as the Penguins are a top tier organization. Coach [Mike] Buckley (Pittsburgh Penguins Goaltending Development Coach) has been a huge influence for me, and was a big reason why I wanted to come to Wheeling. I hope that the success I had at the college level will translate to the pro level."
Casey DeSmith and the Nailers will open the 2015-16 regular season in Norfolk on October 16th and 17th, before playing their home opener at WesBanco Arena on October 24th against Brampton at 7:35.
Wheeling Nailers 2015-16 season tickets and mini plans are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.
Images from this story
 Wheeling Nailers Signee Casey DeSmith with the University of New Hampshire |
ECHL Stories from July 30, 2015
- Mallards Welcome Rookie Blue Liner Gibson - Quad City Mallards
- Nailers Sign Casey DeSmith - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Sign Defenseman Derik Johnson - Reading Royals
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