ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers vs. IceMen Game Day Snap Shot

December 20, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (13-6-0-5, 31 PTS) vs. Evansville IceMen (13-7-0-3, 29 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(13-6-0-5, 31 PTS, 1st Atlantic, T-3rd East)

70 GF, 63 GA

PP: 12.0% (10-for-83), 14th

PK: 90.1% (100-for-111), 2nd

15-F-Zack Torquato (9 goals, 21 assists, 30 points in 24 games)

17-F-Carter Rowney (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 18 games)

21-F-Sahir Gill (6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points in 19 games)

2-D-Mike Ratchuk (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points in 24 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points in 24 games)

7-F-Max MacKay (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 14 games)

29-G-Mathieu Corbeil (1-0-0 record, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 Sv% in 2 games)

EVANSVILLE ICEMEN

(13-7-0-3, 29 PTS, 2nd North, 6th East)

75 GF, 77 GA

PP: 14.5% (12-for-83), 11th

PK: 80.9% (76-for-94), 20th

27-F-Jeremy Langlois (9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points in 15 games)

24-F-Matt Schepke (8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points in 23 games)

15-F-Nathan Moon (4 goals, 13 assists, 17 points in 21 games)

29-D-Matt Krug (6 goals, 9 assists, 15 points in 23 games)

12-F-Mike Seidel (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points in 23 games)

18-F-Andre Bouvet-Morrissette (7 goals, 4 assists, 11 points in 22 games)

36-G-Garrett Bartus (2-4-1 record, 3.29 GAA, .900 Sv% in 7 games)

Head-to-Head

2012-13 Season Series: Nailers 2, IceMen 1

2012-13 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 2, IceMen 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 2, IceMen 1

All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 2, IceMen 0

Bonus Hockey Wasn't Such a Bonus

Last weekend, the Wheeling Nailers played a pair of games against the Florida Everblades, with both contests requiring overtime to decide a winner. On Saturday night, Wheeling's Zack Torquato knotted the score with one second remaining, before Florida's Rocco Carzo tied Sunday's tilt with 24 seconds left. The Everblades won both games in shootouts, as the Nailers fell to 1-5 in that scenario this season. Wheeling has gone to extra hockey in five of its last six games, and eight times on the season, which is tied for second in the league, trailing Ontario, who has played in ten overtime games.

Evansville Learning the Ways of the "E"

Last season, the Evansville IceMen joined the ECHL from the Central Hockey League, and got a rather rude welcoming, as they finished last in the Eastern Conference, with 57 points. This season, the IceMen find themselves in second place in the North Division, trailing the Cincinnati Cyclones by only one point. A major reason for Evansville's success has been its performance on home ice, as the IceMen are 9-2-1 at Ford Center. On the contrary, Evansville's road record currently stands at 4-5-2, entering a pair of contests at WesBanco Arena. The IceMen are currently in the midst of both a three-game home winning streak and a three-game road losing streak.

Grassi Makes it a Baker's Dozen

On Friday morning, the Hamilton Bulldogs recalled defenseman Matt Grassi, as part of three transactions that involved the Nailers. Prior to his recall, Grassi had appeared in 24 games with Wheeling, recording one goal, four assists, and five points. However, the most notable part of Matt's game is his defense, as his plus/minus was either positive or even in all but three games. Once the Burnaby, BC native makes his season debut (could be as early as Friday), he will become the 13th player on the 2013-14 Nailers to play in the AHL this season. Fellow Bulldog Mike Condon made his season debut on Wednesday.

Corbeil Takes Over the Crease

With Mike Condon in the American Hockey League, the Nailers' goal crease now belongs to 22-year old Mathieu Corbeil, who will make his second ECHL start on Friday night. Corbeil's first start was extremely successful, as he blanked the Toledo Walleye on November 30th, turning away 39 shots. His backup will be John McFarland, who is currently a freshman at Wheeling Jesuit University, and who graduated from Wheeling Central this past spring. McFarland will become the third player born in Wheeling to dress for the Nailers, joining Billy Higgins and Bryan Ewing.

Two More Back in the Valley

As was the case last weekend against the Florida Everblades, the Nailers will see a pair of familiar faces in the lineup across the way. Forwards Matt Schepke and Daultan Leveille are both members of the Evansville IceMen, and both spent time in Wheeling during their careers. Schepke posted eight goals and 21 points in 29 games with the Nailers during the 2011-12 campaign, and currently ranks second on the IceMen in scoring, with eight goals and 18 points in 23 games this season. Leveille had four goals and seven points in 25 games last season with Wheeling, and currently has six goals and 11 points in 20 games with Evansville this season.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 20, 2013


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