Nailers Week in Review
December 23, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Friday, December 20 Toledo 4 @ Wheeling 2
For the fifth time in six meetings this season the Toledo Storm defeated the Nailers. Toledo took a 1-0 first period lead on a Nathan Lutz goal at 15:17. Alexandre Jacques and Kris Waltze assisted on the goal. Wheeling tied the game 1-1 at 8:39 of the second period on a J.P. Soucy goal. Mark Major and Dmitri Doulebenets assisted on the goal. The Nailers took the lead 2-1 on a power play goal at 16:44. Chris McNamara scored the two-man advantage power play goal from Michel Ouellet and Zenon Konopka. Before the second period ended the Storm tied the game 2-2 with a shorthanded goal. Jeff Johnstone scored the goal from Mike Bayrack. Toledo took the lead for good at 2:49 of the final period on a Dale Junkin even strength goal. Bayrack and Andrew Hutchinson assisted on the score. Matt Ellis scored the final goal of the game at 4:11 of the third period to give Toledo a 4-2 lead. Tim Verbeek and Trevor Read assisted on the goal. Mike Valley made 29 saves on 33 shots in the loss.
Saturday, December 21 Lexington 4 @ Wheeling 5
The Nailers final game before the Christmas break was the second game in the season series against the Lexington Men-O-War. The Nailers fell to Lexington 2-1 in Lexington in the first head to head game. Zenon Konopka gave the Nailers a 1-0 lead at 2:35 of the first period on a goal assisted by Ryan Gillis. Lexington tied the game 1-1 at 13:41 on a Brett Draney goal. Before the first period ended the Nailers retook the lead on a Steve Crampton power play goal at 19:23. Matt Smith and Bobby Russell assisted on the goal. At 8:31 of the second period the Nailers took their largest lead of the night at 3-1. Chris McNamara scored the goal from Mark Major and T.J. Reynolds. Lexington got back to within one goal at 3-2 before the second period ended. Joe Vandermeer scored the goal from Ryan Fultz and Alex Mathieu. In the third period the Men-O-War tied the game and took the lead 4-3 with a pair of goals. Mark Smith scored the game-tying goal at :32 and Ben Storey scored the go ahead goal at 12:00. Jared Smyth of Lexington took a major penalty and the Nailers scored two power play goals for a 5-4 win. Michel Ouellet scored the first goal at 17:41 to tie the game 4-4. Konopka and McNamara assisted on the goal. Mark Major scored the game-winning goal at 18:47 from Ouellet and Konopka. Mike Valley made 42 saves on 46 shots for the win.
PREVIEW OF UPCOMING NAILERS GAMES December 23-December 29
Friday, December 27 Johnstown @ Wheeling 7:30p.m.
The Johnstown Chiefs make their second appearance of the season at the Wheeling Civic Center. Johnstown won the first game played in Wheeling 4-1 on Thanksgiving night. The teams have split the two games played in Johnstown this season. The Nailers are 1-2-0 against the Chiefs this season.
Saturday, December 28 Richmond @ Wheeling 7:30p.m.
Richmond makes their first and only trip of the regular season to Wheeling for this game. The Nailers and the Renegades will play each other three times this season with two games in Richmond. This game will be another Broph's Bunch Family Section Night presented by Pepsi. All kids 12 and younger will receive a T-shirt and a free ticket courtesy of Pepsi when an adult purchases a regularly priced ticket in the family section.
Sunday, December 29 Wheeling @ Lexington 6:00p.m.
The Nailers make their second trip of the season to Lexington. The Men-O-War won the first game at Rupp Arena 2-1. The Nailers rebounded with a 5-4 win in Wheeling to even the series at one win apiece.
Player of the Week
The Nailers Player of the Week is Mark Major. Major had one goal, the game-winning goal against Lexington, and two assists in two games over the weekend. He was also even in +/- category.
Goaltender of the Week
The Nailers Goaltender of the Week is Mike Valley. Valley went 1-1-0 in two games over the weekend. Valley made 71 saves on 79 shots for a .899 save percentage. He also had a goals against average of 4.05 in the two games.
ECHL Stories from December 23, 2002
- Everblades on a Tear - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Northeast Division - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Southwest Division - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Northwest Division - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Southeast Division - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Jacques Re-Called To Saint John - Toledo Walleye
- Bombers Take Four of Possible Six Points - Dayton Bombers
- Storm Tracks - Toledo Walleye
- Shootouts Rule the Week - Fresno Falcons
- Russell Called up by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Wheeling Nailers
- Peoria's Mathieu Chouinard Named East Coast Hockey League Goalie of the Week - ECHL
- Charlotte's Inman Named InGlasCo East Coast Hockey League Player of the Week - ECHL
- San Diego Extends Winning Streak To Seven - San Diego Gulls
- Blades Streak Hits 10 after Weekend Sweep - Florida Everblades
- Hodson Prepares to Play for Team Canada - Greensboro Generals
- Komets Sweep Weekend Games - Fort Wayne Komets
- 'Gades Get Busy after Christmas - Richmond Renegades
- Mississippi Tied for First in the Southwest - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Aces Endure Miserable Weekend - Alaska Aces
- Generals Intelligence Report - Greensboro Generals
- Nailers Week in Review - Wheeling Nailers
- Kingfish Complete Northern Swing - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Boardwalk Bullies Week in Review - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Men O' War Weekly - Burlington
- Roy Suspended by the Grrrowl - Greenville Grrrowl
- Ice Pilots Weekly - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Pride Weekly - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Kalamazoo Wings Week in Review - Kalamazoo Wings
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