ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Week in Review

November 3, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Friday, October 31

Wheeling 2 @ Reading 1

For the eighth time in the teams 12 year history in Wheeling, the Nailers franchise played on Halloween. The team entered this game with a 2-5-0 record on the final day of October and 0-3-0 on the road. Wheeling took a 1-0 lead against Reading on a Jason Jaffray goal at 18:01 of the first period. The goal was unassisted and was Jaffray's team leading fifth goal of the season. In the second period the Nailers increased their lead to 2-0 on a power play goal from J.F. Dufour. Jaffray picked up the only assist on the goal. The Nailers held their 2-0 lead until the final minute of regulation. Reading got to within one goal at 19:41 of the third on a Jon Zion goal. Martin Brochu made 27 saves on 28 shots to earn his fourth win of the season for the Nailers.

Saturday, November 1

Toledo 3 @ Wheeling 2 (SO)

After the best October in team history, the Nailers began the month of November by hosting the defending Brabham Cup Champions, the Toledo Storm. Wes Mason scored an unassisted goal at 1:27 of the first period to give Toledo a 1-0 lead. Brendon Hodge's two-man advantage power play goal at 2:02 of the second period tied the game for Wheeling. Jason Haffray and J.F. Dufour assisted on the goal. Jake Ortmeyer scored his first goal of the season at 18:49 of the second period to give the Nailers a 2-1 lead. Mike Lephart and Eddie Pershin assisted on the Ortmeyer goal. Toledo tied the game 2-2 at 4:42 of the final period to eventually force overtime and the shootout. Toledo goaltender Doug Tesky stopped all four Nailers shooters while two Storm shooters scored to give the Storm the 3-2 win.

Sunday, November 2

Reading 6 @ Wheeling 7 (SO)

The Nailers and the Royals met for the second time on the weekend, this time at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. Reading scored two power play goals in the first period to open a 2-0 lead. Before the first period ended the Nailers cut their deficit in half to 2-1 on a Jason Jaffray goal from Brendon Hodge and Dan Ennis. Another power play goal in the second period put Reading up 3-1. Mark Kosick got the Nailers back to within one goal again at 7:15 of the second period from T.J. Reynolds and Ben Blais. The Nailers took the lead in the third period with four goals in the first 12:03. Kamil Kuriplach, Arpad Mihaly, Chris McNamara and Mike Lephart all scored their first goals of the season. Reading answered by scoring three goals in the final 4:42 to force overtime and the shootout. Wheeling outscored Reading in the shootout 2-1 for the win.

Record for week: 2-0-1, 5 points

Record for season: 5-1-1, 11 points (Second in Northern Division)

Player notes:

Jason Jaffray has scored at least one point in six of the Nailers first seven games played. He has six goals and six assists for 12 points. The only game Jaffray did not register a point was a 7-0 loss in Peoria on October 24.

Team notes:

The Nailers ended the month of October with a record of 4-1-0 for an .800 winning percentage. It was the best October winning percentage in the history of the Wheeling franchise. The next best October winning percentage for Wheeling was .643 in 1995 when the team went 4-2-1 for the month. The Nailers 5-1-1 record for a .786 winning percentage through seven games is the best seven game start in franchise history. Wheeling started 5-2-0 for a .714 winning percentage in 1996 and again in 1997 for the previous best seven game start.

PREVIEW OF UPCOMING NAILERS GAMES

November 3-November 9

Wednesday, November 5

Wheeling @ Cincinnati 7:00p.m.

Wheeling begins their week by traveling to Cincinnati for the first of ten regular season games against the Cyclones. The Nailers are 40-17-5 all-time against the Cyclones franchise, including 6-2-0 last season, 3-1-0 in Cincinnati.

Saturday, November 8

Wheeling @ Toledo 7:30p.m.

The Nailers travel to Toledo for the first time this season. The Nailers are 0-0-1 against the Storm this season having lost 3-2 in a shootout on November 1 at Wheeling's WesBanco Arena.

Sunday, November 9

Dayton @ Wheeling 6:00p.m.

Wheeling returns home to WesBanco Arena to host the Dayton Bombers. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a souvenir puck courtesy of Fibernet and WTOV-9. The Nailers are 44-39-6 all-time against the Bombers, including 4-3-1 last season, 2-1-1 in Wheeling.

Player of the Week

The Nailers Player of the Week is Jason Jaffray. Jaffray had four points on two goals and two assists. He had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win in Reading, an assist in a 3-2 shootout loss against Toledo and a goal in a 7-6 shootout win against Reading. He also played at a +1 for the week.

Goaltender of the Week

The Nailers Goaltender of the Week is Martin Brochu. Brochu went 2-0-1 in three games over the weekend. He made 87 saves on 96 shots for a .906 save percentage. Brochu also had a goals against average for the week of 2.84. He faced ten shots in two shootouts and made seven saves.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 3, 2003


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