ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Week In Review

February 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV – The Wheeling Nailers players will be celebrity servers for a Nailers At Your Service Night next Month.

The event will take place March 2 at Generations Pub on National Road from 6-8p.m. All money raised by the team will benefit charities in the Ohio Valley. For information on the Nailers At Your Service, call 234-4625.

Nailers Week In Review

Friday, February 12

Wheeling 5 @ Atlantic City 2

Brad Mehalko, playing his first game for the Nailers, gave Wheeling a 1-0 lead at 19:17 of the first period with Steve Crampton and Mark Kosick. At 16:34 of the second period the Nailers took a 2-0 lead on an Eddie Pershin goal. Atlantic City scored a power play goal in the final minute of the second period to make the score 2-1. The Bullies tied the game 2-2 early in the third period with an even strength goal. Mario Larocque gave the Nailers a 3-2 lead with a power play goal at 14:34 from Kosick and Mehalko. Crampton extended the Nailers lead to 4-2 at 16:43 of the final period with Ben Blais and Kamil Kuriplach assisting. The final goal of the game was scored by Mehalko, his second of the game, from Kosick and Larocque. Tyler MacKay made 28 saves on 30 shots for the win.

Saturday, February 14

Wheeling 2 @ Atlantic City 5

With only 13 skaters for the second consecutive game due to three call ups to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and on injury, the Nailers looked to sweep the Boardwalk Bullies in Atlantic City. The Bullies took a 1-0 lead at 4:15 of the first period on a Stefan Rivard goal. Luke Curtin scored his first goal of the game at 7:07 to give Atlantic City a 2-0 lead. Mario Larocque cut the Nailers deficit in half to 2-1 with a power play goal at 10:15 from Eddie Pershin and Brendon Hodge. The Nailers tied the game 2-2 in the first minute of the second period on a goal by Pershin. Atlantic City reclaimed the lead at 3-2 with a power play goal by Rivard, his second goal of the game. The Nailers Brendon Hodge was given a penalty shot at 6:36 that could have tied the game. Jake Moreland made the save to protect the Bullies lead. Curtin scored his second goal of the game, a power play goal, at 10:57 to extend the Bullies lead to 4-2. Curtin completed his hat-trick at 14:39 of the third period to end the scoring. Tyler MacKay made 30 saves on 35 shots in the loss.

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

Record for season: 35-13-2, 72 pts.

(1st in Northern Division, Eastern Conference, ECHL)

Player notes:

J.F. Dufour is fifth in the ECHL in scoring with 61 points on 20 goals and 41 assists...Dufour's 41 assists is fourth best the league in that category...Brendon Hodge is tied for 17th in rookie scoring with 35 points on 18 goals and 17 assists...Mario Larocque is on a two game goal scoring streak and four game point scoring streak, he has six points on three goals and three assists in that span...Eddie Pershin is on a three game goal scoring streak.

Team notes:

The Nailers are second in the league in goals for per game with 3.74 and 12th in goals against per game with 2.80...The Nailers are fourth in shots on goal for per game at 34.88 and second in shots on goal against at 27.42.

Nailers Player of the Week:

The Nailers Player of the Week is Mario Larocque. Larocque had three points on two goals and one assist in two games played. Both of Larocque's goals were power play goals, one in each game, with one goal a game-winning goal.

Nailers Goaltender of the Week:

The Nailers Goaltender of the Week is Tyler MacKay. MacKay went 1-1-0 in two games last week. He made 28 saves on 30 shots in a 5-2 win on Friday and 30 saves on 35 shots in a 5-2 loss on Saturday. MacKay's goals against average for the week was 3.53 with a save percentage of .892.

PREVIEW OF UPCOMING NAILERS GAMES February 16-February 22

Friday, February 20

Cincinnati @ Wheeling 7:30p.m.

The Nailers play their first of three home games in February against Cincinnati Friday night. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s #8 race car will be at WesBanco Arena, sponsored by Gary's Body Shop, for NASCAR Night. The first 2,000 fans will also receive a Nailers Team Poster courtesy of Printech, Zee Photo and WTOV-9. Friday's game will also be the sixth of eight Season Ticket Holder Ticket Redemption Nights. Finally, the Nailers will also have the ECHL's Championship Trophy, the Kelly Cup, on display for fans to see and have their picture taken with it.

Saturday, February 21

Wheeling @ Cincinnati 7:30p.m.

The Nailers begin a three game road trip in Cincinnati on Saturday night. The Nailers are 4-2-0 against the Cyclones entering this week, 2-2-0 in Cincinnati.

Sunday, February 22

Wheeling @ Peoria 4:05p.m.

The Nailers travel to Peoria for the final time during the regular season to play two games beginning Sunday. The Nailers are 2-2-1 against the Rivermen this season, 1-1-0 in Peoria.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 16, 2004


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