Nailers Weekend Preview
October 30, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Friday, 7:35 (WesBanco Arena), Wheeling, WV) - Wheeling Nailers vs. Kalamazoo Wings
Saturday, 7:35 (WesBanco Arena, Wheeling, WV) - Wheeling Nailers vs. Cincinnati Cyclones
Weekend Preview -
The Wheeling Nailers come back to WesBanco Arena for a pair of home games this weekend. Friday night the Nailers take on the undefeated Kalamazoo Wings (5-0). Wheeling will try to give the newest team in the league their first taste of ECHL defeat. Saturday night it's the rival Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:35. Wheeling is trying to get back at the team that beat them twice last weekend.
All kids get in for $5 for all home games and students are only $7 for a fun night of Nailers hockey. It's the best entertainment value in the Ohio Valley!
Friday night is WTRF-Friday Family 4-Pack night. 4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hot dogs and a large popcorn all for $44.
Saturday night is our Halloween Bash and Safe Trick or Treat for the kids before the game with free candy from area businesses and sponsors.
It's also the beginning of a 4-game homestand for the Nailers. Next weekend Wheeling will play host to South Carolina and Johnstown on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7.
Friday Night
Wheeling Nailers (2-5-0)
Kalamazoo Wings (5-0-0)
Head Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
Cincinnati - Nick Bootland (2nd season)
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Kalamazoo - Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), San Jose Sharks (NHL), Adirondack Phantoms (AHL), Worcester Sharks (AHL)
Recently:
Wheeling - Won an exciting 6-5 decision in a shootout at the Trenton Devils Wednesday night. Thomas Beauregard led the way with a pair of goals. Lost a tough 4-3 contest vs. Elmira on Sunday after leading 2-1 heading into the 3rd period.
Kalamazoo - Beat the Reading Royals 3-2 and 6-1 in back to back games last weekend to stay unbeaten and improve to 5-0 in their debut season in the ECHL. Have outscored their opponents 22-5 this season.
Top Scorers:
Wheeling - T.J. Fox (4-5-9), Thomas Beauregard (6-1-7)
Kalamazoo - Rick Cleaver (3-6-9), Darryl Lloyd (4-3-7)
Top Goalie:
Wheeling - Jordan Parise, 1-2-0, 3.21, .914 / Adam Berkhoel, 1-2-0, 3.96, .889
Cincinnati - Ryan Nie, 1.32, .967
The Nailers will face the ECHL's newest team 9 times in 2009-2010. Wheeling makes their first trip to Wings Stadium in southwest Michigan on Saturday, December 12. The Wings don't return to Wheeling until February 6th.
Notes:
Wheeling's Thomas Beauregard is 2nd in the league in goals with 6 and 1st in the American Conference. Ryan Kinasewich of Utah has 7 goals.
This will be Wheeling's 8th game this season, the most of any ECHL team.
Wheeling's 5 goals Wednesday at Trenton is their season high.
This is the first ever game between the Wheeling Nailers and Kalamazoo Wings.
Kalamazoo has had professional hockey for 34 years but this is their first season in the ECHL.
#27 Darryl Bootland is the younger brother of head coach Nick Bootland
Kalamazoo goalie Ryan Nie is 11-0 all-time against Wheeling in regular season games dating back to his last two years with Cincinnati and Johnstown. Wheeling did beat Nie in Game 2 of the North Division semifinals last year though.
Kalamazoo has outscored their opponents 22-5 in their five wins.
Saturday:
Wheeling Nailers (2-5-0)
Cincinnati Cyclones (3-1-0)
Head Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
Cincinnati - Chuck Weber (4th season)
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Cincinnati - Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Hamilton (Ont.) Bulldogs (AHL), Nashville Predators (NHL), Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
Recently:
Cincinnati - Won a pair of games last weekend against Wheeling 5-2 and 3-1 in both teams' home openers.
Top Scorers:
Wheeling - T.J. Fox (3-6-9), Thomas Beauregard (6-1-7)
Cincinnati - Chris Mueller (4-1-5), Mark Voakes (3-2-5)
Top Goalie:
Wheeling - Jordan Parise, 1-2-0, 3.21, .914 / Adam Berkhoel, 1-2-0, 3.96, .889
Cincinnati - Jeremy Smith, 3-0-0, 1.00, .952
Wheeling is 0-2-0 against Cincinnati this year. The Nailers and Cyclones will square off a total of 12 times tin 2009-10. Wheeling and Cincinnati will next meet November 28 and 29 for a pair of games at WesBanco Arena on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Wheeling's next trip to Cincinnati is Tuesday, January 12.
Welcome Home!!!
Cincinnati features three former Nailers patrolling the blue-line. Reid Cashman, Doug Krantz and Brock Sheahan are all members of the Cyclones. Krantz had the game-winning goal for the Cyclones in their first win of the season Saturday at Johnstown.
Wheeling has Thomas Beauregard who played the past two seasons for Cincinnati and led the Cyclones in goals with 31 in 2007-08 as they went on to eventually win their first ever Kelly Cup.
Playoff Rematch:
This Saturday's game with Cincinnati is a rematch of last year's North Division semifinal pairing that went the full seven games and took double overtime to decide in the finale. Matt Syroczynski lit the lamp for the Cyclones in the second OT on April 20 to end the Nailers season. Strangely, it was the only game of that playoff series that was won by the home team. The game is considered one of the greatest in the 18 year history of pro hockey in Wheeling despite the frustrating losing outcome. Naturally it is also considered one of the greatest games in Cyclones history as well. Both teams over and over again were unable to put the game away on great chances throughout the epic battle. Curtis Darling for Wheeling made several spectacular saves to keep his team alive and Cincinnati also missed the net on huge opportunities. Wheeling also just missed on some great chances and were stymied by Cincinnati netminder Loic Lacasse too.
Experience Counts:
Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rd for the Nailers. He is second among all ECHL coaches with 601 coming into this season trailing only Steve Martinson who had 650 wins entering this year. Puhalski has over 200 ECHL wins dating back to the beginning of his coaching career with the Toledo Storm from 1994-98.
Right-Hand Man:
Greg Puhalski has an assistant coach on the staff this year. Doug Doull joins the Nailers and the Penguins organization after doing some coaching in Caiandian University hockey for a couple seasons following his 8 year playing career in the AHL and NHL. Doull fought some of the NHL's toughest customers in his time with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04. He played 37 games in the NHL mostly with Boston (and 2 with Washington) and racked up 151 PIM's. His AHL career included stays with Hershey, San Antonio, Utah, Providence, St. John's, Saint John and with other AAA level teams in the old IHL in the late 90's with Michigan (now Kalamazoo), Detroit Vipers and Manitoba.
Divisional Foes:
The Wheeling Nailers are competing in the North Division again but there has been some realignment in the American Conference. In the four team North the Nailers' divisional rivals will be the Cincinnati Cyclones, Toledo Walleye and Kalamazoo Wings. Toledo returns to the league after a two year hiatus to build their new arena. Kalamazoo (Mich.) enters the ECHL for the first time after 34 years of professional hockey tradition in other leagues. Wheeling will maintain their rivalries with teams like Johnstown and Elmira and will play them just as many times as typical but those teams will be part of the new four team East Division along with Trenton and Reading. The South Division will comprise Florida, South Carolina, Charlotte and Gwinnett. Wheeling will face all 11 American Conference opponents this year both at home and on the road so there will be a wide variety of foes hitting the ice at WesBanco in the coming months. The top 8 teams out of 12 in the American Conference qualify for the playoffs with the division winners securing the top 3 seeds.
Nailers on the Radio:
All Wheeling Nailers games are broadcast on the Nailers Hockey Network presented by Amica Insurance led by flagship station The Mix 97.3 and on wheelingnailers.com and the B2 network. Bob Rotruck is in his second season with the play-by-play action while former Wheeling Thunderbirds defenseman Brock Woods enters his 10th season of providing color commentary on the home games. Catch the preview of the night's action beginning with the Subway Countdown to Faceoff beginning 20 minutes before the drop of the puck. The Riesbeck's Food Markets Post-game report features a detailed recap of the night's action, audio-replay highlights, and also interviews with coaches and players on home games.
The Nailers Power Hour Presented by Pepsi airs on Thursdays at 6pm from Generation's Pub and Restaurant featuring the Voice of the Nailers, Bob Rotruck, head coach Greg Puhalski, and a player guest each week. Come join us for the fun. The show also features audio-replay highlights of the previous week's action and a recap of the games and preview of what's coming up for the Nailers.
Season tickets are on sale now for all 36 exciting Nailers home games at
WesBanco Arena. Great season ticket plans are available for every budget.
Also take advantage of the Nailers new $87 package for 7 Nailers home games.
Call the Wheeling Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL, that's 234-4625. Or log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information.
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ECHL Stories from October 30, 2009
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