Nailers Weekend Preview
Published on November 6, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Wheeling Nailers hit the ice Friday and Saturday nights for back to back home games and lots of great action at WesBanco Arena. Friday night it's the defending league champion South Carolina Stingrays coming to town. Wheeling lost the season opener at South Carolina 5-4 on October 16 and is looking to even the score. Saturday the Nailers and Chiefs renew the ECHL's oldest rivalry with their 164th all-time encounter. Wheeling leads the all-time series with a record of 86-59-18 against Johnstown.
All kids get in for $5 for all home games and students are only $7 for a great 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 $44. Saturday night is Team Poster giveaway for the first 2500 fans and Team Autograph night in the WesBanco Arena Club downstairs after the game.
This weekend concludes a 4 game homestand for the Nailers and Saturday night also begins a 3 game series against the Johnstown Chiefs with 2 more games against their rivals coming up the following weekend.
Get your tickets by calling the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL (234-4625) or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX and log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information.
Notes -
Jordan Fox is expected to return to the lineup this weekend. He was Gwinnett's leading scorer last year with 29 goals but was injured in the first game of this season October 16th at South Carolina.
Chris Capraro makes his Nailers debut wearing #9. Capraro has played for Charlotte in the ECHL the past couple of seasons and also in Germany.
Thomas Beauregard is tied for 4th in the ECHL with 6 goals.
Casey Pierro-Zabotel is tied for 3rd among ECHL rookies with 7 assists.
Ryan Schnell has a two game goal streak$B!D(Bthe first goals of his pro career.
The Nailers are playing the 2nd of 6 games against South Carolina. The Stingrays lead the season series 1-0. Wheeling had played South Carolina only 5 times total prior to this season.
The Nailers are playing the 1st of 10 games against Johnstown. Wheeling went 1-0-1 against the Chiefs in the pre-season.
South Carolina won the 2009 ECHL Kelly Cup defeating the Alaska Aces in a 7 game series. The Stingrays have won the ECHL crown a record 3 times.
Johnstown was the last team in the ECHL to pick up their first win of the season when they knocked off Cincinnati 4-3 on Thursday night.
Upcoming Home Games:
Sat, November 14 - Wheeling Nailers vs. Johnstown Chiefs (Belmont Community Night)
Wed, November 25 - Wheeling Nailers vs. Florida Everblades (WesBanco Wednesday, WVU Appreciation)
Sat, November 28 - Wheeling Nailers vs. Cincinnati Cyclones (George Kellas Bobbleheads, Pink in the Rink)
Sun, November 29 - Wheeling Nailers vs. Cincinnati Cyclones (NFL Jersey Sunday, Skate with the Nailers)
Friday, November 6 (South Carolina vs. Wheeling, WesBanco Arena, 7:35) Wheeling Nailers (2-6-1)
South Carolina Stingrays (4-2-1)
Head Coach: Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
South Carolina - Cali MacLean (1st season)
Affiliation: Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
South Carolina - Washington Capitals (NHL), Hershey Bears (AHL)
Recently: Wheeling - Took 3 out of 6 points last week. Won 6-5 shootout at Trenton on Wednesday, Oct 28. Lost 6-5 shootout at home to Kalamazoo on Friday, October 30. Lost 6-3 to Cincinnati at home on Saturday, October 31.
South Carolina - Won back to back games at Florida by 3-2 scores to take 2 out of 3 games in the series.
Top Scorers: Wheeling - South Carolina - Nakita Kashirsky (5-3-8), Keith Johnson (3-5-8), Trent Campbell (3-4-7)
Top Goalie: Wheeling - Jordan Parise, 1-3-0, 3.80,.876 / Adam Berkhoel, 1-2-1, 4.17,.883 South Carolina - Todd Ford, 3-1-0, 3.16,.913
Saturday, November 7 (Wheeling Nailers vs. Johnstown Chiefs, WesBanco Arena, 7:35) Wheeling Nailers (2-6-1) Johnstown Chiefs (1-6-1)
Head Coach: Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey) Johnstown - Jeff Flanagan (1st season)
Affiliation: Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) Johnstown - Minnesota Wild (NHL), Houston Aeros (AHL)
Recently:
Wheeling - Took 3 out of 6 points last week. Won 6-5 shootout at Trenton on Wednesday, Oct 28. Lost 6-5 shootout at home to Kalamazoo on Friday, October 30. Lost 6-3 to Cincinnati at home on Saturday, October 31.
Johnstown - Picked up their belated first win of the season in a 4-3 triumph at Cincinnati on Thursday night. The Chiefs have played 5 straight one-goal games.
Top Scorers: Wheeling - T.J. Fox (3-5-8), Thomas Beauregard (6-1-7), Joey Haddad (3-4-7), Casey Pierro-Zabotel (0-7-7) Johnstown - Mike Bartlett (2-4-6), Jim McKenzie (2-3-5), Ryan Menei (1-4-5)
Top Goalie: Wheeling - Jordan Parise, 1-3-0, 3.80,.876 / Adam Berkhoel, 1-2-1, 4.17,.883 Johnstown - Shane Connelly, 1-3-0, 3.19,.886 / Kris Mayotte, 0-3-1, 3.81,. 894
Wheeling-Mountaineer College Hockey Club Tournament at WesBanco Arena:
Saturday, November 28 - Noon and 3pm. West Chester vs. Duquesne and Ohio U vs. West Virginia.
Sunday, November 29 - Noon and 3pm. Consolation and Championship games.
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 Canadian 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.
It's a Girl!!
Wheeling head coach Greg Puhalski is the Ohio Valley's newest Dad! His wife Ally is doing well after giving birth to that couple's first child, a healthy baby girl. Zara Katherine Puhalski was born at 7:05 p.m. on October 29th.
Nailers broadcaster Bob Rotruck and Nailers Accountant Linda Timberlake also share that birthday and both say they heartily approve of the date chosen by the newest member of Nailers Nation!
Congratulations Greg and Ally. And welcome to Nailers Nation Zara!!
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.
Overnight Packages:
Make it a Hockey Night in Wheeling with one of our popular Nailers overnight packages starting at just $99. Come cheer for the proud AA affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins$B!D(Bthe Wheeling Nailers$B!D(Bless than an hour from downtown Pittsburgh!
Two tickets, hotel room, dinner in town$B!D(Byou'll have a great time. Other packages available too including a $159 package at Wheeling Island Hotel and Casino.
To reserve your overnight package with the Nailers call 304-234-GOAL
Birthday Parties with the Nailers:
Have a Birthday Blast with the Nailers! The Birthday Boy or Girl gets all sorts of great stuff including a Team Autographed Birthday Card, Photo with the mascot, Spike, a Nailers Hockey Puck, a free kids meal at Perkins and a special announcement in the arena! Everyone in the group gets tickets to the game, Ice Cream from United Dairy, a free soda, and a special visit from Spike! You can make it a premium birthday package for pizza, hot dogs, cupcakes and more. It's Birthday Party Fun with the Nailers! Call 304-234-GOAL to book your special night!
ECHL Stories from November 6, 2009
- Steelheads stop Utah, 7-2 - Idaho Steelheads
- Stingrays Defeat Nailers 2-1 Friday Night - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals host fourth sell out of season in overtime loss - Elmira Jackals
- Nailers battle hard in 2-1 setback - Wheeling Nailers
- Gladiators Upend Florida - Atlanta Gladiators
- Gwinnett Stops Florida in Georgia, 4-1 - Florida Everblades
- Cyclones Send Large Crowd Home Happy, 5-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- ECHL Has 45 AHL Call Ups In October - ECHL
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Alaska Aces - Stockton Thunder
- Checkers Fight For Ellie - Charlotte Checkers
- Kharin Earns Plus Performer - Kalamazoo Wings
- Idaho's Barlow, Kalamazoo's Kharin Named AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performers For October - ECHL
- Beckford-Tseu Recalled After Posting Shutout; Everblades Sign Ferguson - Florida Everblades
- Kalamazoo To Simulcast Gwinnett And Charlotte Broadcasts - Kalamazoo Wings
- Pyatt Becomes 414th ECHL Player To Reach NHL - ECHL
- Veteran Center Mike Bayrack, Thunder Agree To Terms - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Stingrays Battle Wheeling In The Mountains Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- Nailers Weekend Preview - Wheeling Nailers
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