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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Weekend Preview

December 18, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


The Nailers continue their three game series at the Florida Everblades with games on Friday and Saturday nights in Estero, Florida just south of Ft. Myers. Wheeling lost the opener of this series 5-2 on Wednesday night and lost the only other game between the two teams 4-1 back at WesBanco Arena on Thanksgiving Eve, November 25th.

The Florida Everblades are led by 2nd year Head Coach Malcolm Cameron who led the team to a Brabham Cup banner for most points in the league last season with a mark of 49-17-5. Cameron coached the Texas Wildcatters of the ECHL the two seasons prior to that including an amazing 52-9-11 mark immediately prior to his switch to the Everblades.

Florida had two of their top defensemen called up to the AHL earlier on Friday including A.J. Thelen and former Nailer Elgin Reid.

The Everblades feature another former Wheeling Nailer in Jordan Morrison who was 2nd on the team in scoring only to Rookie of the Year Bryan "Boomer" Ewing last year.

After this weekend's games it's a 6-day break for the Christmas holiday allowing most of the players to get home and visit family and friends.

Wheeling's next home games are Sunday, December 27th vs. the Elmira Jackals and Thursday, December 31st for the annual New Years' Eve contest as the Nailers battle the Toledo Walleye.

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!

Get your tickets by calling the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL (304-234-4625) or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX and log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information

Notes-

The Nailers added goalie Michael-Lee Teslak to the roster today. He was assigned to Wheeling from the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL by their parent club Philadelphia Flyers. Teslak has spent the bulk of this season and last with the Elmira Jackals and has put up solid numbers including some fine games against Wheeling.

On April 10, 2009 Teslak made 71 saves in a 4 overtime playoff contest against the Trenton Devils en route to winning the longest game in ECHL history.

Last year with Elmira Teslak played in 32 games and went 17-9-4, 2.83,.904. This year with Elmira through 12 games he was 5-5-2, 2.96,.890 and he also played one game with Adirondack.

Jordan Fox has completed his stretch with Rochester of the AHL and returns to the Nailers. Fox was Wheeling's leading scorer through the month of November going 6-7-13 after sitting out most of October with a shoulder injury sustained in the season opener October 16th at South Carolina. Fox played in 3 games for the Rochester Americans, the AHL affiliate for the Florida Panthers.

Wheeling's power play on home ice is 15-62, 24.2% which is 2nd in the ECHL (and 1st in American Conference) trailing only Utah at 24.4%.

Cliff Loya has played 202 gamees with the Wheeling Nailers and is 4th all-time. He is 6 games away from moving into the #3 spot for most games played by a Nailer. The all-time leaders are Stephan Brannare (231 games), Tim Roberts (215 games) and Brandon Hodge (208 games).

Ryan Schnell is 2nd among all ECHL rookies in total penalty minutes with 83 and is also 2nd among rookies in major penalties with 9.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins recalled goalie Jordan Parise to their team in order to maintain his rights in the U.S. while Parise heads to Europe to join a new team and opportunity there.

Defenseman Slavomir Tomko was traded to the Trenton Devils for future considerations earlier this week. Head Coach Greg Puhalski said the move was made due to the abundance of blueliners on the Wheeling team including the likely return of Dan Henningson from the I.R. after Christmas.

Head Coach: Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)

Florida - Malcolm Cameron (2nd season in Florida, 7th season in professional hockey)

Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)

Florida - Florida Panthers (ECHL), Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), Rochester Americans (AHL), Albany River Rats (AHL)

Top Scorers:

Wheeling - Thomas Beauregard (16-8-24), Jordan Fox (8-13-21), Aaron Clarke (9-14-23), Mitch Ganzak (3-15-18), T.J. Fox (5-12-17)

Next Home Games:

Sunday, December 27th at 6:35 vs. Elmira Jackals - Sunday Family FunDay featuring open-skate following the game with the Nailers players. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves for all the fun!

Thursday, December 31st at 7:05pm vs. Toledo Walleye - Annual New Years' Eve game to close out 2009 in style. It's Michael Jackson Tribute Night featuring a look-alike contest between periods.

Call the Nailers for tickets at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at wheelingnailers.com

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!

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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