ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Win 3rd Straight Over South Carolina

Published on January 31, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling, WV--Mitch Ganzak scored the overtime winner for the second time this year and the Wheeling Nailers got their third straight victory against the ECHL's top team in a thrilling 4-3 decision against the South Carolina Stingrays on Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame night and Doug Sauter bobblehead night Saturday at WesBanco Arena.

Wheeling's first head coach Doug Sauter and long-time beat writer Nick Bedway were inducted in pre-game ceremonies featuring the unveiling of their Hall of Fame banners. Unfortunately Doug Sauter couldn't make it to the game due to bad weather and cancelled flights in Oklahoma but he plans to return to Wheeling at a future date.

It was a thrilling win for the Nailers against the league's top team and defending champions. The Nailers have stunningly won three straight from the first place Stingrays and now have a chance to complete an amazing sweep of their four game series Sunday at 3:05. The Nailers are one of the hottest teams in the ECHL having gone 11-3-1 in their last 15 games.

With both teams having a player in the penalty box the teams had a lot of space playing 3-on-3 hockey. Mitch Ganzak got the game winning goal on a nice centering pass from Alex Grant on a 2 on 1 rush 1:47 into the overtime period for the 4-3 final. Ganzak also picked up a couple a couple of assists and leads all ECHL defensemen with 26 assists and is 2nd in points with 32 trailing J.C. Sawyer of Toledo.

Adam Berkhoel made several key saves in his first game back with the Nailers and held on in overtime with 24 saves on 27 shots. He appeared in six games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and posted a 3-3-0 record, 2.97 goals against average, and a.892 save percentage. Berkhoel stunned the crowd and South Carolina's Keith Johnson with a spectacular diving glove save lunging to his left in the 2nd period to thwart what looked to be a guaranteed goal.

Aaron Clarke picked up a loose puck after a crazy hop from the corner boards on a routine dump in sent it careening into the slot. Clarke then slid it in around Stingrays goalie Shane Connelly for his 13th of the season and a Nailers power play goal at 9:15 for a 1-0 Nailers lead. Alex Grant and Mitch Ganzak picked up assists.

Rob Ricci deflected it in past Adam Berkhoel on the drive of Trent Campbell with a few seconds left on the penalty of Jordan Fox for a South Carolina power play goal to tie it up 1-1 at 16:11.

Less than a minute later T.J. Fox grabbed the rebound off of a Thomas Beauregard shot and slammed it in for the Nailers second power play goal of the night that put Wheeling up 2-1. Fox's 16 goals is 2nd on the Nailers trailing Beauregard with 26. Ganzak picked up his second assist of the night.

Kyle Bushee banked it in off the back of the net with a long wrister from the center point 3:00 into the second that stretched the Wheeling lead to 3-1. It was Bushee's 4th goal of the season and he has goals in back to back games. Andrew Lord and Joey Hadadd picked up assists.

Nate Kiser got the Stingrays back in the game with a power play goal and shot it in past Berkhoel on the short side from the left dot as South Carolina trailed 3-2 with about 11 minutes left in the third.

Jake Hauswirth redirected a shot from Trent Campbell in to tie it up 3-3 with 4:52 left in the third. Time expired and sent the game into overtime to set up the dramatic Ganzak game-winner.

In the 3rd period, Andrew Lord thrilled the crowd with his determined effort when he had his stick broken. After appearing to block a shot with his hand he stayed out there scrambling around while still in obvious pain and then was able to slide and block another slapper before leaving the ice to a rousing ovation from the crowd who recognized his terrific effort.

The Nailers improve to 24-18-3 with 51 points and are tied with the Charlotte Checkers for 6th place in the conference. Wheeling is only one point back of 4th place Florida and Toledo and just two points behind 3rd place Kalamazoo in the bunched up conference standings.

Wheeling is 3-2-0 against South Carolina and is 7-2-1 in their last ten games as well as 11-3-1 in their last 15. The Nailers broke their 0-15 power play slump going 2-4 on the power play while the Stingrays went 2-5. Shots were tied at 27. The South Carolina Stingrays have a 4 game winless streak and fall to 30-11-8 but are still in 1st place in the American Conference with 68 points.

The Nailers will wrap up their two game homestand with the South Carolina Stingrays with a 3:05pm start. It is another KoSports Ice of Dreams Day and will feature an open-skate with the Nailers players after the game. Don't forget to bring your skates, gloves, and camera!

The Nailers hit the road for a pair of games next week at North Division leading Cincinnati on Wednesday night and at rival Elmira on Friday night.

The Nailers return home on Saturday, February 6th against the Kalamazoo Wings on SnowBird Bobblehead giveaway for the first 1000 kids age 14 and younger courtesy of WTOV

There are still openings available for the Nailers inaugural Education Field Trip Day on Tuesday, February 9th when the Nailers play the Johnstown Chiefs with a special morning start time. Tickets are free for all students and teachers when the Nailers play the Johnstown Chiefs at 11:00am. All the kids will be receiving an educational book and will quizzed on the material they learn at the game when they return to the classroom. It's going to be a really fun time for the kids so get your school signed up for the special event with the Nailers by calling 304-234-GOAL.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 31, 2010


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