Nailers with Three Home Games This Weekend
January 15, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Friday January 15th 7:35pm - Toledo Walleye at Wheeling Nailers
Saturday January 16th 7:35pm - Johnstown Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers
Sunday January 17th 3:05pm - Elmira Jackals at Wheeling Nailers
Preview - The Nailers return to action with three games at WesBanco Arena against the Toledo Walleye, Johnstown Chiefs and Elmira Jackals.
Friday is another WTRF Family Four Pack Night. 4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hot dogs and a large popcorn all for $44.
Saturday night the first 2,500 fans in attendance receive a Nailers ski-cap courtesy of WesBanco.
Sunday all fans who attended the Friday or Saturday night game get in for half-price! After the game there will be an open-skate with the Nailers players. Don't forget to bring your skates, gloves, and camera!
Wheeling enters action tonight with a record of 20-16-2. The Nailers have won 3 straight, 7 of their last 8, and 9 of their last 12 games. They have moved into a tie for 6th place in the American Conference with the Charlotte Checkers and Florida Everblades. They trail 4th place Reading and Toledo by only 2 points.
The Nailers are coming off a 5-3 win at the Cincinnati Cyclones last Tuesday night led by Michael-Lee Teslak's dazzling performance in goal and Thomas Beauregard's pair of goals against his former team.
Last weekend, the Nailers beat Cincinnati 4-2 on Friday then were able to complete the weekend homestand sweep with a 3-0 shutout win over Johnstown Saturday night. It was rookie Brad Thiessen's first professional shutout.
Toledo is currently 5th in the conference, with a record of 20-13-4. They are currently riding a 3-game win streak. Wheeling is 3-0-0 against Toledo this year. Bryan "Boomer" Ewing had recently gotten on track with the Walleye but recently asked the Blackhawks organization and the Rockford Ice Hogs for his release so he could pursue a playing opportunity with the Reading Royals. Ewing is the first Wheeling native to play professional hockey and was the ECHL Rookie of the Year with the Wheeling Nailers last season scoring 43 goals.
Johnstown is trying to climb their way out of the cellar of the American Conference with a record of 9-20-7. They have won only one game in their last 6. The Nailers are 5-1-1 against the Chiefs this year. Majority owner Neil Smith has taken over the head coaching duties of the Chiefs after they released Jeff Flanagan following last Saturday's loss in Wheeling. Smith is the former General Manager of the New York Rangers from 1989-2000 including their Stanley Cup Championship year of 1994. He bought the Chiefs in 2002. He also serves as an analyst for various media outlets including NHL Network and NHL nationally televised games on Versus.
The Chiefs recently added a couple of former Nailers to the roster, Tomas Klempa and Jon Ralph. They also have another former Nailer in Sean Berkstresser.
The homestand concludes with a 3:05 matinee against the Elmira Jackals.
The ECHL All-Star Game is next Wednesday night in Ontario, California. Defenseman Mitch Ganzak will be representing the Nailers on the American Conference All Star squad.
Notes -
Forward Zack Sill and defenseman Jon D'Aversa have both been recalled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. D'Aversa scored a goal in his first game back with the Nailers last Friday against Cincinnati. Sill had his first Nailers goal on Tuesday night at Cincinnati when he stole it away behind the Cyclones cage for a shorthanded, unassisted tally.
Goalie Brad Thiessen has been called up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. John Curry of the Baby Pens was recently recalled to Pittsburgh. Thiessen joins another former Nailer netminder, Adam Berkhoel, in Wilkes-Barre. Thiessen was 8-3-0 with Wheeling including a 5 game win streak. He currently ranks fifth in the ECHL in goals against average (2.67) and leads the league with a.919 save percentage.
Michael-Lee Teslak will be the Nailers lone $B!F(Bregular' goalie for now. Equipment manager Billy Higgins will again be suiting up as the team's Emergency Backup Goalie.
Joey Haddad has been reassigned to the Nailers from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Haddad recorded 11 points (5-6-11) in 12 games with the Nailers prior to his AHL recall on November 15th. He had 3 assists in 19 games with WBS this year.
Casey Pierro-Zabotel leads all ECHL rookies in scoring since December 1st with 21 points (8-13-21) in 18 games. He has an 8 game point streak (3-8-11).
Thomas Beauregard is 1st in the American Conference with 22 goals including 4 goals in his last 3 games.
T.J. Fox has a 8 goals in his last 9 games (8-2-10) including a pair of multi-goal games.
Forward Aaron Clarke and defenseman Dan Henningson are on the injured-reserve list for the Nailers.
The Nailers have held their opponents to 5-for-46 (10.8%) on the power play in their last 8 games.
The Nailers are 15-for-62 (24.2%) on the power play in their last 11 games.
Wheeling began the season 6-for-57 (10.5%) on the power play in their first 12 games. They have gone 31-for-146 (21.2%) since November 14.
Wheeling began the season 53-for-70 (75.7%) on the penalty kill in their first 13 games. They have gone. 115-for-134 (85.8%) since November 20.
Congratulations to Mitch Ganzak who has been selected to play for the American Conference at the ECHL All-Star Game on January 20th in Ontario, California. Ganzak has 16 assists this year to tie for 3rd in the league among defensemen.
Wheeling began the season 2-7-1. They have gone 18-9-1 since their sluggish start.
Tonight is Cliff Loya's 213th game for the Wheeling Nailers. He is in 3rd place all-time past Brendon Hodge who had 208 games (2003-06). Next up on the all-time list are Tim Roberts (215 games, 1992-96) and all-time leader Stephan Brannare (231 games, 1997-99, 00-01, 03-06).
Friday Night- Wheeling Nailers (20-16-2 = 42)
Toledo Walleye (20-13-4 = 44)
Head Coach/Asst Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski/Doug Doull
Toledo - Nick Vitucci/Dan Watson/Craig Furstenau
Johnstown - Neil Smith/ Jason Spence
Elmira - Steve Martinson
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Toledo - Detroit Red Wings (NHL), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL),
Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Johnstown- Minnesota Wild (NHL), Houston Aeros (AHL)
Elmira- Ottawa Senators (NHL), Binghamton Senators (AHL)
Top Scorers:
Wheeling - Thomas Beauregard (22-15-37), T.J. Fox (13-14-27), Casey Pierro-Zabotel (9-22-31), Jordan Fox (10-15-25), Aaron Clarke (10-14-24)
Toledo - J.C. Sawyer (16-20-36), Evan Rankin (15-13-28), Maxime Tanguay (13-20-33), Adam Hobson (13-18-31)
Top Goalies:
Wheeling - Michael-Lee Teslak (8-7-2, 3.15,.885)
Toledo - Alec Richards (10-3-4, 2.94,.907), Thomas McCollum (1-1-0, 5.17,.843)
Upcoming Home Games
Friday, January 15th - Toledo Walleye at Wheeling Nailers
WTRF Friday 4-Pack. 4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hot-dogs, 1 popcorn for $44
Saturday, January 16th - Johnstown Chiefs at Wheeling Nailers
Nailers Ski Caps for the first 2500 fans courtesy of WesBanco
Sunday, January 17th (3:05pm) - Elmira Jackals at Wheeling Nailers
Open-skate after game with the team. Bring your skates and gloves.
Saturday, January 30th - South Carolina Stingrays at Wheeling Nailers
Doug Sauter Bobbleheads for the first 2500 fans courtesy of WesBanco.
Pre-Game Hall of Fame Ceremony for Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway.
Saturday, January 30th is Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night as the Nailers take on the South Carolina Stingrays. Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway will be inducted in pre-game ceremonies featuring the unveiling of their Hall of Fame banners. Sauter is the first and all-time winningest head coach in Wheeling hockey history. Nick Bedway was a long-time beat-writer covering the team and introducing the Ohio Valley to pro hockey. They will be joining the inaugural class including all-time Wheeling leading scorer Darren Schwartz and WAHA founder Bob Otten.
Call the Nailers for tickets at 304-234-GOAL or purchase your tickets online at wheelingnailers.com
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ECHL Stories from January 15, 2010
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