NCAA Champion Joins Nailers
August 16, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers, the "AA" affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers announced today that Chris Snavely has signed on for the upcoming season.
Snavely, 24, joins the Nailers after winning an NCAA National Championship during the 2006-07 season as a member of the Michigan State Spartans. A tremendous skater, Snavely will provide an offensive spark from the blue line.
"We are counting on him to be a good puck control defenseman," said Nailers Head Coach Glenn Patrick. "We know he will play hard in our zone and make good decisions coming up ice with the puck."
A native of Lancaster, PA, Snavely played in 132 career games in his four seasons at MSU. He scored seven goals while adding 36 assists and 68 PIM.
"I thoroughly enjoy the game," said Snavely. "I love to go out there and compete and win. I hate to lose."
Eleven of his points (2g, 9a) came during the championship run that culminated in a 3-1 win over Boston College on April 7. It was the Spartans first NCAA hockey championship in 21 years.
"It was just an unreal experience. We were the underdog going in and nobody thought we would make the tournament," Snavely said to describe his team's championship run. "We just had a really good time, had fun with it, made the best out of it and we came out on top."
Prior to his collegiate career, Snavely spent four years with the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League. He holds the Cedar Rapids franchise record for most career games played (212), beginning his junior hockey career when he was just 14 years old.
He was also a member of the 1999 U.S. Under-18 Select Team that won a silver medal at the Four Nations Cup in Prague, Czech Republic.
The Nailers will open the ECHL's 20th Anniversary season with a game against the Johnstown Chiefs on Oct. 18th. It will be a rematch of Game 7 from the first-ever ECHL Finals. Wheeling will open their home schedule on Oct. 26 against the South Carolina Stingrays.
For ticketing information call the Nailers office at 304-234-GOAL (toll free at 877-NAIL-TIX) or visit www.wheelingnailers.com.
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