ECHL Wheeling Nailers

New Yorkers Book Return Trip to Wheeling

Published on September 17, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers, the "AA" affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers announced today that Jon Foster, Vin Hellemeyer and Chris Brooks will all be returning to Wheeling this fall for a second season.

Foster enters his third professional season after spending last year with the Nailers. The 25-year-old winger began his Wheeling career by grinding out 27 points (12g, 15a) in 62 games during the 2006-07 campaign. He split his rookie season between Corpus Christi and Lubbock of the CHL. A native of Suffern, NY, Foster won back-to-back NCAA National Championships with the University of Denver in 2004 and 2005.

Hellemeyer started last season with Reading, played just one game with Toledo and ultimately found a home with Wheeling last December. A strong defensive winger, the 25-year-old managed 15 points (8g, 7a) in 46 games with the Nailers. Hellemeyer hails from Franklin Square, NY and this will be his fourth professional season (second in the ECHL).

Brooks joined the Nailers as a rookie defenseman for the start of the 2006-07 season. When injuries and promotions put the Nailers shorthanded on offense, Brooks found himself filling an important role as a winger. The 6-3, 220lb 25-year-old comes from New York, NY. He registered three assists in 49 games while missing the end of the season with a broken wrist.

Both Hellemeyer and Brooks played their collegiate hockey at Yale University. Hellemeyer scored 32 goals and added 39 assists from 2000-04 with the Bulldogs while Brooks manned the blue line from 2003-06 before turning pro.

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.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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