Red-Hot Nailers Battle For Division Lead
Published on February 3, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Nailers look to extend their four game winning streak as they hit the road for a pair of games this week at North Division leading Cincinnati on Wednesday night and at rival Elmira on Friday night. A Wheeling victory in the Wednesday night showdown would extend the team's winning streak to a season-high five games and could vault the Nailers into a tie for the division lead in the North for the first time this season.
The Nailers return home on Saturday, February 6th against the Kalamazoo Wings on SnowBird Bobblehead giveaway for the first 1,000 kids age 14 and younger courtesy of WTOV.
Wheeling also plays at home on Tuesday, February 9th at 11am against the Johnstown Chiefs on Education Day at WesBanco Arena. Students and teachers get free admission when they register their school ahead of time. All adults can purchase upper-bowl tickets for $10 as part of our Business Man's special day game.
Last Week
Wheeling finished off a thrilling series sweep of the conference leading South Carolina Stingrays winning all four games from the defending ECHL champions.
Mitch Ganzak scored the overtime winner Saturday night in an exciting back-and-forth battle and the Wheeling Nailers got their third straight victory over the South Carolina Stingrays on Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame night. Wheeling's first head coach Doug Sauter and long-time beat writer Nick Bedway were inducted in pre-game ceremonies that featured the unveiling of their Hall of Fame Banners.
The Nailers completed the four game series sweep of the ECHL's top team with a 5-3 win Sunday evening led by Andrew Lord with a goal, two assists and also a fight. Lord tallied 3 goals and 3 assists in the four game series sweep.
Wheeling finished the regular season 4-2-0 against the South Carolina Stingrays. They improved to an overall record of 25-18-3 with 53 points and went 8-3-1 in January. Wheeling is 12-3-1 in their last 16 games.
The Nailers are now tied with the Kalamazoo Wings and the Charlotte Checkers for 4th in the American Conference, only one point away from 3rd place Toledo Walleye and two points behind 2nd place Cincinnati Cyclones.
Notes
Thomas Beauregard is on a ten-game point streak (9g-6a). He is tops on the Nailers with 27 goals and 3rd in the ECHL. Beauregard played the last 2 seasons in Cincinnati including leading the Cyclones in goals in the regular season with 31 in his rookie year.
Andrew Lord has a six-game point streak (3g- 5a).
Kyle Bushee had a two-goal streak (01/26/2010-01/30/2010).
Mitch Ganzak leads all ECHL defensemen with 26 assists and is 2nd in points with 32 trailing J.C. Sawyer of Toledo.
Aaron Clarke is tied for the league lead with 3 shorthanded goals. Clarke is on a five game point streak (3-4-7).
Ryan Schnell is 2nd among ECHL rookies in penalty minutes and major penalties with 105 PIM's and 13 majors.
Adam Berkhoel is 2-0-0 since his return to Wheeling.
Cliff Loya is playing his 221st game with Wheeling. That is 2nd all-time in Wheeling Nailers history passing Tim Roberts(215 games, 1992-96). Next up on the all-time list is all-time leader Stephan Brannare (231 games, 1997-99, 00-01, 03-06).
Wheeling is 24-18-3 overall, went 8-3-1 in January and is on a 4 game winning streak. The Nailers are 12-3-1 in their last 16 games.
The Nailers have 5 shorthanded goals in their last 9 games but have gone a couple of games since their last shorty.
The Nailers stunningly swept the defending champion and league leading South Carolina Stingrays in their 4-game series.
Wheeling moved into 4th place in the American Conference tied with Kalamazoo and Charlotte with 53 points.
Congratulations to former Wheeling Nailer Mark Letestu who scored his first NHL goal Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres in the opening minute of the Penguins 5-4 win. Letestu played for the Nailers in 2007-08. Earlier this year he became one of the 42 former Nailers to make it to the NHL, most of all ECHL teams.
Congratulations to Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway for being inducted into the Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame on Saturday January 30th.
Wednesday- Wheeling Nailers (25-18-3)
Cincinnati Cyclones (27-17-1)
Head Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
Cincinnati - Chuck Weber
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Cincinnati - Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Nashville Predators (NHL), Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
Season Series: The Nailers are 3-4-0 against Cincinnati and 1-1-0 at US Bank Arena. Wheeling has won the last two meetings Jan 8 and Jan 12. This is the 8th of 12 games in the season series between the Nailers and Cyclones.
Top Nailers
Wheeling - Thomas Beauregard (27-17-44), T.J. Fox (17-17-34), Jordan Fox (13-19-32),
Mitch Ganzak (6-26-32), Aaron Clarke (13-18-31)
Top Cyclones
Cincinnati- Barret Ehgoetz (17-25-42), Scott Reynolds (17-24-41), Matt Pierce (24-15-39),
Dustin Sproat (12-21-33)
Top Goalies
Wheeling- Adam Berkhoel (6-4-1, 3.43, 0.886%) Michael-Lee Teslak (11-9-3, 3. 24, 0.885%)
Cincinnati- Jeremy Smith (13-10-1, 2.72, 0.897), Robert Mayer (12-7-0, 2.98, 0.886%)
Friday- Wheeling Nailers (25-18-3)
Elmira Jackals(22-17-5)
Head Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski
Elmira-Steve Martinson
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Elmira- Ottawa Senators (NHL), Binghamton Senators (AHL)
Season Series: The Nailers are 4-2-0 against Elmira and 2-1-0 at First Arena. Wheeling has won the last three meetings including home games on Dec 27 and Jan 17. This is the 7th of 10 games in the season series between the Nailers and Jackals.
Top Jackals
Justin Donati (25-39-64), Tyler Donati (19-44-63), Yannick Tifu (13-31-44),
Olivier Proulx (17-25-42)
Goalies - Tyler Sims (0-3-1, 2.47, 0.908%), Julien Ellis (11-7-1, 3.61, 0.882%)
Saturday- Wheeling Nailers (25-18-3)
Kalamazoo Wings (24-13-5)
Head Coach:
Wheeling - Greg Puhalski
Kalamazoo- Nick Bootland
Affiliation:
Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Kalamazoo- Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), San Jose Sharks (NHL), Adirondack Phantoms (AHL), Worcester Sharks (AHL)
Season Series: The Nailers are 1-1-1 against Kalamazoo this season and 0-0-1 against the Wings at WesBanco Arena. The Wings won a shootout at the Nailers 6-5 on October 30th. This is the 4th of 9 games in the season series between the Nailers and the Wings.
Top Wings
Andrew Foumier (18-23-41), Sam Ftorek (8-21-29), Matt Jones (17-10-27),
Goalies - Ryan Nie (13-7-1, 2.80, 0.910%), Jeremy Duchesne (7-2-4, 3.11, 0.911%)
Upcoming Home Games:
The Nailers host the Kalamazoo Wings Saturday night at 8:05pm. Snowbird Bobbleheads for the first 1,000 kids courtesy of WTOV-9.
The Wheeling Nailers will host the Johnstown Chiefs at 11:00am for the inaugural Education Field Trip Day on Tuesday, February 9th. Tickets are free for all students and teachers. 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. All adults can purchase upper-bowl seats for $10 as part of the team's Business Man special promotion for the day game.
Friday and Saturday February 12th and 13th the Nailers host back to back games against the Elmira Jackals. Friday is another WTRF Family Four Pack night. 4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4hotdogs and a large popcorn all for $44.
Saturday is the Nailers second Boy Scout Night of the season and the first 1,000 kids will get a Mini Stick Giveaway courtesy of Tim Hortons.
Experience Counts:
Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rdfor 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 and wife Ally had their first child earlier this season. 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!!
ECHL Stories from February 3, 2010
- Chiefs Exorcise Devils - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cyclones Win Extra 'Special' In 3-2 Triumph Over Wheeling - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Chiefs Stomp Devils With 3-0 Shutout - Trenton Devils
- Ben Gordon Returned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Frieben Joins Broadcast Team - Kalamazoo Wings
- Free H1N1 Shots This Friday - Kalamazoo Wings
- Gistedt Recalled To San Antonio; Wranglers Netminder Headed To AHL - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Robinson, Aiello Share AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performers For January - ECHL
- Aiello Named Co-Winner, ECHL Plus Performer Of Month - Stockton Thunder
- Doyle Named ECHL Goalie Of The Month - Alaska Aces
- Alaska's Doyle Named ECHL Goaltender Of The Month For January - ECHL
- Robinson Receives ECHL's Plus-Minus Award - Elmira Jackals
- Barlow Loaned To AHL's Heat - Idaho Steelheads
- Checkers Acquire Stefanishion From Alaska - Charlotte Checkers
- Defenseman Joe Charlebois and Goaltender Alec Richards go to Rockford - Toledo Walleye
- Jackals Loan Tifu To Albany - Elmira Jackals
- Ryan Lang Activated off IR, Defenseman Reid Placed on IR - Florida Everblades
- Win A Trip To A Steelheads Road Game - Idaho Steelheads
- Stingrays Goaltender Van Buskirk Recalled To Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Checkers To Host Inaugural Pooch Party - Charlotte Checkers
- Red-Hot Nailers Battle For Division Lead - Wheeling Nailers
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