ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Schell, in Season Debut, Too Much for Nailers

February 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


DULUTH, GA - The reigning ECHL MVP, Brad Schell, picked up where he left off last season on Friday night. After missing the entire current season with a training camp injury, he made his debut on Friday and accounted for two goals and an assist in a 3-2 win for the Gwinnett Gladiators (27-13-2-2=58) over the Wheeling Nailers (14-28-2-3=33) at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. It was the first-ever trip for the Nailers to Gwinnett County and just the third meeting overall between the two clubs.

The first period featured a combined 15 shots on goal, seven for Wheeling and eight for Gwinnett, but zero goals. Both teams had their share of scoring opportunities but none better than Jeff Campbell's about seven minutes into the game. Brad Schell's pass sent Campbell behind the defense and across the top of the crease before being robbed by the great save of Curtis Darling.

Schell and Campbell would connect though on the game's first goal. At 6:55 of the second period, Schell slid a pass from behind the net to Campbell who chipped it past Darling for his 12th goal of the year. It was the first point of the season for Schell.

A pair of goals in a span of 29 seconds would change the complexion of the game in a hurry. Although the Nailers were outshot 18-6 during the middle period, they took a 2-1 lead into the third. Vadim Slivchenko sent a wrist shot through Craig Kowalski at 16:44 of the second for his second goal of the year. Aaron Clarke and Justin Chwedoruk assisted on the play.

At 17:13 Kelly Miller struck for the Nailers to give them their only lead of the game. He stole the puck away just inside the blue line and broke in on Kowalski. After a backhand move he roofed the puck for his second goal of the season.

A penalty at 18:51 of the second period wound up changing the game. The third period began on a Gladiators power play and it took just 13 seconds for Schell to get down the ice and score off a feed from Campbell. The two hooked up again, along with Tomas Pospisil, just 2:35 later. Pospisil one-handed a pass across the slot to Schell who banged it home for the eventual game-winner.

Darling followed up his 52 save performance from Wednesday night with 40 more on Friday. Kowalski made 20 saves in the win. The Nailers were 0-for-3 on the power play while Gwinnett's league-leading power play was 1-for-4.

The two teams will rematch on Saturday at 7:35pm from the Arena at Gwinnett Center before the Nailers head to South Carolina to take on the Stingrays on Sunday at 4pm.

The next home game for Wheeling is February 22 at 7:35pm against the Elmira Jackals. The first 2,500 fans will be given a Wheeling Nailers t-shirt. Call 304-234-GOAL for more information or visit www.wheelingnailers.com.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2008


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