St. Patrick's Day Game In Kalamazoo
March 17, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Wheeling Nailers return to action for the annual Green Ice game in Kalamazoo as they play game 2 of a 5 game stretch with the Wings. This is also the beginning of a busy part of the schedule for the Nailers which will see them playing 4 games in the next 5 days.
The season series between the two teams is tied at 2 games apiece and the Nailers hold a record of 1-1-0 in Kalamazoo this season. This is Kalamazoo' s first season in the ECHL and 34th year of professional hockey. They trail the Cincinnati Cyclones by just one point in the North Division standings.
Wheeling has 8 games remaining this year and they are all vitally important for the team's playoff chances. The Nailers sit just 2 points back of the Reading Royals for the 8th and final post-season spot but the teams they are competing with all have games-in-hand on the Nailers.
There are 5 teams very close to each other from 7th through 11th place in the conference all competing for the last 2 playoffs spots.
Notes:
The Nailers have added #11 Kale Kerbashian. At only 19 years old, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native makes his professional debut in tonight's game. The center spent the past four seasons playing Major Juniors in the Ontario Hockey League. This year with the Sarnia Sting he scored 26 goals and 56 points in 58 games to lead his team in scoring. Last year he split time between London (Ontario) and Mississauga St. Michael's.
Goalie Adam Berkhoel returned from injured reserve and competed in Saturday and Sunday's games.
Goalie Michael-Lee Teslak has been recalled to Adirondack of the AHL. Equipment Manager Billy Higgins will again step in as the team's Emergency Backup Goalie.
Dan Henningson has been activated from the injured reserve and is eligible to play in tonight's game.
Jordan Morrison has been placed on the injured reserve.
The Nailers are 2-2-1 against the Wings this season. The two teams will play games 3 of the 5-game series this week and wrap up the series next Friday. The Wings are 10-0-2 in their last 12 games.
The Nailers are in 10th place in the American Conference with 64 points, only 2 points away from playoff berth. The top 8 teams qualify for the Kelly Cup playoffs in April.
Andrew Lord is 4th in the league in major penalties with 20, tied with T.J. Reynolds of Charlotte.
Aaron Clarke along with Scott Burt of Alaska and Brian McGuirk of Kalamazoo lead the ECHL with 4 shorthanded goals this season.
Mitch Ganzak leads the ECHL defensemen with 36 assists. Ganzak is 2nd among defensemen with 19 power play assists and leads active defensemen with 4 shoot out goals and a 0.571 shootout percent.
Ryan Schnell has 145 penalty minutes and 15 major penalties to place him 2nd among ECHL rookies in both categories.
Kyle Bushee leads the defensemen along with 4 others with 3 short handed points.
Wheeling's power play is 8th in the league at 18.7% (63 for 337) and penalty killing is 5th in the league at 83.3% (58 for 347).
Last Week:
The Nailers split a weekend of games picking up a 4-1 victory at the Johnstown Chiefs in the 173rd and final meeting of the longest rivalry in ECHL history. Wheeling finishes with an all-time record of 92-60-21 against the Chiefs. Wheeling then dropped a Sunday afternoon contest at home to Kalamazoo 4-1 with Kevin Schmidt breaking up Ryan Nie's shutout bid with a little over a minute remaining.
Wednesday-Wheeling Nailers (29-29-6) 64
Kalamazoo Wings (36-18-8) 80
Head Coach:
Wheeling-Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
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)
Top Nailers
Wheeling-T.J. Fox (22-27-49), Aaron Clarke (20-26-46), Mitch Ganzak (7-36-43)
Jordan Fox (16-26-42),
Top Wings
Kalamazoo-Rick Cleaver (28-33-61), Andrew Foumier (20-36-56), Sam Ftorek (17-27-44)
Top Goalies
Wheeling-Adam Berkhoel (9-8-2, 2.99, 0.894%), Michael-Lee Teslak (12-16-5, 3.51, 0.878%) w/ WHL (7-11-3, 3.83, 0.872%)
Kalamazoo-Ryan Nie (23-10-3, 2.92, 0.909%)
Upcoming Games:
Wednesday March 17th @ Kalamazoo 7:00pm
Friday March 19th @ Kalamazoo 7:30pm
Saturday March 20th Vs Kalamazoo 7:35pm
Sunday March 21st Vs Toledo 3:05pm
Friday March 26th Vs Kalamazoo 7:35pm
Saturday March 27th @ Toledo 7:00pm
Friday April 2nd Vs Reading 7:35pm
Saturday April 3rd Vs Cincinnati 7:35pm
Upcoming Promotions!
Saturday, March 20th - Affiliation Night celebrating the Penguins organization. Wheeling to wear the Baby Blue Penguins replica jerseys for the last time to be auctioned on eBay.
Sunday, March 21st - Pups and Pucks. Bring your dog to the game and cheer on the Nailers with man's best friend!
Friday, March 26th - Team Poster Giveaway Night for the first 2500 fans and Team Autograph Night after the game with the entire Nailers team appearing.
Friday, April 2nd - Nailers Baby Blue Ball-Cap Giveaway for the first 2500 fans courtesy of Main Street Bank.
Saturday, April 3rd - Fan Appreciation Night and Ticket Extravaganza. Lots of gifts and prizes on the last game of the regular season.
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.
Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at the team's website at wheelingnailers.com.
ECHL Stories from March 17, 2010
- Stockton Skates Past Victoria 7-2 - Stockton Thunder
- Reign Unlucky Against Condors, 6-3 - Ontario Reign
- Condors Send Reign Packing, 6-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Salmon Kings Fall To Thunder - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Steelheads Top Grizzlies, 5-4 - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Frantic Comeback Falls Short In 5-4 Loss - Utah Grizzlies
- Checkers Win Ffth Straight, Edge Elmira In Shootout - Charlotte Checkers
- It's Not Easy Being Green - Kalamazoo Wings
- Jackals Increase Division Lead In Shootout Loss To Checkers - Elmira Jackals
- Nailers Ground the Wings 7-3 - Wheeling Nailers
- Nailers Ground the Wings 7-3 - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Sign Dzielski - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Nailers Acquire Kale Kerbashian - Wheeling Nailers
- Simon Ferguson Joins Grizzlies From Syracuse - Utah Grizzlies
- Idaho's Flichel Suspended, Fined - ECHL
- St. Patrick's Day Game In Kalamazoo - Wheeling Nailers
- Salmon Kings Ink Mark Magnowski - Victoria Salmon Kings
- K-Wings Duchesne Heads To NHL - Kalamazoo Wings
- Salmon Kings Get Brandt Back From Moose - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Game Preview: Condors Vs. Ontario Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Checkers Sign Zemlak; Marshall Recalled To Lake Erie - Charlotte Checkers
- Thunder D Trevor Hunt Joins Brother Garet, Signs Tryout Deal - Stockton Thunder
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Victoria Salmon Kings - Stockton Thunder
- Jackals Game Preview: Charlotte At Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Royals Sign Forward Malcolm Gwilliam - Reading Royals
- Reign Adds Mullen, Teubert To Roster - Ontario Reign
- Jackals Add Robinson, Tuttle - Elmira Jackals
- Pups-N-Pucks Returns - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Steelheads Clinch Conference Title, Bye; Top Utah 7-5 - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Fall 7-5 In Boise - Utah Grizzlies
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