"The Rocket" Returns to Wheeling
December 14, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers, the "AA" affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers, announced today that they have signed Vadim Slivchenko for the remainder of the 2007-08 season.
Slivchenko, a native of Kharkov, Ukraine has played 103 games with Wheeling over parts of three seasons dating back to the 1993-94 season. He last played in the Friendly City in 1999-2000 and in just nine games, Slivchenko accumulated nine points with two goals and seven assists.
Nicknamed the "Russian Rocket," Slivchenko impressed Wheeling fans while with the Thunderbirds from 1993-95. He played 94 games and produced 76 goals, 85 Assists, and 161 Points.
Named an ECHL All-Star in both 1994 and 1995, Slivchenko won the 1994 fastest skater award at the skills competition held in Norfolk, VA. This season, he is expected to be on a line with the 2007 ECHL fastest skater, Joe Jensen. Slivchenko scored two goals and an assist in the 1995 game.
Wheeling was a combined 84-40-12 during those two seasons including a league best 46-17-5 in 1994-95. With the team winning the Brabham Cup, Slivchenko was the leading scorer on the team - tied with Derek DeCosty - with 76 points (37g, 39a). That team also set an ECHL record for consecutive home wins with 17, a streak helped by his three game winning goals. The record is now 18 set later that year by South Carolina.
"Vadim is a world class player with great ability, knowledge of the game, and excellent leadership," said Nailers President Jim Brooks. "He will provide us with an instant boost."
Slivchenko also participated in the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah playing for the Ukraine National Team.
This will be Slivchenko's third stint in Wheeling and his 16th consecutive professional season. He has spent the last eight seasons playing in Europe in the Swedish Elite League (SEL), the German Elite League (DEL), the German Oberliga (GerObL) and the 2nd Ice Hockey Bundesliga (2.GBun).
Last year with Crimmitschau ETC (2.GBun), the 5-foot-10-inch, 180 pound winger registered 39 points (17g, 22a) in 51 games including a goal in game seven to help propel his team to a championship.
Slivchenko will be in uniform tonight, wearing his old number 19, when the Nailers travel to Dayton to face the Bombers at 7pm. Radio coverage is available on the Mix 97.3 as well as at www.wheelingnailers.com.
The Wheeling Nailers return home on Saturday when they welcome the Cincinnati Cyclones to WesBanco Arena. The game will begin at 8pm and will be televised live on WTOV9. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Wheeling Nailers "Going to Work" t-shirt.
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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