ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling blasts Elmira 5-2

Published on November 29, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


The Wheeling Nailers delighted the crowd on Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame night with a 5-2 win over the Elmira Jackals.

Already buzzing from the wonderful pre-game ceremonies honoring Darren Schwartz and Bob Otten, the Nailers took the ice and thrilled the crowd with 3 first period goals in taking a 3-1 lead.

Bryan Ewing registered a pair of assists on the night. The Wheeling native benefitted from the work of Bob Otten who started the Wheeling Amateur Hockey Association back in 1964. Ewing is the first WAHA product to play professional hockey and just happens to be doing so in Wheeling in front of his grandparents in his original home area (he moved to the Boston area when he was 10).

The Nailers scored the most goals in a game in almost a month. The last time they scored this many was October 31 in a 6-1 win over the Dayton Bombers.

Nick Johnson registered his league leading 14th goal on the night, his first goal in 4 games. Jordan Morrison also played a fine game with a goal and an assist.

Andrew Lord scored a key goal early in the 3rd period. With a 3-2 lead, Tommy Goebel raced into slot and fired a shot which was turned away by Jackals goalie Mitch O'Keefe but Lord was there on the left side of the crease to pump in the rebound for a valuable insurance goal giving the Nailers a 4-2 lead.

Later in the 3rd period Brock Sheahan and Nick Johnson passed it back and forth beautifully on a fine 2-on-1 run and Sheahan eventually had the privilege to fire it in from the left side of the cage for his professional hockey goal. The Notre Dame product lifted it top-shelf on O-Keefe's glove-hand side to mostly seal the victory for the Nailers.

The Nailers power play broke out of the recent slump with a 2/6 performance including a 5-on-3 goal in the first period by Jordan Morrison and a 5-on-4 goal by Aaron Clarke on a rebound from a slapshot by Elgin Reid.

Frustrated at their losing situation the Jackals got into several fights with various Wheeling Nailers in the closing seconds of the game but the Nailers were more than willing to rise to the occasion and accept the challenge each time.

The Nailers outshot Elmira 31-23 in the contest in improving to 11-5-2 and closing to within 1 point of the first place Johnstown Chiefs in the ECHL North.

Elmira falls to a record of 9-6-2 with the loss.

Wheeling is off for 6 days before returning to action on Friday, December 5th and 6th with a pair of games at the Dayton Bombers.

Wheeling's next home game is Saturday, December 13th vs. the Reading Royals at 7:35. Wheeling will also play Reading on Sunday, December 14th with an open-skate with the team and with Santa after the game for kids and adults who bring their own skates and gloves.

Great holiday gift-packs are available now. Get 4 ticket vouchers good for any night, a signed stick blade and a special Christmas stocking for only $50. Or get 2 tickets for Moondog Bobblehead night on December 27th and a holiday ornament for $30.

Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from November 29, 2008


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