Wheeling hockey - a look back in time
October 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
by A.J. Proger - Sophomore John Marshall High School
For the past twelve years, hockey in the city of Wheeling has been a yearly tradition. From mid-October to mid to late-April, hockey fans have come to watch their beloved Thunderbirds and Nailers. There have been good times and there have been sad times, but come fall, every hockey fan is ready for another winning year.
Hockey was born in Wheeling in 1992. Under the direction of coach Doug Sauter, the T'Birds went on to the Riley Cup Finals before getting eliminated by their hated rivals, the Toledo Storm. Since that first year, a lot has happened to the franchise. The Thunderbirds/
Nailers made the playoffs in their first six years of existence. The name change was necessary in
1996 when it was discovered that a team out west had the rights to the "Thunderbirds" name.
The years of 1998-2003 could well be called the Wheeling Playoff Drought as through five years and four coaches the Nailers missed out on the postseason .During this playoff drought, in the summer of 2001, the Nailers managed to hire the winningest coach in minor hockey history.
The legendary John Brophy was hired as the team's bench boss, but just like the three people before him, he could not muster the team into the postseason. However, history was made at the Civic Center on March 30th 2002 when Brophy became the first, and currently, the only coach to reach 1,000 wins in minor league hockey history.
Last year, under the new ownership of Robert and Jim Brooks, the Nailers returned to the playoffs and turned in the best regular season in franchise history. The team captured fifty-one victories and finished second in the entire league standings, just behind the San Diego Gulls. But, unfortunately the Nailers got knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by the Reading Royals in five games.
So, there you have it, twelve years of hockey in Wheeling . Here's hoping that unlucky year thirteen is the luckiest yet. There promises to be exiting moments all year long. The season kicks off Friday October 22 when the Nailers travel to the Toledo Sports Arena to tangle with their rivals, the Storm. Let the next chapter of hockey in Wheeling begin!
ECHL Stories from October 19, 2004
- Falcons radio broadcast returns to 103.1 FM - Fresno Falcons
- Falcons Make Roster Moves - Fresno Falcons
- Shiryaev Traded to Bakersfield - Louisiana IceGators
- Reading Signs Defenseman - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Charlotte's Lawson Suspended One Game - ECHL
- Wheeling hockey - a look back in time - Wheeling Nailers
- Four is the loneliest number - Charlotte Checkers
- First Radio Show this Monday night, pay perview webcast avialbe this Saturday - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Bullies Continue To Reshuffle Roster - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- New Interactive Desktop Microsite Launched - San Diego Gulls
- Storm Release Two - Toledo Walleye
- Verizon Wireless presents 'Showtime' excitement - Greenville Grrrowl
- Steelheads broadcasts to kick off with familiar voice on ESPN Radio 1350 - The Ticket - Idaho Steelheads
- Sea Wolves Announce Special Promotions For Every Home Game - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Everblades announce new radio broadcaster - Florida Everblades
- Ice Dogs Weekly - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Rivermen Claim Rohanna Off Waivers from Toledo - Peoria Rivermen
- Dumont Captures InterContinental Hotels Group Ironman Award For ECHL Members - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Long Beach s Moscevsky Suspended Two Games - ECHL
- Pride announce adopt-a-school recipients - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
