ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

Published on January 14, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last Week

Wed. 1/8 WHEELING NAILERS 2 @ Reading Royals 6

MacKay (Gill, Ratchuk)

Johnson (MacKay, Gill)

Ostergard- 30/35

Thu. 1/9 Cincinnati Cyclones 4 @ WHEELING NAILERS 2

Lagace (MacKay, Gill)

Schiestel (Stevenson)

Condon- 25/29

Sat. 1/11 Toledo Walleye 5 @ WHEELING NAILERS 3

Gill (Lagace, Fernandez)

Lagace (Johnson, Ratchuk)

MacLellan (D'Agostino, Gill)

Condon- 27/31

Sun. 1/12 WHEELING NAILERS 0 @ Toledo Walleye 7

Condon- 23/28

Ostergard- 11/13

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers fell on hard times, as they were winless in four games. Despite the defeats, Sahir Gill built the second longest point streak of the season, as he found the scoresheet in five straight games, prior to Sunday. On the blueline, Drew Schiestel joined the squad from Hamilton, and wasted little time making an impact, as he lit the lamp in his first contest with the Nailers. When it came to the rough stuff, Patrick McGrath dropped the gloves in three games, raising his fight total to 12 and his penalty minute total to 102. McGrath's 12 fighting majors are the most since Andrew Lord's 21 during the 2009-10 campaign, and he has accomplished that while playing in just 22 games.

On Wednesday night, the Nailers ran into one powerful line for the Reading Royals, as Sean Wiles, Yannick Tifu, and Ryan Cruthers combined for 11 points. Wiles netted a hat trick, while also picking up an assist, as he recorded his second straight four-point game against Wheeling, helping him win ECHL Player of the Week honors. The visiting Nailers were faced with a 4-0 deficit in the middle frame, before Max MacKay and Chaz Johnson cut the Reading lead in half at 4-2. Unfortunately, Reading banged in two late goals for a 6-2 final. On Thursday night, Cincinnati's Jonathan Hazen was the star to watch, as he notched two goals and an assist, starting with the contest's opening goal at the 10:05 mark of the first. Jacob Lagace and Drew Schiestel both scored their first goals in Wheeling uniforms in the 4-2 loss. On Saturday night, the Toledo Walleye showed off their elite power play, scoring a pair of 5-on-3 markers to break a 1-1 tie and take a 3-1 lead. Despite trailing 4-1 at one point, the Nailers nearly tied the score late, as Sahir Gill, Lagace, and Jack MacLellan ended up trimming the margin to one, before the Walleye tapped in an empty netter for the 5-3 win. On Sunday afternoon, very little went right for Wheeling, as the Walleye swept the home-and-home series with a 7-0 triumph at Huntington Center. Toledo's goals were scored by seven different players. This is the first time since November 15th that the Nailers have been on the outside of the top-eight in the conference.

This Week

Fri. 1/17 WHEELING NAILERS @ Greenville Road Warriors, 7:00

Sat. 1/18 WHEELING NAILERS @ Greenville Road Warriors, 7:00

Mon. 1/20 WHEELING NAILERS @ Gwinnett Gladiators, 12:30

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will make their final trip to the South Division, where they will collide with the Greenville Road Warriors and Gwinnett Gladiators. Ironically, it will also be Wheeling's first visit to the newly named Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, where it will play a second and third game in the season series against the Road Warriors. The Nailers won the first head-to-head battle on November 2nd, erasing a 3-1 deficit with four goals in the third period, to defeat Greenville, 5-3. Wheeling is 6-1-1 against the Road Warriors, since Clark Donatelli took over as head coach. After an off day on Sunday, the Nailers will head to the Arena at Gwinnett Center, where they will lock up with the Gladiators. Earlier this week, Gwinnett added former Wheeling forward Casey Pierro-Zabotel to its roster. The Gladiators won the lone meeting between the two sides thus far, taking a 4-1 decision on December 27th. The Nailers are currently 1-2-2 against the South Division, with one home game against Orlando (April 5th) remaining after this trip.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

Sun. 1/26 vs. Cincinnati - Mascot Mania; Family Funday; Skate with the Team; $5 Kids Tickets

Wed. 1/29 vs. Fort Wayne - WesBanco Wednesday; $5 Kids Tickets

Fri. 1/31 vs. Kalamazoo - WingFest; Frosty Friday; Player Poster Giveaway to First 2,500 Fans; Wheeling Island Nailer Night

Sat. 2/1 vs. Kalamazoo - McDonald's FANtastic Night - Appearance by Duck Dynasty's Mountain Man

Wed. 2/12 vs. Toledo - WesBanco Winning Wednesday; $5 Kids Tickets

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 9, Zack Torquato

Assists: 22, Zack Torquato

Points: 31, Zack Torquato

Penalty Minutes: 102, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +10, Sahir Gill

Wins: 10, Mike Condon

Goals Against Average: 2.66, Mike Condon

Save Percentage: .915, Mike Condon

Shutouts: 1, Mike Condon, Mathieu Corbeil, Eric Hartzell

Eastern Conference Standings

1. South Carolina Stingrays 53

2. Cincinnati Cyclones 46

3. Florida Everblades 44

4. Orlando Solar Bears 41

5. Evansville IceMen 41

6. Reading Royals 39

7. Kalamazoo Wings 39

8. Fort Wayne Komets 38

9. Greenville Road Warriors 37

10. WHEELING NAILERS 36

11. Gwinnett Gladiators 30

12. Toledo Walleye 27

13. Elmira Jackals 24

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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