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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Wheeling Nailers Weekly Report

December 8, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Last Week

Fri. 12/5 Utah Grizzlies 2 @ WHEELING NAILERS 5

Gilbert (Bakker, Torquato)

Johnson (unassisted)

Shea (Murovich, Army)

Makowski (Burton, Palazzese)

Army (Brace, Burton)

Palazzese- 19/21

Sat. 12/6 Utah Grizzlies 3 @ WHEELING NAILERS 7

Ellis (Murovich)

Brace (Gilbert, Torquato)

McGrath (Yuen, Johnson)

Ratchuk (Torquato, Brace)

Burton (Makowski, Army)

Army (Burton, Makowski)

Ellis (Brace, Johnson)

Hartzell- 32/35

Sun. 12/7 WHEELING NAILERS @ Brampton Beast

Postponed

Last week, the Wheeling Nailers continued their dominance on home ice, improving to 4-1-0 on the homestand and 8-2-0 thus far this season. The two most recent victories came over the weekend against the Utah Grizzlies, who made their first ever visit to WesBanco Arena. Wheeling led from start to finish on both nights, starting on Friday, when David Gilbert needed just 23 seconds to put the home team on top. Chaz Johnson added a goal later in the opening stanza, before Bobby Shea upped the lead to three with a shorthanded tally midway through the second. David Makowski and Derek Army dented the twine in the third period, completing the 5-2 win. On Saturday, Morgan Ellis opened the scoring with the Teddy Bear Goal, finding the back of the net 3:56 into the contest. Riley Brace added to the advantage later in the frame, but Utah battled back to even the score at two in the second period. However, before the frame could be completed, Patrick McGrath and Mike Ratchuk helped Wheeling regain its two-goal lead. Those two markers keyed a string of five straight goals for the good guys, as Jarrett Burton, Army, and Ellis upped the score to 7-2, before one more goal by the Grizzlies gave the tilt its 7-3 final score. Both goaltenders earned a win in the series, as Franky Palazzese stopped 19 shots on Friday, and Eric Hartzell made 32 saves on Saturday.

The Nailers' power play continued its dominance, scoring once on Friday and three times on Saturday for nine total goals in five games. Wheeling's 33.3% success rate at home ranks second in the ECHL. The Nailers have also scored five shorthanded goals, which is tied for the most in the league. With his first assist on Saturday night, Zack Torquato recorded his 131st point in a Wheeling uniform, passing Aaron Clarke for tenth in team history. Patrick McGrath earned his league-leading ninth fighting major of the season on his bobblefist night Saturday, while also lighting the lamp for the second time. Friday's fourth goal featured three career firsts - David Makowski's goal, Jarrett Burton's point, and Franky Palazzese's point. Burton followed that up with his first pro goal on Saturday. The Nailers are now 6-0-1 in their last seven games against Western Conference opponents. Due to transactions and injuries, Wheeling played with 15 skaters (1 less than the norm) in both games.

This Week

Wed. 12/10 Toledo Walleye @ WHEELING NAILERS, 7:05

Fri. 12/12 WHEELING NAILERS @ Reading Royals, 7:30

Sat. 12/13 WHEELING NAILERS @ Reading Royals, 7:05

Sun. 12/14 Reading Royals @ WHEELING NAILERS, 5:05

This week, the Wheeling Nailers will face their first stretch of four games in five days, as they play twice at home and twice on the road. On Wednesday night, Wheeling will play its fifth and final divisional game of the 2014 calendar year, before 23 clashes make their way onto the docket in 2015. The opposition will be the Toledo Walleye, who have bounced back from an ugly 2013-14 season with a 14-3-1 start in the current campaign. Toledo has won five straight games, eight of its last ten, and five in a row away from Huntington Center. This will be the first of seven meetings between the two teams, after the Nailers won seven of ten in last year's season series. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Wheeling will add three more chapters to its rivalry with the Reading Royals, playing the first two contests on the road, before returning to the Ohio Valley for the finale. The home team has won all three meetings to start the 12-game season series, giving the Nailers a 2-1 advantage. Despite a 10-8-2 mark in the first 20 games, the Royals are currently on the outside looking in, sitting in fifth place in the East Division.

Upcoming Home Games/Promotions

Wed. 12/10 vs. Toledo- WesBanco Winning Wednesday, $5 Kids Tickets

Sun. 12/14 vs. Reading- Sunday Family Funday, Oglebay Zoo Day, Post Game Skate With the Team, $5 Kids Tickets

Fri. 12/19 vs. Greenville- Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, Max MacKay Poster Giveaway (2,000)

Sat. 12/20 vs. Greenville- Season Ticket Holder Redemption Night, Team Picture Giveaway - Holiday Edition (2,000)

Fri. 1/9 vs. Reading- Faith & Family Night, Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, Player Poster Giveaway (2,000)

Nailers Leaders

Goals: 9, Riley Brace

Assists: 16, Riley Brace

Points: 25, Riley Brace

Penalty Minutes: 67, Patrick McGrath

Plus/Minus: +6, Riley Brace

Wins: 7, Franky Palazzese

Goals Against Average: 2.47, Eric Hartzell

Save Percentage: .923, Eric Hartzell

Shutouts: 1, Eric Hartzell

North Division Standings

1. Fort Wayne Komets 32

2. Toledo Walleye 29

3. WHEELING NAILERS 22

4. Cincinnati Cyclones 20

5. Evansville IceMen 18

6. Kalamazoo Wings 16

7. Indy Fuel 14

The December 10th game between Wheeling and Toledo is a WesBanco Winning Wednesday. If the Nailers win, fans can exchange their ticket for the game on January 11th against the Indy Fuel. The December 14th contest against the Reading Royals is a Family Funday, with a post game skate with the team and a visit by the Good Zoo at Oglebay.

Holiday packs are also available. For $49, fans can purchase the Elf Package, receiving four ticket vouchers, a t-shirt, and an autographed puck. For $99, fans can purchase the Reindeer Package, receiving ten ticket vouchers. For $129, fans can purchase the Santa Package, receiving four ticket vouchers, a replica jersey, and a Reebok hat.

Wheeling Nailers 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.

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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.

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