Wheeling Wraps Up The Season This Weekend
Published on April 2, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Friday April 2nd, 7:35pm (WesBanco Arena, Wheeling, WV )-Reading Royals vs. Wheeling Nailers
Saturday April 3rd, 6:05pm (WesBanco Arena, Wheeling, WV)-Cincinnati Cyclones vs. Wheeling Nailers Preview
The Wheeling Nailers return to WesBanco Arena for their last two games of the season as they host the Reading Royals Friday, and the Cyclones of Cincinnati on Saturday. Friday is Nailers Baby Blue Ball-Cap Giveaway courtesy of Main Street Bank. Saturday is "Go Mountaineers" Pep-Rally Night. Fans in West Virginia wear will get discount tickets, concessions and drink specials. The Mountaineers Final Four game will be shown on the screens in the Club later that evening. It's also Fan Appreciation Night and Ticket Extravaganza Night.
Please note that the game-time for Saturday's hockey game has been moved to 6:05pm to accommodate all the fans who have Mountaineers Fever and want to watch their Final Four matchup with Duke at 8:50pm.
We have some of our biggest crowds of the season coming out for this weekend's games and we look forward to having you there as well cheering on the Nailers for the last time in 2009-2010. Thanks for another fun season Nailers fans!
Wheeling's record is 32-32-6 overall this season, totaling 70 points. Wheeling is 5-5-0 in their last ten games and are 1-2-0 vs. Reading this season and 4-7-0 vs. Cincinnati.
The Reading Royals record is 35-28-6, leaving them 2nd in the East and 7th in the American Conference. The Royals are 5-3-2 in their last ten games and haven't won in their last two games. This will be Reading's first and only visit to Wheeling this season.
The Cincinnati Cyclones have a record of 42-24-3, 2nd in the North and 5th in the American Conference. The Cyclones are 5-5-0 in their last ten games and won their last game.
Last Week
The Nailers began the weekend with a Friday showdown against the Kalamazoo Wings. After an early Wings goal in the 1st, the Nailers had the puck pinned in the Kalamazoo zone. Kevin Schmidt picked up the puck and hit captain Andrew Lord with a nice centering pass from the right circle and Lord chipped it home to tie the game 1-1. In the 2nd, the Nailers trailed again until John D'Aversa's blast once again tied the game, this time 2-2. Early in the 3rd, Dan Henningson scored to give Wheeling their only lead of the game but it was short lived as Kalamazoo scored right back. In overtime, Jordan Fox shot from the right-wing wall deflected off a Kalamazoo defenseman and bounced past goalie Riley Gill with just 1 second remaining to give the Nailers the 4-3 victory.
On Saturday the Nailers traveled to Toledo. Early in the 1st frame, Jon D' Aversa teed one up from the center-point on the power play and blasted a slapper off goalie Alec Richards' right leg-pad and into the cage for his 6th goal of the season and 3rd in his last three games. The Walleye scored 3 goals in the 2nd period and 2 in the 3rd to give them the 5-1 win.
Notes:
Casey Pierro-Zabotel was reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins on Wednesday.
Goalie Michael-Lee Teslak has been recalled to Adirondack of the AHL.
The Nailers added Michigan State University product Bobby Jarosz as an emergency backup goalie for this weekend. Jarosz will replace team equipment manager Billy Higgins in the EBG role and will be backing Berkhoel.
Wheeling is 5-5-0 in their last 10 games.
Wheeling's home power play is 2nd in the league at 23.8% (41 for 177).
The Nailers overall penalty killing is 4th in the league at 82.7% (64 for 369).
The Nailers will host the Reading Royals for the final time this season on Friday night. Wheeling is 1-1-1 against Reading this season.
The Nailers wrap up the 2009-2010 season Saturday against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Wheeling's record against Cincinnati is 4-7-1.
Jon D'Aversa is on a 3 game goal streak (3g 1a)
Jordan Morrison 5 assists in the last 5 home games.
Andrew Lord is tied with Garet Hunt of for 3rd in the league in major penalties with 20.
Aaron Clarke along with Scott Burt of Alaska and Brian McGuirk of Kalamazoo lead the ECHL with 4 shorthanded goals this season.
Ryan Schnell has 156 penalty minutes placing him 2nd among ECHL rookies and 16 major penalties 3rd among rookies.
Mitch Ganzak leads the ECHL defensemen with 39 assists. Ganzak is 2nd among defensemen with 21 power play assists and is 3rd among defensemen with 4 shoot out goals and a 0.571 shootout percent.
Friday-Wheeling Nailers (32-32-6) 70
Reading Royals (35-29-6) 76
Saturday- Wheeling Nailers (31-31-6) 68
Cincinnati Cyclones (33-27-6) 72
Head Coach:
Wheeling-Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
Reading-Larry Courville
Cincinnati-Chuck Webber
Affiliation:
Wheeling--Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Reading-Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Boston Bruins (NHL), Toronto Marlies (AHL)
Cincinnati-Montreal Canadiens (NHL), Nashville Predators (NHL), Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
Top Nailers
Wheeling-T.J. Fox (25-33-58), Aaron Clarke (23-30-53), Jordan Fox (19-32-51), Mitch Ganzak (8-39-47))
Top Royals
Reading-Ryan Cruthers (21-48-69), Ben Gordon (24-44-68), Andrew Sarauer (25-30-55), Stefano Giliati (21-27-48)
Top Cyclones
Cincinnati-Barret Ehgoetz (23-40-63), Dustin Sproat (23-35-58), Scott Reynolds (23-33-56), Jimmy Kilpatrick (15-36-51)
Top Goalies
Wheeling-Adam Berkhoel (12-11-2, 3.03, .892)
Reading-Matt Dalton (21-20-4, 3.42, 0.907)
Cincinnati-Jeremy Smith (22-14-2, 2.63, 0.899)
Extended Office Hours: The Wheeling Nailers have extended office hours during the week by popular demand and to accommodate our fans' busy schedules. Monday through Friday the Wheeling Nailers offices will be open until 6:00 pm. The Nailers are located at 1315 Main Street in downtown Wheeling for all your ticket and souvenir purchasing needs.
Experience Counts: Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rdfor the Nailers. He is second among all ECHL coaches with 601 coming into this season trailing only Steve Martinson who had 650 wins entering this year. Puhalski has over 200 ECHL wins dating back to the beginning of his coaching career with the Toledo Storm from 1994-98.
Right-Hand Man: Greg Puhalski has an assistant coach on the staff this year. Doug Doull joins the Nailers and the Penguins organization after doing some coaching in Canadian University hockey for a couple seasons following his 8 year playing career in the AHL and NHL. Doull fought some of the NHL's toughest customers in his time with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04. He played 37 games in the NHL mostly with Boston (and 2 with Washington) and racked up 151 PIM's. His AHL career included stays with Hershey, San Antonio, Utah, Providence, St. John's, Saint John and with other AAA level teams in the old IHL in the late 90's with Michigan (now Kalamazoo), Detroit Vipers and Manitoba.
ECHL Stories from April 2, 2010
- Wranglers Overpower Reign, 2-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Reign Falls to Wranglers, 2-1 - Ontario Reign
- Royals Announce Potential Playoff Dates - Reading Royals
- Grizzlies Drop Decision In Victoria - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads fall in Bakersfield - Idaho Steelheads
- Royals Win Wild One in Wheeling, 7-6 - Reading Royals
- Season high 5 goals in period in 7-6 shootout loss - Wheeling Nailers
- Charlotte Tops Florida 3-1 - Florida Everblades
- Donati brothers record hockey history in Jackals' loss to Devils - Elmira Jackals
- Chiefs lose to Cyclones - Johnstown Chiefs
- Kalamazoo Defeats Toledo on Celebration! Cinema Night - Kalamazoo Wings
- Shorthanded, Power-Play And Even-Strength Goals Propel Charlotte To 3-1 Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Cyclones Appreciate Fans In 5-1 Win Over Johnstown - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Stingrays Edge Gladiators 4-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Devils Continue Domination of Elmira, 5-3 - Trenton Devils
- Stingrays Bounce Gladiators 4-3 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Hotham, Hartlieb Return from Rochester - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Ontario's Egener, O'Connor Fined - ECHL
- Condors Vs. Idaho - Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Alaska Aces - Stockton Thunder
- Idaho Signs Rookie Forward - Idaho Steelheads
- Chiefs' Final Home Game Sold Out - Johnstown Chiefs
- Joey Ryan Assigned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Wheeling Wraps Up The Season This Weekend - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Sign Goaltender Kain Tisi - Reading Royals
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Duchesne Makes NHL Debut - Kalamazoo Wings
- Last Chance For Season Ticket Holders To Reserve Playoff Seats - Elmira Jackals
- Duchesne Becomes 439th ECHL Player To Reach NHL - ECHL
- Cincinnati's Ehgoetz Wins Sportsmanship Award - ECHL
- Barret Ehgoetz Wins ECHL's Sportsmanship Award - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays Cross Sticks With Gladiators Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira At Trenton - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Jackals Announce Roster Changes - Elmira Jackals
- Howe Released From Contract - Ontario Reign
- Reign Dropped By Wranglers, 5-2 - Ontario Reign
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