Wheeling Nailers
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| Wheeling Nailers | |
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| City: | Wheeling, West Virginia |
|---|---|
| League: | ECHL |
| Conference: | American Conference |
| Division: | North Division |
| Founded: | 1988 |
| Home Arena: | WesBanco Arena |
| Colors: | Black, Red and Vegas Gold |
| Owner(s): | Jim and Rob Brooks |
| Head Coach: | Greg Puhalski |
| Media: | Wheeling News-Register
WKWK-FM |
| Affiliates: | Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) |
The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia.
The Wheeling Nailers are the ECHL Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL, [1]
Contents |
[edit] Franchise history
One of the oldest low-minor league hockey teams, the franchise began play in 1982 in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League as the Carolina Thunderbirds based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The team, along with the Virginia Lancers, joined the All-American Hockey League in 1987, which lasted just the 1987-88 season, after which the Thunderbirds, Lancers, and Johnstown Chiefs formed the basis for the modern ECHL, of which the Thunderbirds won the first ECHL playoff championship, then known as the Jack Riley Cup, defeating the Johnstown Chiefs, 4-3 for the 1988-89 season. They became the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds in 1990 and moved to Wheeling in 1992.
After a trademark dispute with the junior league Seattle Thunderbirds, the club became the Nailers for the 1996-97 season when the franchise held a contest open to local fans, which was won by C.J. Wickham of Steubenville, Ohio. The name "Nailers" was chosen for the city's long history of nail manufacturing. The team colors are black, red, and Vegas gold.
While they were still the Wheeling Thunderbirds, members of the team in 1994-95 also participated in the filming of the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie "Sudden Death". Because of the NHL lockout, the scene where Van Damme's character attempts to stop a bomber from bombing Mellon Arena during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals was filmed with players from the Chiefs and Thunderbirds.
The team plays at the WesBanco Arena (formerly the Wheeling Civic Center). After missing the playoffs for five straight seasons, they had a 106-point season in 2003-04. They were defeated by the Reading Royals in 5 games, 3-2. In season 2005-06 they had a great season making it to the second round of the playoffs losing to Toledo in the final second of the final game.
[edit] Main rival
The Nailers main rival inside the ECHL is the Johnstown Chiefs, and both teams have been rivals for 20 seasons, counting the ACHL year before they became the ECHL. For the 2007-08 season, opening night will feature the two teams wearing 1988-89 era jerseys to celebrate the 20th ECHL season.
[edit] Season-by-season results
[edit] Regular Season
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | 64 | 40 | 16 | — | 8 | — | 88 | 314 | 223 | 1st, East |
| 1993–94 | 68 | 38 | 23 | — | 7 | — | 83 | 327 | 289 | 3rd, North |
| 1994–95 | 68 | 46 | 17 | — | 5 | — | 97 | 313 | 243 | 1st, North |
| 1995–96 | 70 | 42 | 23 | — | — | 5 | 89 | 289 | 261 | 2nd, North |
| 1996–97 | 70 | 36 | 29 | 5 | — | — | 77 | 298 | 291 | 4th, North |
| 1997–98 | 70 | 37 | 24 | 9 | — | — | 83 | 255 | 255 | 2nd, North |
| 1998–99 | 70 | 27 | 37 | 6 | — | — | 60 | 206 | 249 | 6th, Northeast |
| 1999–00 | 70 | 25 | 40 | 5 | — | — | 55 | 202 | 246 | 5th, Northeast |
| 2000–01 | 72 | 24 | 40 | 8 | — | — | 56 | 192 | 277 | 5th, Northeast |
| 2001–02 | 72 | 36 | 32 | 4 | — | — | 76 | 213 | 208 | 5th, Northeast |
| 2002–03 | 72 | 28 | 41 | 3 | — | — | 59 | 193 | 261 | 6th, Northeast |
| 2003–04 | 72 | 51 | 17 | 4 | — | — | 106 | 259 | 188 | 1st, North |
| 2004–05 | 72 | 38 | 29 | 5 | — | — | 81 | 171 | 173 | 6th, North |
| 2005–06 | 72 | 45 | 21 | 6 | — | — | 96 | 247 | 186 | 2nd, East |
| 2006–07 | 72 | 32 | 34 | 6 | — | — | 70 | 215 | 255 | 7th, North |
| 2007-08 | 72 | 22 | 43 | - | 3 | 4 | 51 | 186 | 284 | 7th, North |
[edit] Playoffs
| Season | Preliminary | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Kelly Cup Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | — | Bye | W, 3-1, Johnstown | W, 4-2, Raleigh | L, 2-4, Toledo |
| 1993-94 | — | W, 2-0, Nashville | W, 3-1, Hampton | L, 0-3, Toledo | — |
| 1994-95 | — | L, 0-3, Birgmingham | — | — | — |
| 1995-96 | |||||
| 1996-97 | — | L, 0-3, Peoria | — | — | — |
| 1997-98 | — | W, 3-2, Dayton | W, 3-1, Toledo | L, 2-4, Hampton | — |
| 1998-99 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 1999–00 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2000–01 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2001-02 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2002-03 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2003-04 | — | L, 2-3, Reading | — | — | — |
| 2004-05 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2005-06 | — | W, 3-1, Reading | L, 2-3, Toledo | — | — |
| 2006-07 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2007–08 | Out of Playoffs | ||||
[edit] Current roster
As of January 9, 2008. [2]
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Catches | Acquired | Place of birth | |
| 1 |  |
Peter Vetri | L | 2008 | Windham, New Hampshire |
| 29 |  |
Curtis Darling | L | 2007 | Calgary, Alberta |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Shoots | Acquired | Place of birth | |
| 2 | |
Chris Snavely | R | 2007 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| 3 | |
Seamus Young | R | 2007 | Dedham, Massachusetts |
| 4 | |
Todd Spencer | L | 2007 | Brentwood, New Hampshire |
| 5 | |
Chris Brooks | R | 2006 | New York, New York |
| 14 | |
Jonathan D'Aversa | L | 2007 | Richmond Hill, Ontario |
| 18 | |
Francois Leroux | L | 2007 | Saint-Adele, Québec |
| 22 | |
Jeremy Swanson | L | 2007 | Red Rock, Ontario |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Position | Shoots | Acquired | Place of birth | |
| 7 | |
Sean Collins | F | L | 2005 | Reading, Massachusetts |
| 8 | |
Aaron Clarke | F | L | 2007 | Peterborough, Ontario |
| 9 | |
Ned Havern | F | R | 2006 | Arlington, Massachusetts |
| 15 | |
B.J. Radovich | F | R | 2007 | Hermantown, Minnesota |
| 16 | |
Joe Jensen | F | L | 2006 | Maple Grove, Minnesota |
| 17 | |
Joe Santilli | F | R | 2007 | Westwood, Massachusetts |
| 17 | |
John Burton | F | R | 2007 | Phoenix, Arizona |
| 19 |  |
Vadim Slivchenko | RW | L | 2007 | Kharkov, Ukraine |
| 23 | |
Kevin Croxton | RW | L | 2007 | Calgary, Alberta |
| 24 | |
Gino Pisellini | RW | R | 2007 | Melrose Park, Illinois |
| 26 | |
Justin Chwedoruk | F | R | 2007 | St. Albert, Alberta |
| 27 | |
Aaron Boogaard | F | R | 2007 | Newmarket, Ontario |
[edit] Notable Nailers
- Peter Laviolette- Carolina Hurricanes head coach
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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| American Conference | North | Cincinnati Cyclones · Dayton Bombers · Elmira Jackals · Johnstown Chiefs · Reading Royals · Trenton Devils · Wheeling Nailers |
| South | Augusta Lynx · Charlotte Checkers · Columbia Inferno · Florida Everblades · Gwinnett Gladiators · Mississippi Sea Wolves · Pensacola Ice Pilots · South Carolina Stingrays | |
| National Conference |
Pacific | Bakersfield Condors · Fresno Falcons · Las Vegas Wranglers · Ontario Reign · Stockton Thunder |
| West | Alaska Aces · Idaho Steelheads · Phoenix Roadrunners · Utah Grizzlies · Victoria Salmon Kings | |
| Future teams | Myrtle Beach, SC · Toledo Walleye | |
| Related articles: List of ECHL seasons · Kelly Cup · Brabham Cup · All-Star Game · Awards · Timeline · Defunct teams · Hall of Fame · Arenas · Other Professional Hockey leagues | ||
