Nailers weekly review
October 24, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
NAILERS ACTION THIS WEEK:
DATE OPPONENT GAMETIME ARENA
Fri Oct 28 Reading Royals 7:30pm WesBanco
Sat Oct 29 Dayton Bombers 7:30pm WesBanco
Sun Oct 30 Dayton Bombers 2:00pm Nutter Ctr
NAILERS VS. Reading (Friday, October 28): The Wheeling Nailers open up at home this weekend with back-to-back games at WesBanco Arena. These two tilts mark the beginning of a stretch of 3 straight 3 game weekends. The Royals opened up the season with a 3-2 win at Johnstown...Mike Pandolfo scored 2 goals in his ECHL debut...Pandolfo is a three-year AHL vet and younger brother of New Jersey Devil Jay Pandolfo...The Royals also feature the first Japanese born player to sign with the Los Angeles Kings, goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji from Tokyo. The Royals are led by first year head coach Karl Taylor...Reading is the AHL affiliate of the Manchester Monarchs and the NHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.
NAILERS VS. Dayton (Saturday-Sunday, October 29-30): The Wheeling Nailers play back-to-back games against Dayton to wrap up the weekend. The Bombers split with Toledo to open up the season. The Bombers play in Toledo on Friday before traveling to Wheeling. Jay Latulippe finds himself among the league's scoring leaders with 3 goals and 4 points in his first two games... Goaltender Mike Ayers made 45 saves on Saturday before being summoned to Syracuse...Dayton drew 7,128 for the battle against Toledo in the home opener...The Bombers are the AHL affiliate of Syracuse and the NHL affiliate of Columbus...The Bombers are led by second year head coach Don McAdam.
NAILERS BROADCAST INFO
Tune in as the voice of the Nailers, Gary Sharp delivers all of the Nailers action on The Mix WKWK 97.3 and selected games airing on ESPN Radio Pittsburgh 1250AM. Fans can also watch or listen in on the Nailers website. The broadcast begins 20 minutes prior to face-off.
THE COACH IS TALKING AND YOU CAN TO
Join Head Coach Glenn Patrick and Gary Sharp every Thursday for "Nail Talk" at Generations. The hour-long show will be carried on WWVA 1170AM beginning at 7pm. Players, coaches, special guests, phone calls, and more will highlight the fast paced 60 minute show.
Pull Up a Chair: In conjunction with B2 Networks and the ECHL, live video of every Nailers game this season will be offered through a link at wheelingnailers.com. Any fan worldwide with a high-speed internet connection will be able to watch the action for just $6, while listening to Gary Sharp's play-by-play.
NAILER ACTION LAST WEEK
Nailers 3 @ Trenton 5 (Saturday, October 22): Last Saturday night against the Trenton Titans, the Nailers suffered their first regular-season loss of the season. The Nailers led by one goal three different times before Trenton scored two goals in the last 2 minutes to win their home opener. Sean Collins, Cliff Loya, and Tim Verbeek all scored a goal against Trenton net minder Scott Stirling. Andy Chiodo started in net for the Nailers, and made 27 saves on 31 shots.
LOYA LOYA
Cliff Loya only found the back of the net twice in 66 games last year with the Nailers. It took all of one game for Cliff to get on the board this year. Loya scored on his only shot Saturday in Trenton.
WEARING THE "C"
Brendon Hodge has been appointed the Captain for the Nailers. Hodge is in his third year in Wheeling and the team's leading returning scorer with 42 points. The Assistant Captains are: Tim Verbeek, Cam Paddock, Curtiss Patrick, Drew Fata.
THE STANLEY CUP IS COMING
The Wheeling Nailers have announced that in cooperation with the NHL and the ECHL, will be at the home opener on Friday, October 28th at WesBanco Arena sponsored by Clear Channel Communications. The "Holy Grail of Hockey" - The Stanley Cup will make its second appearance in the state of West Virginia in conjunction with the Nailers vs. Reading Royals game on October 28, 2005 at 7:30pm.
Along with the Stanley Cup and opening night, WesBanco Bank is sponsoring "White Out Night" for the Nailers home opener. All fans are encouraged to wear white to the game and the first 3,000 fans entering the arena will receive a "White Out" rally towel courtesy of the Banks of WesBanco.
Tickets are available at the Nailers main office, WesBanco Arena Box Office or through Ticketmaster. You can also contact the Wheeling Nailers by calling (304) 234-GOAL or 1-877-Nail-Tix or logon to the web at wheelingnailers.com.
OPENING NIGHT II
The Wheeling Nailers will honor all current and former military members on Saturday night with a Military Appreciation event. Also, in conjunction with the ECHL, the Nailers will offer half price tickets to that night's game only if you make a donation to the hurricane relief fund.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets for all 36 Nailers regular season home games can be purchased in person at WesBanco Arena and all Ticketmaster locations, by phone through the Nailers office at 304-234-GOAL/1-877-NAIL-TIX. Full season tickets, 18 and 10-game packages, and group ticket packages starting as low as $66 are available through the Nailers office at 304-234-GOAL.
Patrick behind bench
The 2005-06 season will feature a new face guiding the Nailers. Glenn Patrick was hired in August to replace Pat Bingham. Bingham has moved on to the AHL as an assistant coach with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Patrick most recently was a scout in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. His last time behind the bench was in the AHL where he guided Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 2001 appearance in the Calder Cup Finals. Glenn is surrounded by family in Wheeling. His son, Curtiss, will play for him while his nephew Ryan is the Nailers Director of Public Relations. Patrick's brother Craig is the General Manager of the Penguins.
Virtue Is Back
Defenseman Terry Virtue took a roundabout way to return to Wheeling but he's back. Virtue will also act as a player/assistant coach. Virtue played in Wheeling for the Thunderbirds in the 90's. Overall, Virtue has logged more than 1,000 professional games from coast to coast. Last year he laced up the skates in the AHL with Springfield and Utah. Virtue resides in Wheeling and will be honored later this year with "Terry Virtue Bobblehead Night." Virtue's former teammate in Wheeling Brock Woods is the radio color analyst.
The New ECHL
As the ECHL Hockey League begins its 18th season, the Nailers find themselves in the Northern Division, alongside Johnstown, Trenton, Reading, Dayton and Toledo. Due to Hurricane Katrina and Rita; Mississippi and Texas have suspended play for 2005-06 season. The ECHL has added three new teams (Stockton, Phoenix, and Utah) and several new rules for the 2005-06 season, including: permission of two-line passes, reducing the maximum dimensions of goaltender equipment, the addition of the trapezoid area behind the net limiting the area in which goalies can play the puck, and any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass in his defending zone will be penalized for delay of game.
You Look So Familiar
Nine Nailers return from last year, including forwards Bo Cheesman, Brendon Hodge, Pascal Morency, Cam Paddock, Curtiss Patrick; defensemen Drew Fata, James Laux, Cliff Loya, and Alexandre Rouleau.
Welcome to the Friendly City: Sean Collins (NCAA New Hampshire), Mike Doyle (NCAA St. Cloud State), Kurtis McLean (NCAA Norwich), Tim Verbeek (ECHL Idaho), Paul Bissonnette (OHL), Terry Virtue (AHL), Daniel Fernholm (AHL), Luis Trembley (ECHL Bakersfield), Andy Franck (NCAA Mercyhurst).
Who's Up in the A?: Eleven players from last year's roster now find themselves in the AHL, most notably Mike Sgroi (Albany), Ray DiLauro (Cleveland), Jason Jaffray (Manitoba), T.J. Reynolds (Milwaukee), Steven Crampton (Norfolk), Jake Riddle (Portland), Ben Eaves (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), Kenny Corupe (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), Dany Sabourin (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) and Andy Chiodo (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). Former Head Coach Pat Bingham is an assistant with Bridgeport.
How Fast Can You Get Here
The Wheeling Nailers had their first player re-called to the NHL directly. Goaltender Andy Chiodo was summoned to Pittsburgh to dress as the backup goalie for the Penguins home opener on October 15th. Chiodo was needed due to an injury to Jocelyn Thibault. Chiodo was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and is expected to be returned to Wheeling before the season opener.
Nailers History
The Nailers finished the 2004-05 season in sixth place in the Northern Division with a 38-29-5- mark (81 pts.) The Nailers allowed only 2.40 goals per game, second best in the ECHL. The franchise enters the season with 589 career wins.
Practice/Game Schedule:
Tuesday, October 25 - Practice @ WesBanco Arena - 10:00am
Wednesday, October 26 - Practice @ WesBanco Arena- 10:00am
Thursday, October 27 - Practice @ WesBanco Arena - 10:00am;Coaches Show at Generations-7pm
Friday, October 28 - Pre-game skate @ WesBanco Arena - 10:00am; vs. Reading 7:30pm
Saturday, October 29 - Pre-game skate @ WesBanco Arena - TBA; vs. Dayton 7:30pm
Sunday, October 30-Game @ Dayton 2pm
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