Nailers Sign Rookie D-Man
July 28, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers announce today that they have signed local Pittsburgh defenseman Bernie Chmiel. Per club policy terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Chmiel, 24, joins the Nailers for his first professional season after playing four seasons at NCAA Division I Sacred Heart University. In four years at Sacred Heart he registered 21 goals and 56 assists, while racking up 239 penalty minutes.
The 6'0" 205 pound native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania played one season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL before returning home in 2001-02 to play for the expansion Pittsburgh Forge Junior A team in the NAHL.
"Being from Pittsburgh I had seen him play in high school so I knew he was a good player, and over the years I kept an eye on where his career was going," said Nailers Assistant Director of Hockey Operations Ryan Patrick. "He had a pretty successful college career, and after he finished up school this year we decided to talk to him about playing for the Nailers".
"I grew up playing with Bill Downey on travel teams and in high school, and he had nothing but good things to say about Wheeling and the Nailers", said Chmiel. "I'm really excited to get this chance to come in and prove myself as a professional player".
Nailers season tickets are on sale now, ticket packages as low as $48. For more information visit www.wheelingnailers.com, or call the Nailers office at 1-877-NAIL-TIX or (304)234-GOAL.
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ECHL Stories from July 28, 2006
- Nailers Sign Rookie D-Man - Wheeling Nailers
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