The Wheeling Nailers are a professional

ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...

team based in

Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling is a city in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located almost entirely in Ohio County, of which it is the county seat, it lies along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and also contains a tiny portion extending ...

. They are the ECHL affiliate of the

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

and the

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the AHL affiliates of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barr ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...

. The Nailers are the oldest surviving minor league franchise below the level of the

, with unbroken continuity of franchise and never having missed a season of play.

Franchise history

The Nailers began play in 1981 in the

Atlantic Coast Hockey League The Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. The league was founded by Bill Coffey. The Bob Payne Trophy was awarded to the team who won the league playoff championship. Acc ...

as the

Carolina Thunderbirds The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989. ...

based in

Winston-Salem, North Carolina Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...

. The Thunderbirds won four consecutive regular season titles and were three-time

Bob Payne Trophy The Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. The league was founded by Bill Coffey. The Bob Payne Trophy was awarded to the team who won the league playoff championship. Acco ...

winners as league champions. In 1987, the ACHL folded and the team joined the

All-American Hockey League The All-American Hockey League (AAHL) was a minor professional hockey league formed in 1986 after the Continental Hockey League (CnHL) ceased operations. The league was created by the CnHL teams Danville, Dayton, and Troy adding the Downriver ...

for the 1987–88 season. The Thunderbirds,

Virginia Lancers The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people. Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1983–1987) The Virginia Lancers w ...

, and

Johnstown Chiefs The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1987 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League (now "ECHL") when th ...

then became the basis for the East Coast Hockey League, now known as the

. The Thunderbirds lost the first ECHL playoff championship final to the Toledo Storm. The team was renamed Winston-Salem Thunderbirds in 1990 and moved to Wheeling to become the Wheeling Thunderbirds in 1992 under the leadership of president and co-owner Ed Broyhill. After a trademark dispute with the

Seattle Thunderbirds The Seattle Thunderbirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in the city of Kent, Washington, south of Seattle. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League. They play their games at home in acc ...

of the

Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior h ...

, the team was renamed 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. For the 2012–13 season, the Nailers dropped the red-black-gold scheme they had used for nearly two decades in favor of a black-and-gold palette used by the Penguins. The team plays at the WesBanco Arena (formerly the Wheeling Civic Center), and used the

Cambria County War Memorial Arena The Cambria County War Memorial Arena is a 4,001-seat multi-purpose arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that is managed by SMG Entertainment. It was built in 1950, for the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League. The arena was built on the si ...

Johnstown, Pennsylvania Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,411 as of the 2020 census. Located east of Pittsburgh, Johnstown is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, whi ...

as an alternative venue during the 2010–2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. After missing the playoffs for five straight seasons, they had a 106-point season in 2003–04. They were defeated by the

Reading Royals The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the North Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Santander Arena located in downtown R ...

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. In August 2011, the Nailers moved to the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division as part of the league realignment for the 2011–12 season. The

Chicago Express The Chicago Express were a professional ice hockey team located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, serving the Chicago market. The Express were a member of the North Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The team played its home games at the Se ...

took the North Division spot vacated by the Nailers. In June 2014 the Nailers returned to the North Division after the ECHL eliminated the Atlantic Division in its realignment for the 2014–15 season. On March 29, 2012, the ECHL announced that ownership of the Nailers would be transferred from the Brooks-owned Nailers Hockey LLC to the Hockey Club of the Ohio Valley, a joint venture of the Ohio Valley Industrial & Business Development Corporation, and the Wheeling Amateur Hockey Association, to take effect at the conclusion of the 2011–2012 season.

Season-by-season results

Players and personnel

Current roster

Updated November 12, 2022.

Head coaches

* Doug Sauter 1992–95 *Larry Kish 1995–96 *

Tom McVie Thomas McVie (born June 6, 1935) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach in the National Hockey League. McVie grew up in a poor family, and, upon signing his first junior league contract, is said to have left home with a single used st ...

1996–97 *

Peter Laviolette Peter Philip Laviolette Jr. (born December 7, 1964) is an American professional ice hockey coach, and former player, currently serving as head coach for the Washington Capitals. He was previously the head coach of the New York Islanders, Caroli ...

1997–98 * Chris Jensen 1998–99 * Murray Eaves 1999–2000 * Alain Lemieux 2000–01 *Joe Harney (interim) 2001 * John Brophy 2001–03 * Pat Bingham 2003–05 *

Glenn Patrick Glenn Curtiss Patrick (born April 26, 1950) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 38 games in the National Hockey League and 23 games in the World Hockey Association between 1973 and 1977. He played with the St. Louis Bl ...

2005–08 * Greg Puhalski 2008–10 * Stan Drulia 2010–11 *

Clark Donatelli John Clark Donatelli (born November 22, 1965) is an American former professional ice hockey player and is the former head coach of the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Donatelli was a long-time minor league player in the American Hockey Lea ...

2011–15 * David Gove 2015–16 * Jeff Christian 2016–18 *Mike Bavis 2018–2020 *

Mark French Mark French (born 13 October 1984) is a retired Australian sprint track cyclist. He started cycling competitively relatively late, at the age of 15, in 1999. Drug scandal French is most recognised for the 2004 scandal where he was accused of ...

2020–2021 *Derek Army 2021–present

Nailers alumni

* David Aebischer G –

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The Avalanche play thei ...

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

, Phoenix Coyotes * Josh Archibald RW –

* Paul Bissonnette LW –

, Phoenix Coyotes * Patrick Bordeleau LW – Colorado Avalanche *

Francis Bouillon Francis Joseph Bouillon (born October 17, 1975) is an American-Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators. He also played a seaso ...

D – Montreal Canadiens,

Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (commonly referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and ha ...

* Martin Brochu G –

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, a ...

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

, Pittsburgh Penguins * Daniel Carcillo LW – Phoenix Coyotes,

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Well ...

Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...

* Andy Chiodo G – Pittsburgh Penguins * Mike Condon G – Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators *

Wayne Cowley Wayne Robert Cowley (born December 4, 1964) is a Canadian-born British retired professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one game in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers during the 1993–94 season, on December 11, 1993, agai ...

G –

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

John Curry John Anthony Curry, (9 September 1949 – 15 April 1994) was a British figure skater. He was the 1976 European, Olympic and World Champion. He was noted for combining ballet and modern dance influences into his skating. Early life Curry was ...

G – Pittsburgh Penguins,

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Xcel Ener ...

* Scott Darling G – Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes * Jeff Daw C – Colorado Avalanche * Casey DeSmith G –

* Drew Fata D – New York Islanders * Craig Ferguson C – Montreal Canadiens,

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

, Florida Panthers *

Scott Ferguson Scott Ferguson (born January 6, 1973) is a Canadian former Métis professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Edmonton Oilers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Minnesota Wild. He was an assistant coach, alo ...

D – Edmonton Oilers,

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: * ''Mighty'' (The Planet Smashers album) * ''Mighty'' (Kristene DiMarco album) * ''The Mighty'' (1929 film), a 1929 American action film *'' The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy-drama film * ''The Mighty'' (comics), a DC Comics title * ...

* Scott Fraser RW – Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers,

* Joaquin Gage G – Edmonton Oilers * Alex Grant D – Anaheim Ducks * Jason Jaffray LW – Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames,

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, p ...

* Joe Jensen LW –

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ...

* Nick Johnson LW – Pittsburgh Penguins,

* David Koci LW – Chicago Blackhawks,

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...

, Colorado Avalanche *

Zenon Konopka Zenon Konopka (born January 2, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Also known as "Zenon the Destroyer", Konopka played for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Ottawa ...

C – Mighty Ducks of Anaheim,

Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ...

, Tampa Bay Lightning,

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...

, Minnesota Wild P * Tom Kuhnhackl RW – Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders *

Patrick Labrecque Joseph Denis Patrick Labrecque (born March 6, 1971) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. Labrecque played two games (0–1, 4.29 GAA) for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1995–96 NHL season, as well as for many other teams across No ...

G – Montreal Canadiens * David Laliberte RW –

Head Coach – Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals * Marc Lamothe G – Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings * Mark Letestu C – Pittsburgh Penguins,

, Edmonton Oilers * Darcy Martini D – Edmonton Oilers * Marquis Mathieu C –

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...

Kurtis McLean Kurtis McLean (born November 2, 1980) is a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey centre (ice hockey), centre. He currently plays for Kiekko-Espoo in the Finnish Mestis. Early life McLean grew up in the small northern Ontario town of Kirkla ...

C – New York Islanders * Mike Minard G – Edmonton Oilers * Hiroyuki Miura D – never played in the NHL, but was the first Japanese citizen drafted by the league (Montreal Canadiens, 1992) * Michel Ouellet RW – Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks * Cam Paddock C – St. Louis Blues * Marc Rodgers RW – Detroit Red Wings * Philip Samuelsson D – Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens *

Dany Sabourin Dany Sabourin (born September 2, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former goaltender. Playing career Drafted in the fourth round, 108th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, he played four games with Calg ...

G – Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames * Yves Sarault LW – Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche,

, Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators *

Zach Sill Zach Sill (born May 24, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centreman who is currently playing for Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). In North America, he most recently played for the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey ...

C – Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs * Ben Street C – Calgary Flames * Daniel Taylor G –

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...

* Darcy Verot LW – Washington Capitals * Terry Virtue D – Boston Bruins, New York Rangers * Mark Visheau D – Los Angeles Kings *

Tomas Vokoun Tomas may refer to: People * Tomás (given name), a Spanish, Portuguese, and Gaelic given name * Tomas (given name), a Swedish, Dutch, and Lithuanian given name * Tomáš, a Czech and Slovak given name * Tomas (surname), a French and Croatian surna ...

G – Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins * Tim Wallace RW – Pittsburgh Penguins

References

External links

Official website
{{West Virginia Sports ECHL teams Ice hockey teams in West Virginia Philadelphia Flyers minor league affiliates Pittsburgh Penguins minor league affiliates Ice hockey clubs established in 1981 Montreal Canadiens minor league affiliates 1981 establishments in North Carolina Sports in Wheeling, West Virginia