The day that we all dreaded has finally reared its ugly head, along with the news that most of us have anticipated for the majority of this summer. The National Hockey League has locked out the National Hockey League Players' Association.
So, what happens from here? To be honest, there are lots of possibilities, and most of those options depend on the length of the lockout. Some people, teams, and leagues could be affected greatly, while others may not. Regardless of what positive affects this situation may have for some (increased revenue for minor league teams), the fact of the matter is that the lockout is the worst possible scenario for hockey as a whole.
Simply put, every single game lost (not played) is money down the drain, from your tickets, to your concessions, to your souvenirs, and even at some venues, your parking spaces. And that's just the money that the teams are losing. What about the poor souls, who make ten dollars an hour, pouring your sodas, when you attend the games? $10/hour, 5 hours/game (figure an hour to set up, and an hour to clean up), 41 games/year - that's an extra $2,000 that those folks will never see.
But enough about the money, what about the impact on the players, teams, and leagues? As we've seen so far from this past week's transactions, each level of hockey is going to see a significant rise in talent, compared to what they were originally expecting. For example, if you're looking for something to do on October 12th, before the Nailers open the regular season the following night in Cincinnati, a trip to Cleveland may not be a bad choice, as the Lake Erie Monsters will face Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and the Oklahoma City Barons. Those two, along with a dozen or so other players, will surely give the AHL some top notch players to watch.
With those players being allowed to go to the AHL, along with all of the players on two-way contracts (NHL-AHL or AHL-ECHL), and any of the players who decide to sign an AHL only deal, the roster sizes for AHL training camps have suddenly become rather large. This past week, NHL clubs assigned upwards of 20-25 players each to their AHL affiliates, who are only allowed to dress a maximum of 20 on any given night. This is where the trickle down affect works its way to the ECHL.
For an example close to home, let's look at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Baby Pens currently have 27 players that will attend training camp, with a possibility of six more, assuming Bortuzzo, MacIntyre, Strait, Tangradi, Thiessen, and Zatkoff all sign AHL contracts. That would make for a total of 33 (to see the full list, check out Jonathan Bombulie's work here: dlvr.it/28qqXk). Now, take into consideration that 20 players are allowed to dress each night, and for the sake of argument, let's say that they keep one full line of extra players (C, LW, RW, D, D) as healthy scratches. That would leave as many as eight players, who could possibly wind up with the Nailers. And that's just one affiliate, out of the two associated with Wheeling. You have to figure that Montreal/Hamilton would also produce somewhere from three to five players.
But wait! The ECHL only allows you to dress 18 per game, and the Nailers already have 12 players under contract (Cianfrini, Corcoran, Darling, Farrer, Fergus, Hansen, Lenes, Merth, Minella, Ross, Schepke, Torquato), with a few more likely on the way. So now, what do you do? Everyone wants to play, so scratching a handful of players each night could be a tricky move. At the same time, Wheeling doesn't have a Single-A affiliate, so if a player were to go elsewhere (CHL, FHL, SPHL, etc.), and the lockout were to end, there's no guarantee of getting said player back.
So, what we're dealing with here is essentially a two-edged sword. Nobody that I have spoken to has any idea how long this work stoppage will last. Some people have said it will be settled by Thanksgiving, others say we could be in for another full season without the NHL, and for the rest, throw a dart at a calendar, and see where it lands. With that being said, teams will have to be as creative as possible, keeping either possibility in the backs of their minds. For those looking for a silver lining in all of that, everyone in the Eastern Conference is on relatively even terms, as all 12 teams have at least one affiliate. The interesting part is that six teams have two affiliates (Wheeling, Cincinnati, Evansville, Florida, Kalamazoo, Toledo), and six teams have one affiliate (Fort Wayne, Greenville, Gwinnett, Reading, South Carolina, Trenton).
And just when you thought things couldn't be crazier, allow me to throw the junior hockey (QMJHL, OHL, WHL) picture into our bowl of lockout stew. Jonathan Huberdeau was selected third overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers, and was basically a lock to make this year's club. However, he's only 19, and he didn't play in the NHL last year, so his only option is juniors. So, the Panthers assigned him back to the Saint John Sea Dogs, with whom he hoisted two President's Cups and a Memorial Cup. Due to that recent success, Saint John is in rebuilding mode, as most of the players involved have moved on to the pros. In a normal season, the Sea Dogs' best option would be to trade Huberdeau to a contender, and get a wealth of young players and draft picks in return. But what if the trade gets made, the Q's trade period closes, the lockout ends, and Huberdeau goes to sunny Florida? Now, Saint John looks like a terrible trading partner, because with the trade period closed, they can't just apologize and give back what they got. Thus, more hands become tied.
In closing, what we have here is one gigantic mess. Of course, the simple solution would be an agreement between the NHL and NHLPA, but your guess is as good as mine, as far as when that will happen. But, with that being said, regardless of what happens at the top, we are less than a month away from the start of the ECHL season, so get ready for hockey in Wheeling, or wherever your local rink might be!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Puck Stops Here
Today's blog is all about the goaltending, as earlier this afternoon, Wheeling Nailers goaltender Peter Delmas was named ECHL Goaltender of the Week. Last week, Delmas stopped 58 of the 60 shots he faced, picking up two of the teams three victories, as they moved back into a first place tie with the Elmira Jackals.
With the way the Wheeling goaltending has been going as of late (and all season, for that matter), it's really no surprise that the Nailers are among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference Standings. As I noted before, Delmas is coming off of a terrific week that saw him win back-to-back games with 29-save efforts, lowering his goals against average to 2.51, and upping his save percentage to .908. At the same time, Patrick Killeen is also putting together one of his better stretches of the season, having allowed just ten goals in his last six games, while posting a 5-1 record, which includes two shootout victories.
Once all of the dust settles, and you lay out all of the numbers, you are left with two goaltenders, who both own records that are five games over .500, and both are the property of one of the Nailers' NHL affiliates. I would say that it also leaves a headache for head coach Clark Donatelli, but at this time, I have to believe that he feels confident whichever way he goes. Plus, with at least three games in each of the remaining eight weeks in the regular season, both men behind the mask are likely to get somewhere in the range of 10-15 appearances, as they lead the team toward the playoffs.
While this is my first season in this league, one of the first things I've noticed (and teams like Alaska and South Carolina will immediately ruin my theory) is that having a dual affiliate can be extremely beneficial, especially when it comes to goaltending. Typically, NHL organizations go about five or six deep at that position, which leaves two in the NHL, two in the AHL, one in the ECHL, and one in either college or juniors. So, quick math will tell that in all likelihood, an ECHL club with a dual affiliation will land a quality netminder from both clubs.
For further proof of that argument, take three of the four teams in the Atlantic Division as examples. The Wheeling Nailers have Patrick Killeen (PIT) and Peter Delmas (MTL), the Elmira Jackals have Brian Stewart (OTT) and Timo Pielmeier (ANA), and the Reading Royals have gone through various different goaltenders, from Michael Hutchinson (BOS), to Mark Owuya (TOR) and Jussi Rynnas (TOR). While success is never a guarantee, and the goaltenders have to have good teams in front of them, it is certainly nice when the NHL affiliates lend a huge helping hand.
Then again, as I mentioned earlier, there will be teams that take this thought and throw it out the window. The Alaska Aces are the perfect example of that, as the Aces are not directly affiliated with any NHL clubs, yet they currently own the top record in the ECHL, with strong contributions from their goaltenders, Gerald Coleman and Adam Courchaine. The Las Vegas Wranglers also did their own dirty work, and came up with Joe Fallon, who currently leads the league with 25 wins.
Goaltender is a unique position, especially when it comes to the pipeline. Only two goalies can dress in a game, and with that, there are usually only two on a roster (although, a few teams will temporarily carry three).
When you look at some of the names in the NHL, it almost makes you wonder why anyone would want to become a goaltender, knowing that if they land in a certain organization, their chances of reaching the NHL (let alone being a number one goalie) are insanely slim. Martin Brodeur has been the man with the New Jersey Devils since 1993, which makes you wonder just how many netminders have been in the Devils organization that have never even sniffed New Jersey.
While that theory may seem bleak, it can also be turned around to a positive, as having only a handful of goaltenders in the organization can present opportunities a lot quicker than it can for skaters, if a player were to go down with an injury. A perfect example of this is Ben Scrivens. Scrivens started his pro career last season with the Reading Royals, and was outstanding, posting a 10-3 record. When Jean-Sebastien Giguere got hurt with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Scrivens was recalled to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, giving him an opportunity to prove himself at the next level. His performance last season earned him a spot on the Marlies' opening night roster this year, and when James Reimer went down with an injury with the Maple Leafs in November, Scrivens got the shot he had been waiting for, appearing in eight NHL games.
When you go through the 20-year history of hockey in Wheeling, nearly one-third of the Nailers and Thunderbirds that have reached the NHL have been goaltenders (12 of 42).
For more insight on goaltenders, and the connection between the ECHL and NHL, check out my friend, Mike Ashmore's work, which can be found here.
With the way the Wheeling goaltending has been going as of late (and all season, for that matter), it's really no surprise that the Nailers are among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference Standings. As I noted before, Delmas is coming off of a terrific week that saw him win back-to-back games with 29-save efforts, lowering his goals against average to 2.51, and upping his save percentage to .908. At the same time, Patrick Killeen is also putting together one of his better stretches of the season, having allowed just ten goals in his last six games, while posting a 5-1 record, which includes two shootout victories.
Once all of the dust settles, and you lay out all of the numbers, you are left with two goaltenders, who both own records that are five games over .500, and both are the property of one of the Nailers' NHL affiliates. I would say that it also leaves a headache for head coach Clark Donatelli, but at this time, I have to believe that he feels confident whichever way he goes. Plus, with at least three games in each of the remaining eight weeks in the regular season, both men behind the mask are likely to get somewhere in the range of 10-15 appearances, as they lead the team toward the playoffs.
While this is my first season in this league, one of the first things I've noticed (and teams like Alaska and South Carolina will immediately ruin my theory) is that having a dual affiliate can be extremely beneficial, especially when it comes to goaltending. Typically, NHL organizations go about five or six deep at that position, which leaves two in the NHL, two in the AHL, one in the ECHL, and one in either college or juniors. So, quick math will tell that in all likelihood, an ECHL club with a dual affiliation will land a quality netminder from both clubs.
For further proof of that argument, take three of the four teams in the Atlantic Division as examples. The Wheeling Nailers have Patrick Killeen (PIT) and Peter Delmas (MTL), the Elmira Jackals have Brian Stewart (OTT) and Timo Pielmeier (ANA), and the Reading Royals have gone through various different goaltenders, from Michael Hutchinson (BOS), to Mark Owuya (TOR) and Jussi Rynnas (TOR). While success is never a guarantee, and the goaltenders have to have good teams in front of them, it is certainly nice when the NHL affiliates lend a huge helping hand.
Then again, as I mentioned earlier, there will be teams that take this thought and throw it out the window. The Alaska Aces are the perfect example of that, as the Aces are not directly affiliated with any NHL clubs, yet they currently own the top record in the ECHL, with strong contributions from their goaltenders, Gerald Coleman and Adam Courchaine. The Las Vegas Wranglers also did their own dirty work, and came up with Joe Fallon, who currently leads the league with 25 wins.
Goaltender is a unique position, especially when it comes to the pipeline. Only two goalies can dress in a game, and with that, there are usually only two on a roster (although, a few teams will temporarily carry three).
When you look at some of the names in the NHL, it almost makes you wonder why anyone would want to become a goaltender, knowing that if they land in a certain organization, their chances of reaching the NHL (let alone being a number one goalie) are insanely slim. Martin Brodeur has been the man with the New Jersey Devils since 1993, which makes you wonder just how many netminders have been in the Devils organization that have never even sniffed New Jersey.
While that theory may seem bleak, it can also be turned around to a positive, as having only a handful of goaltenders in the organization can present opportunities a lot quicker than it can for skaters, if a player were to go down with an injury. A perfect example of this is Ben Scrivens. Scrivens started his pro career last season with the Reading Royals, and was outstanding, posting a 10-3 record. When Jean-Sebastien Giguere got hurt with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Scrivens was recalled to the AHL's Toronto Marlies, giving him an opportunity to prove himself at the next level. His performance last season earned him a spot on the Marlies' opening night roster this year, and when James Reimer went down with an injury with the Maple Leafs in November, Scrivens got the shot he had been waiting for, appearing in eight NHL games.
When you go through the 20-year history of hockey in Wheeling, nearly one-third of the Nailers and Thunderbirds that have reached the NHL have been goaltenders (12 of 42).
For more insight on goaltenders, and the connection between the ECHL and NHL, check out my friend, Mike Ashmore's work, which can be found here.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Weekend With the Buckeye State
Last weekend, the Wheeling Nailers made their first trip of the 2011-12 season to Ohio, as they concluded a home-and-home series with the Toledo Walleye, while playing the first of two straight games against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Wheeling picked up one point on the road, before returning home, where they defeated the Cyclones 4-3 in a shootout.
The weekend began on Friday night in Toledo, where the Nailers were involved in a shutout for the first time this season. Unfortunately, the shutout went to the opposing team, as Rob Nolan was perfect on 19 shots in a 3-0 Walleye win.
One night later, the team traveled to Cincinnati, and got off to a blazing start with goals by Joe Tolles and Mickael Bedard in the first period. For Tolles, the goal was his first as a pro, and when I talked to him after the game, Joe said it was a huge monkey off of his back. I always enjoy seeing players get their first goals, especially players like Tolles, whose place in the lineup wasn't necessarily guaranteed on a nightly basis at the start of the ye
ar. Despite a 5-4 overtime loss by the Nailers, the rest of the night's story was Peter Lenes, who picked up two goals and two assists, tying the score in both the second and third periods.
The weekend finally concluded on Sunday, as the Cyclones paid a visit to WesBanco Arena for another tight affair. This time, it was Cincinnati jumping out to a 2-0 lead, before goals by Peter Lenes and Matt Lombardi tied the game at two. Jonathan Hazen answered Lombardi's tally in a matter of 40 seconds, but at the 6:33 mark of the third, Olivier Dame-Malka forced overtime on a great individual effort. The game ultimately needed a shootout to be decided, and as usual, exciting drama ensued. Lombardi and Mathieu Aubin exchanged goals in round one, before Chris Barton put Wheeling ahead in round three. The shootout ended up going down to the final shooter, as Jonathan Hazen was denied on an absolutely gorgeous poke check by Patrick Killeen.
While I typically like to focus a lot on the games, these were our first trips of the year to Toledo and Cincinnati, so there are arenas to talk about and pictures to share.
In the order of the road trip, I'll start with Huntington Center in Toledo. Huntington Center was built in 2009, and it shows. The building seats 7,389 for hockey, which is perfect, as the Walleye regularly draw between five and six thousand per game, as was the case when we were there, as the attendance was 6,276. The majority of the seats are in the lower bowl, although there are a few rows of seats, as well as luxury suites in the upper bowl. The press box is located between the two bowls, and each individual booth is about the size of a small living room. The one interesting note about Huntington Center is, that similar to the Arena at Gwinnett Center, there is no
center ice score clock. However, there is a ribbon board between the two bowls, and a large HD video screen on the wall on the end that the visitors defend twice. Also unique about Toledo is their blimp - a gigantic walleye that stays inflated in the corner of the arena during play. Huntington Center is located in the same neighborhood as Fifth Third Field, the home ballpark for the Triple-A Toledo Mudhens, so in future blogs, I'll be hoping to post a few pictures from the ballpark.
On to Cincinnati and U.S. Bank Arena, which is also in a great sports location, as Great American Ballpark (Cincinnati Reds) is literally right next door, and Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals) is also very close by. Again, I'll be hoping to post some pictures of those two venues in future blogs. Simply put, U.S. Bank Arena is big. It's difficult to judge which is the largest building in the league, because certain teams curtain off sections, but Cincinnati is definitely near the top, along with Greenville, South Carolina, and Gwinnett. To give you a basic idea of what I'm talking about here, the lower bowl at U.S. Bank Arena has 20-plus ro
ws by itself, to go along with a good sized upper bowl (probably 15 or so rows), and luxury suites around the top. The "press box" is located across the bottom few rows of the upper bowl, which creates an interesting setup, but the view is solid. Game production by the Cyclones is a lot of fun, as the pregame video begins with a weather report, and during intermission, their mascot Twister (a tornado, or cyclone if you will) slides across the ice on his head. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that, but with two more trips to Cincinnati on the radar, the opportunity is still there.
In the mean time, as always, I have included pictures from the recent trip. Enjoy!
The weekend began on Friday night in Toledo, where the Nailers were involved in a shutout for the first time this season. Unfortunately, the shutout went to the opposing team, as Rob Nolan was perfect on 19 shots in a 3-0 Walleye win.One night later, the team traveled to Cincinnati, and got off to a blazing start with goals by Joe Tolles and Mickael Bedard in the first period. For Tolles, the goal was his first as a pro, and when I talked to him after the game, Joe said it was a huge monkey off of his back. I always enjoy seeing players get their first goals, especially players like Tolles, whose place in the lineup wasn't necessarily guaranteed on a nightly basis at the start of the ye
ar. Despite a 5-4 overtime loss by the Nailers, the rest of the night's story was Peter Lenes, who picked up two goals and two assists, tying the score in both the second and third periods.The weekend finally concluded on Sunday, as the Cyclones paid a visit to WesBanco Arena for another tight affair. This time, it was Cincinnati jumping out to a 2-0 lead, before goals by Peter Lenes and Matt Lombardi tied the game at two. Jonathan Hazen answered Lombardi's tally in a matter of 40 seconds, but at the 6:33 mark of the third, Olivier Dame-Malka forced overtime on a great individual effort. The game ultimately needed a shootout to be decided, and as usual, exciting drama ensued. Lombardi and Mathieu Aubin exchanged goals in round one, before Chris Barton put Wheeling ahead in round three. The shootout ended up going down to the final shooter, as Jonathan Hazen was denied on an absolutely gorgeous poke check by Patrick Killeen.
While I typically like to focus a lot on the games, these were our first trips of the year to Toledo and Cincinnati, so there are arenas to talk about and pictures to share.
In the order of the road trip, I'll start with Huntington Center in Toledo. Huntington Center was built in 2009, and it shows. The building seats 7,389 for hockey, which is perfect, as the Walleye regularly draw between five and six thousand per game, as was the case when we were there, as the attendance was 6,276. The majority of the seats are in the lower bowl, although there are a few rows of seats, as well as luxury suites in the upper bowl. The press box is located between the two bowls, and each individual booth is about the size of a small living room. The one interesting note about Huntington Center is, that similar to the Arena at Gwinnett Center, there is no
center ice score clock. However, there is a ribbon board between the two bowls, and a large HD video screen on the wall on the end that the visitors defend twice. Also unique about Toledo is their blimp - a gigantic walleye that stays inflated in the corner of the arena during play. Huntington Center is located in the same neighborhood as Fifth Third Field, the home ballpark for the Triple-A Toledo Mudhens, so in future blogs, I'll be hoping to post a few pictures from the ballpark.On to Cincinnati and U.S. Bank Arena, which is also in a great sports location, as Great American Ballpark (Cincinnati Reds) is literally right next door, and Paul Brown Stadium (Cincinnati Bengals) is also very close by. Again, I'll be hoping to post some pictures of those two venues in future blogs. Simply put, U.S. Bank Arena is big. It's difficult to judge which is the largest building in the league, because certain teams curtain off sections, but Cincinnati is definitely near the top, along with Greenville, South Carolina, and Gwinnett. To give you a basic idea of what I'm talking about here, the lower bowl at U.S. Bank Arena has 20-plus ro
ws by itself, to go along with a good sized upper bowl (probably 15 or so rows), and luxury suites around the top. The "press box" is located across the bottom few rows of the upper bowl, which creates an interesting setup, but the view is solid. Game production by the Cyclones is a lot of fun, as the pregame video begins with a weather report, and during intermission, their mascot Twister (a tornado, or cyclone if you will) slides across the ice on his head. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that, but with two more trips to Cincinnati on the radar, the opportunity is still there.In the mean time, as always, I have included pictures from the recent trip. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Love Those Magical Finishes!
For a hockey broadcaster, there are a few moments in games that are hard to beat in terms of excitement. Obviously, we all enjoy the big goals, the heavy hits, the fights, and the sparkling saves, but when it gets down to the specifics, it's hard to compete with the feeling of an overtime victory.
Granted, if you talk to the players or coaches after they win in overtime, they will usually tell you something along the lines of, "We would have liked to have won the game earlier, but we're happy with the two points." For me, there is no greater drama in sports, as one shot, one bounce, one anything could result in the game being over.
Of course, I am talking about this, because last night, the Wheeling Nailers treated their home fans at WesBanco Arena to a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Toledo Walleye.
In the game, the first period went by without a score, before the Walleye broke the deadlock with a goal on a one-timer in the second. Later in the middle frame, the Nailers evened the game, when Mickael Bedard sent Matt Lombardi in for a wrist shot from the right circle. Wheeling's first goal of the evening came because of some alert thinking by both players, as they quickly recognized that Toledo was making a line change.
The Walleye took a 2-1 lead in the third period, thanks to a bit of a fortunate bounce, as the kick plate on the end wall essentially served as a passing target for Paul Zanette, who was able to fire a shot wide, with the puck bouncing back to Joey Martin for the go-ahead goal. Again, the Nailers had an answer, and it came from one of their newest players, as Peter Lenes scored from the bottom of the right circle on a feed from Zack Torquato.
The game then progressed to overtime, and in the extra session, Wheeling wasted little time in taking care of business on a 2-on-2 rush with Torquato and Chris Barton. Barton's initial shot got blocked, but Torquato was right there to follow up, sending his former team home on the wrong side of his new squad's 3-2 victory.
For Torquato, this was the second time this season that he picked up an overtime goal, after scoring in the extra period of a 3-2 win over Gwinnett back on October 28th. Both overtime tallies must have been fun for Zack, as the first one came with his family in attendance, while his second one was against his former team. While he has kind of shied away from talking about it, Torquato's excitement led to quite the celebration as well.
Last night's game was also fun, as it gave the fans a chance to see their new faces in Peter Lenes, Jordon Southorn, and Brian Day. Once you've been around it for a while, you realize that hockey (especially in a league like this) is a roller coaster, and that was never more true this week. On Sunday night, Christiaan Minella got hurt, joining a few of his teammates on the injured list, which created a bit of a panic. However, that panic quickly turned into excitement, as I can't tell you how many people came up to me, saying how happy they were with the recent trade with Trenton.
Interestingly enough, that roller coaster of emotions continued today, as early this morning, Peter Delmas was recalled to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Obviously, everyone is thrilled for Peter, but at the same time, you're also losing a 9-4 goaltender, who has been stellar since returning from injury. A few hours later, the respiratory rate of Nailers Nation went back to normal, as it was announced that Patrick Killeen is on his way back to Wheeling from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Killeen was the lone transaction of the day involving the Baby Pens, as Cody Chupp and Peter Merth made the trip to St. John's for the weekend. To give you an update on those two, Chupp picked up an assist in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 3-2 win over Norfolk on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Merth has one assist, 20 penalty minutes, and a plus-4 rating in eight games, but the most impressive stat for Peter is that the Penguins are 7-1 when he is in the lineup. No coincidence there, if you ask me.
Tomorrow night, the Nailers will continue their stretch of four games in five days, when they visit the Toledo Walleye. This will be our first visit of the season to Huntington Center, so expect some pictures and arena thoughts in the coming days. That will also be the case on Saturday, when Wheeling visits U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati for the first time this season.
Granted, if you talk to the players or coaches after they win in overtime, they will usually tell you something along the lines of, "We would have liked to have won the game earlier, but we're happy with the two points." For me, there is no greater drama in sports, as one shot, one bounce, one anything could result in the game being over.
Of course, I am talking about this, because last night, the Wheeling Nailers treated their home fans at WesBanco Arena to a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the Toledo Walleye.
In the game, the first period went by without a score, before the Walleye broke the deadlock with a goal on a one-timer in the second. Later in the middle frame, the Nailers evened the game, when Mickael Bedard sent Matt Lombardi in for a wrist shot from the right circle. Wheeling's first goal of the evening came because of some alert thinking by both players, as they quickly recognized that Toledo was making a line change.
The Walleye took a 2-1 lead in the third period, thanks to a bit of a fortunate bounce, as the kick plate on the end wall essentially served as a passing target for Paul Zanette, who was able to fire a shot wide, with the puck bouncing back to Joey Martin for the go-ahead goal. Again, the Nailers had an answer, and it came from one of their newest players, as Peter Lenes scored from the bottom of the right circle on a feed from Zack Torquato.
The game then progressed to overtime, and in the extra session, Wheeling wasted little time in taking care of business on a 2-on-2 rush with Torquato and Chris Barton. Barton's initial shot got blocked, but Torquato was right there to follow up, sending his former team home on the wrong side of his new squad's 3-2 victory.
For Torquato, this was the second time this season that he picked up an overtime goal, after scoring in the extra period of a 3-2 win over Gwinnett back on October 28th. Both overtime tallies must have been fun for Zack, as the first one came with his family in attendance, while his second one was against his former team. While he has kind of shied away from talking about it, Torquato's excitement led to quite the celebration as well.
Last night's game was also fun, as it gave the fans a chance to see their new faces in Peter Lenes, Jordon Southorn, and Brian Day. Once you've been around it for a while, you realize that hockey (especially in a league like this) is a roller coaster, and that was never more true this week. On Sunday night, Christiaan Minella got hurt, joining a few of his teammates on the injured list, which created a bit of a panic. However, that panic quickly turned into excitement, as I can't tell you how many people came up to me, saying how happy they were with the recent trade with Trenton.
Interestingly enough, that roller coaster of emotions continued today, as early this morning, Peter Delmas was recalled to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Obviously, everyone is thrilled for Peter, but at the same time, you're also losing a 9-4 goaltender, who has been stellar since returning from injury. A few hours later, the respiratory rate of Nailers Nation went back to normal, as it was announced that Patrick Killeen is on his way back to Wheeling from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Killeen was the lone transaction of the day involving the Baby Pens, as Cody Chupp and Peter Merth made the trip to St. John's for the weekend. To give you an update on those two, Chupp picked up an assist in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 3-2 win over Norfolk on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Merth has one assist, 20 penalty minutes, and a plus-4 rating in eight games, but the most impressive stat for Peter is that the Penguins are 7-1 when he is in the lineup. No coincidence there, if you ask me.
Tomorrow night, the Nailers will continue their stretch of four games in five days, when they visit the Toledo Walleye. This will be our first visit of the season to Huntington Center, so expect some pictures and arena thoughts in the coming days. That will also be the case on Saturday, when Wheeling visits U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati for the first time this season.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
An Emotional and Exciting Start to January at WesBanco
The first weekend in January is now behind us, and a stretch of four games in five days waits ahead this week. Last weekend, the Nailers picked up four out of six possible points, as they sandwiched wins over Cincinnati and Greenville, around a loss to South Carolina.
The opening game of the weekend took place on Friday, and early on, it sounded like the fans got exactly what they were looking for, as the Nailers renewed their rivalry with the Cincinnati Cylcones. The first period alone featured a combined total of five goals, 30 shots, plenty of crushing hits, and even a fight. Two of the first period goals came off of Chris Barton's stick, as he has quickly become one of the more accurate shooters in the ECHL. Scooter Vaughan picked up the other goal for his first in professional hockey - no doubt a special moment for Scooter, who still seemed excited about it the next day. After a scoreless second period, Wheeling tallied twice in the third, giving them a 5-2 victory, halting Cincinnati's six-game winning streak.
Defense was the story on Saturday, as the Nailers took on the South Carolina Stingrays for the second time this season. Wheeling led the game 1-0 after two periods on Mickael Bedard's bank shot in the first minute of the second, but unfortunately, the Stingrays turned things around in the third. Having lost five consecutive games, South Carolina looked desperate in the final stanza, and that worked to their advantage, as they scored three goals, en route to a 3-1 win. The Stingrays are a team that relies on defense and goaltending for their success, and both were sharp on Saturday, as Philipp Grubauer stopped 28 shots in the victory.
Sunday afternoon was a good day to bounce back for Wheeling, as they welcomed the Greenville Road Warriors to WesBanco Arena. Once again, Chris Barton took control early, scoring once in a tied first period, then again at the eight-second mark of the middle frame, as the Nailers took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. Matt Lombardi opened the third period with a goal 13 seconds in, for a 4-1 lead, before Greenville crawled back to make it 4-3, with their second and third power play goals of the day. Cody Chupp quickly dashed any hopes of a comeback for the Road Warriors, scoring an empty net goal to seal up the Nailers' 5-3 win.
So, what did we learn/take out of this weekend's games?
Regardless of how much or how little he has played, Peter Delmas has the ability to do something special in goal every night. Delmas made his first start in three weeks on Friday, and stepped in with a 29-save performance in the win. Then, on Sunday, playing in his third game in less than 48 hours, Peter denied 40 Greenville shots, as well as a few bodies, en route to another big victory.
Kyle Bushee must have had a nice holiday break, as he has come back firing in all aspects of the game. After recording three assists and a plus-3 rating in the final four games of 2011, Bushee kicked it up another notch (thanks, Emeril Lagasse) this past week, dishing out six assists, dropping the gloves once, and posting a plus-7 rating, as he has taken over the team lead in that category, at plus-15.
Chris Barton also had himself quite the weekend, as he had four goals, two assists, and six points in three games, finishing as a runner-up to Elmira's Dustin Gazley for ECHL Player of the Week. Barton experienced a bit of a scoring drought in December, as he went eight games without lighting the lamp, but one of the best attributes that good players have is their ability to stay positive, while righting the ship themselves. Barton did just that, and to be honest, it may have been easy for him to, because he even said that he surprised himself with his strong start.
Injuries are beginning to take a toll on this team, as Scooter Vaughan, Ben Farrer, Andrew Hotham, Paul Crowder, and Tim Priamo all missed Sunday's game due to injury, while Christiaan Minella was forced to leave early. However, this is a team effort, and players are stepping up into different roles, ensuring that this group keeps the train on the tracks going forward.
Another reason why this team has been able to, and will continue to keep the train on the tracks is head coach Clark Donatelli. Everyone knows that Clark has a lot of great connections to people in the hockey world, because of his work with U.S.A. Hockey, but in addition to that, he is also a likeable person that doesn't burn bridges. That helped him bring in the likes of David Brownschidle, who has quickly earned the respect of his teammates, after a pair of fights in his first four games with the club.
Donatelli has also been on the phone this week, as I'm sure most of you saw just a few hours ago, when the Nailers acquired defenseman Jordon Southorn and forward Peter Lenes from the Trenton Titans. Simply put, with all of the injuries, this team needs bodies, and with that, Clark wants to make sure that he is adding value to not only plug the gaps, but to make the team better. Personally, I am extremely impressed with this trade, as Wheeling brought in two quality players, while keeping the current lineup in place. After seeing them eight times this season with Trenton, I can say that Southorn will be a great addition to the blueline from both an offensive and defensive standpoint, while you might miss Lenes if you blink, as he is that fast. One of Lenes' goals this year sticks out in my head, as he fired home a one-time dart in Johnstown. Those two, as well as Brian Day, will make their Nailers debuts on Wednesday night against Toledo.
Buckle up the seatbelts for four games in five nights this week, as the Nailers get set to play two games each against the Toledo Walleye and Cincinnati Cyclones!
The opening game of the weekend took place on Friday, and early on, it sounded like the fans got exactly what they were looking for, as the Nailers renewed their rivalry with the Cincinnati Cylcones. The first period alone featured a combined total of five goals, 30 shots, plenty of crushing hits, and even a fight. Two of the first period goals came off of Chris Barton's stick, as he has quickly become one of the more accurate shooters in the ECHL. Scooter Vaughan picked up the other goal for his first in professional hockey - no doubt a special moment for Scooter, who still seemed excited about it the next day. After a scoreless second period, Wheeling tallied twice in the third, giving them a 5-2 victory, halting Cincinnati's six-game winning streak.
Defense was the story on Saturday, as the Nailers took on the South Carolina Stingrays for the second time this season. Wheeling led the game 1-0 after two periods on Mickael Bedard's bank shot in the first minute of the second, but unfortunately, the Stingrays turned things around in the third. Having lost five consecutive games, South Carolina looked desperate in the final stanza, and that worked to their advantage, as they scored three goals, en route to a 3-1 win. The Stingrays are a team that relies on defense and goaltending for their success, and both were sharp on Saturday, as Philipp Grubauer stopped 28 shots in the victory.
Sunday afternoon was a good day to bounce back for Wheeling, as they welcomed the Greenville Road Warriors to WesBanco Arena. Once again, Chris Barton took control early, scoring once in a tied first period, then again at the eight-second mark of the middle frame, as the Nailers took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. Matt Lombardi opened the third period with a goal 13 seconds in, for a 4-1 lead, before Greenville crawled back to make it 4-3, with their second and third power play goals of the day. Cody Chupp quickly dashed any hopes of a comeback for the Road Warriors, scoring an empty net goal to seal up the Nailers' 5-3 win.
So, what did we learn/take out of this weekend's games?
Regardless of how much or how little he has played, Peter Delmas has the ability to do something special in goal every night. Delmas made his first start in three weeks on Friday, and stepped in with a 29-save performance in the win. Then, on Sunday, playing in his third game in less than 48 hours, Peter denied 40 Greenville shots, as well as a few bodies, en route to another big victory.
Kyle Bushee must have had a nice holiday break, as he has come back firing in all aspects of the game. After recording three assists and a plus-3 rating in the final four games of 2011, Bushee kicked it up another notch (thanks, Emeril Lagasse) this past week, dishing out six assists, dropping the gloves once, and posting a plus-7 rating, as he has taken over the team lead in that category, at plus-15.
Chris Barton also had himself quite the weekend, as he had four goals, two assists, and six points in three games, finishing as a runner-up to Elmira's Dustin Gazley for ECHL Player of the Week. Barton experienced a bit of a scoring drought in December, as he went eight games without lighting the lamp, but one of the best attributes that good players have is their ability to stay positive, while righting the ship themselves. Barton did just that, and to be honest, it may have been easy for him to, because he even said that he surprised himself with his strong start.
Injuries are beginning to take a toll on this team, as Scooter Vaughan, Ben Farrer, Andrew Hotham, Paul Crowder, and Tim Priamo all missed Sunday's game due to injury, while Christiaan Minella was forced to leave early. However, this is a team effort, and players are stepping up into different roles, ensuring that this group keeps the train on the tracks going forward.
Another reason why this team has been able to, and will continue to keep the train on the tracks is head coach Clark Donatelli. Everyone knows that Clark has a lot of great connections to people in the hockey world, because of his work with U.S.A. Hockey, but in addition to that, he is also a likeable person that doesn't burn bridges. That helped him bring in the likes of David Brownschidle, who has quickly earned the respect of his teammates, after a pair of fights in his first four games with the club.
Donatelli has also been on the phone this week, as I'm sure most of you saw just a few hours ago, when the Nailers acquired defenseman Jordon Southorn and forward Peter Lenes from the Trenton Titans. Simply put, with all of the injuries, this team needs bodies, and with that, Clark wants to make sure that he is adding value to not only plug the gaps, but to make the team better. Personally, I am extremely impressed with this trade, as Wheeling brought in two quality players, while keeping the current lineup in place. After seeing them eight times this season with Trenton, I can say that Southorn will be a great addition to the blueline from both an offensive and defensive standpoint, while you might miss Lenes if you blink, as he is that fast. One of Lenes' goals this year sticks out in my head, as he fired home a one-time dart in Johnstown. Those two, as well as Brian Day, will make their Nailers debuts on Wednesday night against Toledo.
Buckle up the seatbelts for four games in five nights this week, as the Nailers get set to play two games each against the Toledo Walleye and Cincinnati Cyclones!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Happy New Year!
Today is the fourth day of our brand new year, and for those of us in the hockey world, aside from that massive ball dropping in Times Square, there are a few signs that tell us the calendar has changed.
The first is the yearly tradition in the NHL, known as the Winter Classic, which takes place on the first (or in this case, second) of January. Monday's battle between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers was the fifth installment of this game, and once again, the contest lived up to the hype. The game got off to a bit of a slow start, with the first goal finally coming 12:26 into the second period. At that point, the game really opened up, and you could start to feel the intensity, which carried through the third period, as the score was close throughout.
Whoever came up with the idea to hold the Winter Classic every year is a genius. As someone who attended a Winter Classic (2010 at Fenway Park), the experience of being there as a fan is like nothing else in the world, and really makes me want to call an outdoor game as a broadcaster. For the players, those that have played outside know just how special it is, and for those that haven't, you can tell that they are hungry for that opportunity.
The other sign that the year has changed is the World Junior Championship - a two-week tournament held every winter for players aged 16-19. This tournament is a huge deal in Canada, and it is literally all they talk about during those two weeks. Working in the QMJHL like I did, it's a lot of fun, because there are at least a dozen players in the tournament from that league. While it's unfortunate that neither the U.S. nor Canada will win gold this year, I did have a smile on my face last night, as Russia's second goaltender (who was ultimately in goal when the final buzzer sounded), Andrey Makarov, was one of our two netminders in Lewiston last season.
While it might take some studying and some research for people away from the college and junior game to learn the names of the players, this is a fantastic tournament to truly showcase the future of the NHL. The list of superstars that have played in the World Junior Championship is endless. To keep it simple, rather than trying to pick and choose which names to use, I'll just go with two - Crosby and Ovechkin.
Speaking of studying, my brain is starting to turn into overload mode, as I prepare for three games in three nights at WesBanco Arena this weekend. At the end of the day though, I like overload, as it means that we will get to see some fresh new faces from the opposition, rather than Reading, Trenton, and Elmira, who served as Wheeling's opposition for all but one game in the month of December.
This weekend, the Nailers will welcome Cincinnati, South Carolina, and Greenville to town. All three teams will be making their first visits of the season to the Mountain State, while the game against the Cyclones will be the first head-to-head meeting of the season. Wheeling knocked off the Road Warriors and Stingrays back on opening weekend. As someone new to the team this year, I am excited to see what I've been told is a solid rivalry between Wheeling and Cincinnati. I am also looking forward to seeing South Carolina and Greenville again, as it will bring back some memories from my first week as a Nailers employee.
While every game is important, January presents a great opportunity for the Nailers to put a lot of points up in the standings, as they will only play three away games all month, with the longest road trip being just five hours to Reading on the 25th. Seven of the games will take place at WesBanco Arena, and another three will be played at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
It will be fun to see how things play out in 2012, as 2011 left the Eastern Conference with one big clump of teams all bunched together. Elmira currently sits at the top of the pile with 40 points, but eight other teams are within eight or fewer points of that top spot. Meanwhile, Trenton and Toledo are tied for 11th in the conference with 27 points each, and they are only five points out of a playoff spot. On the other side, the Western Conference is a different story, as Alaska has a seven-point lead in the conference and an 11-point advantage in their division, while Bakersfield is 11 points out of the final playoff spot.
For the Nailers, they will be looking to build on the 2011 portion of the season that put them five games over the .500 mark at 16-11-1-1, good for 34 points.
The first is the yearly tradition in the NHL, known as the Winter Classic, which takes place on the first (or in this case, second) of January. Monday's battle between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers was the fifth installment of this game, and once again, the contest lived up to the hype. The game got off to a bit of a slow start, with the first goal finally coming 12:26 into the second period. At that point, the game really opened up, and you could start to feel the intensity, which carried through the third period, as the score was close throughout.
Whoever came up with the idea to hold the Winter Classic every year is a genius. As someone who attended a Winter Classic (2010 at Fenway Park), the experience of being there as a fan is like nothing else in the world, and really makes me want to call an outdoor game as a broadcaster. For the players, those that have played outside know just how special it is, and for those that haven't, you can tell that they are hungry for that opportunity.
The other sign that the year has changed is the World Junior Championship - a two-week tournament held every winter for players aged 16-19. This tournament is a huge deal in Canada, and it is literally all they talk about during those two weeks. Working in the QMJHL like I did, it's a lot of fun, because there are at least a dozen players in the tournament from that league. While it's unfortunate that neither the U.S. nor Canada will win gold this year, I did have a smile on my face last night, as Russia's second goaltender (who was ultimately in goal when the final buzzer sounded), Andrey Makarov, was one of our two netminders in Lewiston last season.
While it might take some studying and some research for people away from the college and junior game to learn the names of the players, this is a fantastic tournament to truly showcase the future of the NHL. The list of superstars that have played in the World Junior Championship is endless. To keep it simple, rather than trying to pick and choose which names to use, I'll just go with two - Crosby and Ovechkin.
Speaking of studying, my brain is starting to turn into overload mode, as I prepare for three games in three nights at WesBanco Arena this weekend. At the end of the day though, I like overload, as it means that we will get to see some fresh new faces from the opposition, rather than Reading, Trenton, and Elmira, who served as Wheeling's opposition for all but one game in the month of December.
This weekend, the Nailers will welcome Cincinnati, South Carolina, and Greenville to town. All three teams will be making their first visits of the season to the Mountain State, while the game against the Cyclones will be the first head-to-head meeting of the season. Wheeling knocked off the Road Warriors and Stingrays back on opening weekend. As someone new to the team this year, I am excited to see what I've been told is a solid rivalry between Wheeling and Cincinnati. I am also looking forward to seeing South Carolina and Greenville again, as it will bring back some memories from my first week as a Nailers employee.
While every game is important, January presents a great opportunity for the Nailers to put a lot of points up in the standings, as they will only play three away games all month, with the longest road trip being just five hours to Reading on the 25th. Seven of the games will take place at WesBanco Arena, and another three will be played at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
It will be fun to see how things play out in 2012, as 2011 left the Eastern Conference with one big clump of teams all bunched together. Elmira currently sits at the top of the pile with 40 points, but eight other teams are within eight or fewer points of that top spot. Meanwhile, Trenton and Toledo are tied for 11th in the conference with 27 points each, and they are only five points out of a playoff spot. On the other side, the Western Conference is a different story, as Alaska has a seven-point lead in the conference and an 11-point advantage in their division, while Bakersfield is 11 points out of the final playoff spot.
For the Nailers, they will be looking to build on the 2011 portion of the season that put them five games over the .500 mark at 16-11-1-1, good for 34 points.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
A Thriller in Trenton Leads us Back to Elmira
While Nailers Nation has seen plenty of excitement in the first 26 games of the 2011-12 regular season, Wednesday night's battle between the Nailers and Titans was definitely one of the crazier back-and-forth contests we've seen thus far.
Realistically, the game can be broken up into four parts.
Part I: At the start of the game, the Titans came out flying, almost like they had something to prove after a frustrating trip to Florida before the holidays. Trenton opened the scoring less than one minute in on a transition goal, then added to the lead on a deflection in front. The home team looked in control, leading 2-0 in goals, and 10-1 in shots.
Part II: Goaltender Dave Caruso received a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the Nailers their first power play of the game. Matt Lombardi scored on that man advantage, giving Wheeling a positive to build on during the first intermission. That led to Denver Manderson's shorthanded goal at the 28-mark of the second, and another somewhat undisciplined penalty on Jean-Sebastien Berube, who flipped the puck over the glass. Feeling the momentum, Kyle Bushee immediately potted a power play goal, and led Vince Williams to make a goaltending change, replacing Caruso with Brad Phillips. Ben Farrer added a goal late in the middle frame, as the Nailers looked in control, ahead 4-2.
Part III: Midway through the third period, the Titans caught a fortunate break, as a centering feed deflected off of one Matt Germain and in, cutting the Wheeling lead to one. A few minutes later, Trenton drew even, taking advantage of a delayed penalty, as the Nailers were running around a bit in their own zone. All of a sudden, it was 4-4, with less than ten minutes to play.
Part IV: The Nailers' special teams finished what they started. Ray DiLauro chopped Matt Lombardi's stick out of his hands, earning a minor penalty for slashing. Christiaan Minella scored on the ensuing power play, running Wheeling's special teams to 6-for-6 on the night, while also putting them ahead 5-4 on the scoreboard. Patrick Killeen and company made that goal stand as the winner, keeping the Titans scoreless in the final 1:45 of the third period.
At the end of the day, Wednesday's game almost felt like it followed the monicker of, "Whoever scores last wins," or "Whoever makes the last mistake loses." With that being said, was it the most beautiful display of talent and skill? No. However, both teams were left with plenty of positives to build off of, as well as negatives to learn from, and here at the ECHL level, that is a great thing for development. And guess what? The Nailers bared down when it mattered most, and got the two points, which certainly works for me!
After the game on Wednesday night, the team retreated back to the hotel in Ewing, NJ, where most of the players caught the newest version of 24/7 Flyers/Rangers. It's always fun to see which quotes will end up getting talked about the most, and without spoiling it for those who haven't watched yet, the popular line from this episode was one said by Brad Richards, directed at Tom Sestito, in the head-to-head game between New York and Philadelphia.
On Thursday, the team was given the morning off from practice, leading to a 10:00 departure from Trenton to Elmira. While some of the players (and I) opted for some extra sleep, Kyle Bushee and Adam Ross spent the majority of the trip in our front cabin, enjoying some of the fine programming on Game Show Network. GSN is quickly becoming a bus favorite, with certain shows such as Lingo, in which we are all able to play along. Another highlight from the trip came from Paul Crowder, who busted out a brand new crossword book that he received in his stocking.
While the road trip has certainly produced some fun moments, I can definitely say that just about everyone is looking forward to returning to Wheeling this weekend. It's nice to have the home crowd behind you, while also getting back into a somewhat standard routine. However, there is business to take care of first, as the Nailers look to move back into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Elmira Jackals.
GO NAILERS!
Realistically, the game can be broken up into four parts.
Part I: At the start of the game, the Titans came out flying, almost like they had something to prove after a frustrating trip to Florida before the holidays. Trenton opened the scoring less than one minute in on a transition goal, then added to the lead on a deflection in front. The home team looked in control, leading 2-0 in goals, and 10-1 in shots.
Part II: Goaltender Dave Caruso received a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the Nailers their first power play of the game. Matt Lombardi scored on that man advantage, giving Wheeling a positive to build on during the first intermission. That led to Denver Manderson's shorthanded goal at the 28-mark of the second, and another somewhat undisciplined penalty on Jean-Sebastien Berube, who flipped the puck over the glass. Feeling the momentum, Kyle Bushee immediately potted a power play goal, and led Vince Williams to make a goaltending change, replacing Caruso with Brad Phillips. Ben Farrer added a goal late in the middle frame, as the Nailers looked in control, ahead 4-2.
Part III: Midway through the third period, the Titans caught a fortunate break, as a centering feed deflected off of one Matt Germain and in, cutting the Wheeling lead to one. A few minutes later, Trenton drew even, taking advantage of a delayed penalty, as the Nailers were running around a bit in their own zone. All of a sudden, it was 4-4, with less than ten minutes to play.
Part IV: The Nailers' special teams finished what they started. Ray DiLauro chopped Matt Lombardi's stick out of his hands, earning a minor penalty for slashing. Christiaan Minella scored on the ensuing power play, running Wheeling's special teams to 6-for-6 on the night, while also putting them ahead 5-4 on the scoreboard. Patrick Killeen and company made that goal stand as the winner, keeping the Titans scoreless in the final 1:45 of the third period.
At the end of the day, Wednesday's game almost felt like it followed the monicker of, "Whoever scores last wins," or "Whoever makes the last mistake loses." With that being said, was it the most beautiful display of talent and skill? No. However, both teams were left with plenty of positives to build off of, as well as negatives to learn from, and here at the ECHL level, that is a great thing for development. And guess what? The Nailers bared down when it mattered most, and got the two points, which certainly works for me!
After the game on Wednesday night, the team retreated back to the hotel in Ewing, NJ, where most of the players caught the newest version of 24/7 Flyers/Rangers. It's always fun to see which quotes will end up getting talked about the most, and without spoiling it for those who haven't watched yet, the popular line from this episode was one said by Brad Richards, directed at Tom Sestito, in the head-to-head game between New York and Philadelphia.
On Thursday, the team was given the morning off from practice, leading to a 10:00 departure from Trenton to Elmira. While some of the players (and I) opted for some extra sleep, Kyle Bushee and Adam Ross spent the majority of the trip in our front cabin, enjoying some of the fine programming on Game Show Network. GSN is quickly becoming a bus favorite, with certain shows such as Lingo, in which we are all able to play along. Another highlight from the trip came from Paul Crowder, who busted out a brand new crossword book that he received in his stocking.
While the road trip has certainly produced some fun moments, I can definitely say that just about everyone is looking forward to returning to Wheeling this weekend. It's nice to have the home crowd behind you, while also getting back into a somewhat standard routine. However, there is business to take care of first, as the Nailers look to move back into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Elmira Jackals.
GO NAILERS!
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