We held our annual Welcome Luncheon on the afternoon of Thursday, October 16th. Our Welcome Luncheon is a yearly Booster Club tradition that provides players with lunch after their morning skate. Lunch was catered through Market Vines for the second season in a row and consisted of wraps, chips, cookies, salad, and soda. Booster Club members met with players and staff during the meal while Booster Club President Chris Cooke said a few words, followed by Nailers' Assistant Coach Mitch Giguere. Players were very thankful for the meal provided by the Club and seemed to all have a great time.

The Welcome Luncheon was not the only meal provided by the Boosters in the month of October. During training camp, members of the Club provided breakfast to the players for 10 separate days. Huge thanks to Booster members Kim and Jim, Janet and Eric, Mike, and Andrea for sacrificing their mornings to help cook each day.

The Club passed a motion to make a donation to the Pittsburgh Warriors hockey team. The Pittsburgh Warriors are a 501(c)(3) organization of honorably discharged service members with service-connected disabilities, of which our own Booster Club member Robert Hardin is a member. This donation provides Warriors players with tickets to the Nailers' February 15th home game as well as an opportunity for them to take the ice at Wesbanco Arena to play a scrimmage prior to the matchup against Reading later that afternoon. The scrimmage will be held from noon-1pm and is open to the public.

The Club would like to extend a big 'THANK YOU' to all members who helped with apartments prior to the player's arrival for the 2025-26 season. We have already heard from many of the guys who all are very appreciative for the hard work that they all did in having all of the rooms available for the players and staff.
Each season the Boosters prepare apartments for the team by helping to clean and purchase supplies needed to ensure quality housing.
Thank you again to Robert and Katie, Chris, Jim and Kim (and family), and Julia.

The first bus trip of the season to the season-opener in Cincinnati began with a rocky start. An error with the bus company caused the bus to be delayed and not able to reach passengers in time. Thankfully, all but one passenger were able to come together to carpool together to the game. We were also able to secure free parking for fans traveling. All visiting fans loudly cheered the Nailers towards a 5-3 win and the trip ended up being a great success despite the circumstances.
Our next bus trip is scheduled for Greensboro, North Carolina on December 20th when the Nailers travel to face the ECHL's newest team, the Gargoyles. Bus ticket packages are on sale now for $160 and can be purchased at the Booster Club table at any home game or by visiting nailersboosters.com.


The month ahead:

November finally sees pro hockey return to Wesbanco Arena after a six-month hiatus. The Nailers hope to continue their hot start on November 1st and 2nd in our home opening weekend. They will pick back up right where they left off, facing the Norfolk Admirals who eliminated them from the playoffs in 5 games back in April. November ties January as the busiest month at home for Wheeling. There will be 8 games played this month in the friendly confines of Wesbanco Arena with trips to Greensboro and Reading (as well as a quick game in Toledo) sandwiched between.

November will feature lots of theme nights at home, starting with the Opening Night Circus feat. America's Got Talent semifinalist Grace Good on Saturday November 1st, followed by a Sunday afternoon game the following day. Friday and Saturday November 14th and 15th will see Military Appreciation Night followed by First Responders Night. IWC Wrestling returns to Wheeling on Wednesday, November 26th for the Thanksgiving Eve game against the Indy Fuel. The Nailers expect a large crowd on Saturday November 29th for Bluey Night featuring an appearance by Bluey herself. The following day will feature an opportunity to bring your furry friend along with you to cheer on the Nailers during a Sunday afternoon Pups and Pucks matchup against Cincinnati.

November will bring with it the debut of the Nailers' new Inflatable blow-up to be used at the opening of every home game. This inflatable is bigger and better than the previous one but also much more complex. Therefore, the Booster Club's 'Ice Crew' has been meeting regularly the past couple of months to do practice runs on setting it up. This should ensure a flawless run for each home game and present an unforgettable opening presentation for fans new and old alike.

The next Monthly General Meeting for the Booster Club will be held in Generations at Wesbanco Arena on Monday, November 10th at 6pm.
The Booster Club is always accepting new members and more info can be found by emailing wheelingnailersboosterclub@hotmail.com or by stopping at the Booster Club table at any Nailers' home game.