TEAM NEWS 25-26

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired defenseman Eric Parker and future considerations from the Norfolk Admirals in exchange for the rights to forward David Jankowski.

Parker, 24, made his professional debut with the Admirals on Saturday night against Worcester. He was held scoreless with two shots on goal and a +1 rating. Prior to turning pro, Eric played four seasons of college hockey at Bowling Green State University. The blueliner tallied four goals, 32 assists, and 36 points in 114 games. Parker's most productive season was his freshman year, when he collected 13 points and was named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. The Calgary, Alberta native will be greeted by a familiar face in Wheeling, as he was teammates for parts of four seasons with Jack Works with the AJHL's Okotoks Oilers.

Jankowski, 28, was tendered a qualifying offer by the Nailers this summer, meaning Wheeling had possession of his ECHL rights prior to the trade. David played two full seasons and part of a third in Wheeling, and skated away with 25 goals, 55 assists, and 80 points in 146 games. The Dundas, Ontario native posted back-to-back 37-point seasons, and had a +23 rating during his time with the Nailers. Prior to turning pro, Jankowski played five seasons of college hockey - four at St. Lawrence University, then one at Michigan Tech.

The Wheeling Nailers will play their home opener on Saturday night at 7:10 against the Norfolk Admirals. America's Got Talent Star Grace Good will be performing during both intermissions, the game will have a circus theme, and there will be a magnetic schedule giveaway. Wheeling and Norfolk will also face-off at WesBanco Arena on Sunday at 4:10. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Friday, October 31st

Nailers Acquire Defenseman Eric Parker in Trade with Norfolk

Nailers Announce 2025-26 Season-Opening Roster

Thursday, October 16th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their 2025-26 Season-Opening Roster, as the team prepares to open its 34th season on Saturday night with a road contest against the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou begins his first season with the organization, following 16 spectacular seasons as the head coach of the Brooks Bandits. The Bandits won 907 of 1,172 games under Papaioannou's leadership. Mitch Giguere enters his third season as an assistant coach in Wheeling, which will be the longest tenure for any assistant coach in team history. The Nailers have posted an 81-53-9 record over the last two seasons. Pittsburgh Penguins Roving Development Coach Evan McFeeters will also be behind the bench frequently with Wheeling this season. McFeeters has over 15 years of coaching experience, and has worked with Papaioannou before as an assistant coach for Brooks from 2020-22. Karel Popper returns for his second season as the team's goaltending coach. Last season, Nailers goaltenders combined for a 2.69 goals against average, which was the team's best in the last 19 years. Equipment Manager Bill Higgins has been around for all of those seasons plus a few more, as the Wheeling, West Virginia native begins his 23rd season in his current role. Fellow Ohio Valley native Cole Koontz (Sherrard, West Virginia) joins the staff for his first season as the club's athletic trainer.

Papaioannou and his staff have compiled an opening roster of 26 players - 15 forwards, seven defensemen, and four goaltenders. This will be one of the newer rosters that fans in Wheeling have seen in recent seasons, as eight of the 26 players have ever played for the Nailers, and only three of those eight were in the lineup on opening night last October. Ten of the remaining 18 players have previously played in the ECHL with other organizations. This season's roster also has a significant amount of influence from the affiliates in Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, as there are ten players with either an NHL or AHL contract.

Goaltenders
Jake Smith- Oakville, Ontario native signed this summer; has played the last nine seasons in Europe and has played internationally for Team Italy
Logan Neaton- Brighton, Michigan native acquired in a trade with Indy this summer; played collegiately at UMass-Lowell & Miami and was drafted by Winnipeg in 2019
Jaxon Castor- Phoenix, Arizona native entering his third season with the Nailers; has gone 16-11-2, and is one of three Wheeling goalies all-time to win a playoff game in consecutive years
Maxim Pavlenko- Aksu, Kazakhstan native under AHL contract; played last two seasons in Russia's VHL; second Kazakhstan native in team history - has played internationally for Team Kazakhstan

Defensemen
Daniel Laatsch- Altoona, Wisconsin native under NHL Contract; played the last four seasons at the University of Wisconsin and was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2021
Aidan Sutter- Kamloops, British Columbia native joined the Nailers in February; had two assists in 17 games; was the top scoring defenseman for Everett (WHL) in 2022-23
Bogdans Hodass- Jelgava, Latvia native signed this summer; recorded three goals & six assists in 40 games as a rookie with Iowa; has competed internationally with Team Latvia
Tommy Budnick- Petoskey, Michigan native under AHL contract; played his last four seasons in the OHL (Kingston, Guelph, Brantford) and recorded at least 20 points three times
David Breazeale- Grandville, Michigan native under AHL contract; made his AHL debut with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the spring, following four seasons at the University of Maine
Trevor LeDonne- Stoney Creek, Ontario native acquired in a trade with Allen this summer; tallied one goal and three assists in 15 games, after finishing his college season at Robert Morris University
Brent Johnson- St. Louis, Missouri native under AHL contract; played in three games for Wheeling in the spring after finishing his college season at Ohio State University; was drafted by Washington in 2021

Forwards
Mike Posma- Pomona, New York native signed this summer; started his pro career in the spring by playing four games with Florida, following four seasons at Boston College
Logan Pietila- Howell, Michigan native entering his second season with the Nailers; recorded nine goals & 18 assists in 69 games as a rookie
Ryan Mahshie- Stoney Creek, Ontario native acquired in a trade with Savannah this summer; has five goals, four assists, nine points in 74 ECHL games; played for Ryan Papaioannou from 2017-19
Cole Tymkin- Rainy River, Ontario native debuted with the Nailers in February; had five goals, three assists, eight points, 63 penalty minutes in 24 games, including a Gordie Howe Hat Trick
Randy Hernández- Miami, Florida native acquired in a trade with Atlanta this summer; had 11 goals & nine assists in 65 games as a rookie with Atlanta; played for Ryan Papaioannou from 2018-20
Craig Armstrong- Crossfield, Alberta native signed this summer; notched seven goals & 12 assists in 64 games as a rookie with Utah
Matthew Quercia- Andover, Massachusetts native enters his fourth season with the Nailers; set career highs with 20 goals and 188 penalty minutes (team leader) last season
Nolan Renwick- Milestone, Saskatchewan native under AHL contract; scored two goals in four AHL games in the spring, following four seasons at the University of Maine
Jack Works- Yellowknife, Northwest Territories native joined the Nailers in March; had three assists in 14 games; first player in team history from the Northwest Territories
Zach Urdahl- Eau Claire, Wisconsin native under AHL contract; played his last four seasons collegiately at Wisconsin & Omaha, and led Omaha with 13 goals in 2023-24
Max Graham- Whitehorse, Yukon native under AHL contract; played the last five seasons in the WHL with Everett & Kelowna; first Yukon native in team history; was drafted by New Jersey in 2024
Connor Lockhart- Kanata, Ontario native acquired in a trade with Bloomington; had 12 goals & 18 assists in 68 games as a rookie with Bloomington; was drafted by Vancouver in 2021
Jordan Kaplan- Bridgewater, New Jersey native acquired in a trade with Savannah this summer; entering his fifth pro season; finished third on Worcester with 18 goals & 31 assists last season
Zach Gallant- London, Ontario native under AHL contract; had four points in three games with Wheeling last season; has played in 90 career AHL games; drafted by Detroit in 2017
Brayden Edwards- Abbotsford, British Columbia native under AHL contract; played his last four seasons in the WHL (Winnipeg & Lethbridge), and led Lethbridge with 77 points last season

Catch all of the action all season long on the Nailers Broadcast Network, presented by Main Street Bank. All of the games will air on radio on Mix 97.3 as well as via the iHeartRadio app. All home games will be televised locally on My Ohio Valley, thanks to WTRF. FloHockey remains the official streaming partner of the ECHL and AHL, meaning all games will be available there. DJ Abisalih enters his 15th season as the Voice of the Nailers, and will have a familiar face joining him in the Erb Electric Broadcast Booth. Former Thunderbirds Captain Brock Woods will be the color commentator for the home games.

The regular season begins on Saturday, when the Nailers travel to Cincinnati for a 7:35 match against the Cyclones. Wheeling's home opener is Saturday, November 1st at 7:10 against the Norfolk Admirals. America's Got Talent Star Grace Good will be performing during both intermissions, and the game will have a circus theme. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

2025-26 Wheeling Nailers Season-Opening Roster
#6-D-Daniel Laatsch
#8-D-Aidan Sutter
#12-F-Mike Posma
#13-F-Logan Pietila
#14-F-Ryan Mahshie
#15-F-Cole Tymkin
#17-D-Bogdans Hodass
#19-F-Randy Hernández
#21-F-Craig Armstrong
#22-F-Matthew Quercia
#23-F-Nolan Renwick
#25-F-Jack Works
#30-G-Jake Smith
#31-G-Logan Neaton
#32-D-Tommy Budnick
#34-F-Zach Urdahl
#35-G-Jaxon Castor
#36-F-Max Graham
#37-F-Connor Lockhart
#40-G-Maxim Pavlenko
#42-D-David Breazeale
#47-F-Jordan Kaplan
#57-D-Trevor LeDonne
#62-F-Zach Gallant
#74-D-Brent Johnson
#83-F-Brayden Edwards

Nailers Acquire Connor Lockhart from Bloomington

Tuesday, October 14th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have made a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has received forward Connor Lockhart from the Bloomington Bison in exchange for the ECHL rights to defenseman Chris Ortiz.

Lockhart, 22, is set to begin his second professional season, after playing his rookie campaign with Bloomington. Connor finished sixth on the team in scoring and third among rookies with 12 goals, 18 assists, and 30 points in 68 games. The Kanata, Ontario native played a significant role on the power play for the Bison, as his 12 points on the man advantage were tied for the third most on the team. Lockhart was originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2021, and played his junior career in the OHL with Erie, Peterborough, and Oshawa. Connor and current Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Avery Hayes were teammates when Peterborough captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL Champions in 2022-23.

Ortiz, 24, signed an AHL contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack this summer, and Hartford's ECHL affiliate is Bloomington. Chris began the 2024-25 season with the Nailers, and was named to the ECHL All-Star Team, as he racked up five goals, 34 assists, and 39 points in 45 games. The Boisbriand, Quebec native spent the remainder of the season in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, and dished out seven assists in 23 contests. Ortiz is entering his fifth professional season, and he had played for the Nailers in three of the previous four. Chris is one of three defensemen to record at least 100 points in a Wheeling uniform, and the first since Tim Roberts and Brock Woods did so with the Thunderbirds.

The Nailers will open the 2025-26 season on Saturday, October 18th with a 7:35 road game against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Wheeling's home opener will be on Saturday, November 1st at 7:10 against the Norfolk Admirals. The home opener will have a circus theme, and there will be performances during intermissions by Grace Good, who performed on America's Got Talent. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Announce 2025 Training Camp Schedule & Roster

Monday, October 6th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced their 2025 training camp schedule and roster.

The Nailers will open their 2025 training camp on Monday, October 6th. The first day will see the team get broken up into three groups, and those groups will be instructed by members of the Pittsburgh Penguins Skills and Player Development Staff. Tuesday and Wednesday will also feature skills sessions in the morning, followed by standard practices during the afternoon. Thursday and Friday will be standard practice days in the morning, then Saturday will have a morning skate prior to the team's departure for that night's preseason match in Johnstown against Greenville.

All practices are open to the public, and fans must stay in the seating bowl, as ice level access is not permitted. Fans interested in attending the preseason game can purchase tickets via 1stsummitarena.com.

Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou has compiled a roster of 16 forwards, seven defensemen, and three goaltenders for a total of 26 players. There are two NHL contracted players, six AHL contracted players, 16 ECHL contracted players, and two players attending training camp on professional tryouts.

2025 Wheeling Nailers Training Camp Schedule
Times Subject to Change
Monday, October 6th- Defense Skills, 1:15 p.m.
Forward Skills 1st Group, 2:15 p.m.
Forward Skills 2nd Group, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday, October 7th- Defense Skills, 10:00 a.m.
Forward Skills 1st Group, 10:45 a.m.
Forward Skills 2nd Group, 11:30 a.m.
Practice, 1:45 p.m.
Wednesday, October 8th- Defense Skills, 10:00 a.m.
Forward Skills 1st Group, 10:45 a.m.
Forward Skills 2nd Group, 11:30 a.m.
Practice, 1:45 p.m.
Thursday, October 9th- Practice, 11:00 a.m.
Friday, October 10th- Practice, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, October 11th- Morning Skate, 11:00 a.m.
Preseason Game vs. Greenville (at Johnstown), 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 12th- No Practice

2025 Wheeling Nailers Training Camp Roster
#6 D Daniel Laatsch
#8 D Aidan Sutter
#12 F Mike Posma
#13 F Logan Pietila
#14 F Ryan Mahshie
#15 F Cole Tymkin
#17 D Bogdans Hodass
#18 F Tyler Paquette
#19 F Randy Hernández
#21 F Craig Armstrong
#22 F Matthew Quercia
#25 F Jack Works
#27 F Ricky Boysen
#32 D Tommy Budnick
#34 F Zach Urdahl
#36 F Max Graham
#47 F Jordan Kaplan
#53 F Tyler Burnie
#57 D Trevor LeDonne
#62 F Zach Gallant
#74 D Brent Johnson
#79 D Emil Pieniniemi
#83 F Brayden Edwards

#30 G Jake Smith
#31 G Logan Neaton
#35 G Jaxon Castor

Nailers Acquire Trevor LeDonne from Allen

Thursday, September 18th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has received defenseman Trevor LeDonne from the Allen Americans in exchange for future considerations.

LeDonne, 25, made his professional debut with the Americans in March, following the conclusion of his collegiate playing career. Trevor appeared in 15 games with Allen and registered one goal, three assists, four points, and eight penalty minutes. His first career point came via an assist in his second game on March 8th against Jacksonville. He then netted his first pro goal as part of a two-point effort on April 11th against Tulsa.

Prior to turning pro, the Stoney Creek, Ontario native played four years of college hockey - two at the University of St. Thomas, then two at Robert Morris University, when the school returned to Division I hockey in 2023. LeDonne's best offensive season came as a senior with the Colonials in 2024-25, when he collected three goals, two assists, and five points in 23 games. Two of the goals came in a season-opening 5-1 win at Miami. Trevor also enjoyed success with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers, as he led the league in goals by defensemen with six in 20 games during the shortened 2020-21 campaign.

The Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Acquire Two Forwards from Savannah

Tuesday, September 16th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired forwards Jordan Kaplan and Ryan Mahshie from the Savannah Ghost Pirates in exchange for forward Matt Koopman. Kaplan and Mahshie were originally acquired by Savannah from Worcester, prior to being swapped to the Nailers.

Kaplan, 28, had his best season as a professional in 2024-25, as he finished third on the Railers in scoring with 18 goals, 31 assists, 49 points, and 108 penalty minutes in 68 games. Jordan's best stretch came around the holidays, when he recorded points in nine of 12 games (16 total), led by a hat trick and a four-point performance in a 6-5 win at Adirondack on New Year's Eve. The Bridgewater, New Jersey native is entering his fifth season, and has career ECHL totals of 44 goals, 69 assists, 113 points, and 197 penalty minutes in 206 games. In addition to 2024-25 with Worcester, Kaplan played full seasons with Adirondack and Savannah. Prior to turning pro, Jordan played four years of college hockey - three at Sacred Heart University and one at the University of Vermont.

Mahshie, 26, is entering his second full season and third overall, as he has suited up for Orlando, Allen, and Worcester. Ryan's longest tenure was with the Railers, as he collected three goals, four assists, seven points, and 23 penalty minutes in 43 games in Worcester. His first goal with the Railers was the game winner in a 3-1 home triumph over Reading. Overall, the Stoney Creek, Ontario native has appeared in 74 career ECHL games, and added one goal each with the Solar Bears and Americans. Prior to turning pro, Mahshie played four years of college hockey - three at RPI and one at the University of Connecticut. Ryan also played two seasons for Nailers Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou with the Brooks Bandits, including the 2018-19 championship campaign, when he led the team with 34 goals and was named the top forward at the National Junior A Championship.

Koopman, 27, will play for a different organization for the first time in his professional career, as he had been with the Nailers since his debut in the latter stages of the 2022-23 season. Matt played in 156 of 157 possible regular season games with Wheeling, and was an iron man for the team during the 2023-24 campaign. The Marblehead, Massachusetts native recorded 31 goals, 35 assists, 66 points, and 37 penalty minutes during those 156 regular season contests, and added five goals and ten points in 14 playoff matches. Prior to turning pro, Koopman played five years of college hockey - four at Providence College and one at UMass-Amherst.

Nailers Sign Bogdans Hodass

Tuesday, August 26th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their 11th player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has signed defenseman Bogdans Hodass to an ECHL contract.

Hodass, 22, played his first professional season in 2024-25 as a member of the Iowa Heartlanders. Bogdans registered three goals, six assists, nine points, and 41 penalty minutes in 40 games. The rookie blueliner got his career started with a bang, as he tallied a goal and an assist in his pro debut on October 18th against Fort Wayne. Hodass' next goal was a big one for his team, as he snapped a 0-0 tie with 13 seconds left in the second period of an eventual 2-0 victory over Toledo on December 11th. Ten days prior to that, Bogdans threw down the gloves for the first time, as he squared up with Bloomington's Dalton Duhart.

Prior to turning pro, the Jelgava, Latvia native played three seasons of junior hockey with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers. Hodass amassed 25 goals, 62 assists, 87 points, and 186 penalty minutes in 178 games with the Tigers. His best offensive season came in 2022-23, when he finished tied for the team lead among defensemen with 11 goals, and tied for second among defensemen with 35 points. The following season saw Bogdans lead the entire Medicine Hat club with a +24 rating.

Although Hodass has spent the majority of the last four seasons in North America, he has enjoyed multiple opportunities representing Latvia during international play. Bogdans played in the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, in which he totaled three goals, three assists, and six points in 11 contests. His first goal in 2022 came against eventual champion Canada.

Bogdans Hodass and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Sign Logan Pietila

Thursday, August 21st

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their tenth player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Logan Pietila to an ECHL contract.

Pietila, 25, played his first full professional season with the Nailers in 2024-25, and compiled a stat line of nine goals, 18 assists, and 27 points in 69 games. Logan's first career goal came at a key time, as he netted the game winner in a 5-4 triumph over Reading on October 26th. The rookie forward saw his offensive game grow throughout the year, and his most impressive stretch came during the final month of the season, when Wheeling was battling for playoff positioning. Logan recorded at least one point in ten of his final 11 regular season games, and in six of those games, he was teammates with his younger brother Chase, who is signed by the Penguins for the next three years. Speaking of the Penguins, Logan's performance in March and April earned him a call-up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which saw him collect his first AHL point with an assist on April 13th at Bridgeport.

Prior to turning pro, the Howell, Michigan native played five seasons of college hockey at Michigan Tech University. Logan tallied 45 goals, 53 assists, and 98 points in 180 games with the Huskies, and his best season came in 2023-24, when he was the team's captain. Individually, Pietila finished third on the team in scoring with 29 points, and from a team standpoint, Michigan Tech won the CCHA Championship to advance to its third straight NCAA Tournament. The Pietila family made themselves at home in the Upper Peninsula, as Logan was college teammates with his twin brother Blake, his younger brother Chase, and his cousin Jed. His younger sister Sophia is beginning her freshman year playing soccer at Northern Michigan University.

Logan Pietila and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Name Ryan Papaioannou as Head Coach

Thursday, August 14th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced that Ryan Papaioannou (pronounced: pa-pah-waw-noh) has been named the 21st head coach in team history.

Papaioannou, 41, served as the head coach and general manager of the Brooks Bandits for the past 16 seasons, and enjoyed outstanding success, as the team played in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and the British Columbia Hockey League. Under Ryan's leadership, the Bandits captured seven AJHL Championships (2011-12, 2012-13, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2021-22, 2022-23), one BCHL Championship (2024-25), four Centennial/RBC Cup Championships (2012-13, 2018-19, 2021-22, 2022-23) as the national champion of Junior "A," a Western Canada Cup (2016-17) as the Junior "A" champion from western Canada, and a Rocky Mountain Challenge (2023-24) as the champion of Alberta.

"Ryan Papaioannou comes to the Nailers with an amazing track record of being able to consistently produce a winning team, while developing talented players for the next level," said Nailers President & Governor Brian Komorowski. "We are looking forward to welcoming Ryan and his family to Wheeling, as we anticipate another successful season both on the ice and in the community."

The Calgary, Alberta native posted a remarkable record of 907-217-48 in 1,172 career games as the head coach of the Bandits. Those numbers equate to a .774 winning percentage and a .794 points percentage. Brooks earned at least 50 wins in a season six times, topped by a 57-3-0 mark during the 2018-19 campaign. That year, Papaioannou's Bandits finished the regular season with a 33-game winning streak. The team followed that up by starting the 2019-20 regular season with 22 straight victories, which created a 55-game regular season winning streak between the two years. The 2018-19 season was one of three times that Ryan was recognized as AJHL Coach of the Year, as he also earned that honor in 2012-13 and 2021-22.

"Being the head coach for the Wheeling Nailers is an opportunity that my family and I couldn't pass up, and an opportunity to get involved with a storied team," said Nailers Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou. "Wheeling is a great place to raise a family, it's an organization with a storied history, and the tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins all made this somewhere we wanted to be."

Papaioannou developed some remarkable players in Brooks, who are building notable professional careers today. The most recognizable name is Stanley Cup Champion, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, two-time Norris Trophy winner, and Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. Another player from the 2024-25 NHL who played for Ryan was Jeff Malott of the Los Angeles Kings. Current and former Nailers who played for Papaioannou include Jared Cockrell, Randy Hernández, Josh McKechney, and Phip Waugh.

“Adding Ryan to the organization as the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers is a pivotal hire for the Penguins and our development system,” said Pittsburgh Penguins Assistant General Manager Jason Spezza. “Ryan has consistently delivered winning results, including multiple championships during his 16 years as head coach and general manager of the Brooks Bandits. Additionally, he has a long track record of developing elite players, helping them to reach their potential and while contributing to a winning program. In the coming years, the number of young draft picks and free agents we will have entering pro hockey with our organization will be immense. As a result this hire was of tremendous importance to the Penguins and we are thrilled to get to work with Ryan."

Ryan will be moving to Wheeling with his family. He and his wife Jordana have two sons - ten-year old Ambrose and five-year old Calix.

Nailers Sign Tyler Burnie

Tuesday, August 12th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their ninth player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Tyler Burnie to an ECHL contract.

Burnie, 26, enters his second professional season, after suiting up as a rookie with the Rapid City Rush and Allen Americans. Tyler tallied five goals, eight assists, and 13 points in 51 games with Rapid City, then got traded to Allen in March, where he added two goals, four assists, and six points in 14 games. The 6-foot-5 forward made his debut on October 19th at Tulsa, then netted his first goal on the power play against Utah less than a week later on October 25th. Burnie recorded multiple points in a game on three occasions, led by a three-point outing in the penultimate match against Tulsa on April 11th. Tyler also dropped the gloves once, as he challenged Kansas City's Jimmy Mazza on January 17th.

Prior to turning pro, the Washago, Ontario native played three seasons of university hockey at Brock University from 2021-24. Burnie amassed 28 goals, 35 assists, and 63 points in 62 games with the Badgers. Tyler averaged over a point-per-game in each of his final two seasons, and finished second on the team in goals in both campaigns. His best season came in 2023-24, when he was named an OUA West Second Team All-Star with 15 goals, 18 assists, and 33 points in 27 games. Thanks to his time at Brock, Burnie has a connection to the Nailers, as he was teammates with Cole Tymkin for three seasons there, in addition to one season together with the GOJHL's Caledonia Corvairs.

Tyler Burnie and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Re-Sign Jaxon Castor

Thursday, August 7th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their eighth player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed goaltender Jaxon Castor to an ECHL contract.

Castor, 28, is set to begin his third full season as a professional and third as a member of the Nailers. In his first two seasons with the club, Jaxon posted a 16-11-2 record, a 3.15 goals against average, and an .886 save percentage in 30 games. Additionally, this past season, the netminder earned his first call-up to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and made his AHL debut on January 15th. Castor was the winning goaltender in a few key games for the Nailers in 2024-25. He was the starter in the first game of the team's record-setting 16-game point streak on November 2nd, and he helped the club secure second place in the North Division on April 12th. Jaxon then backstopped the team's lone postseason victory on April 25th, which gave him five playoff wins in two years.

Wheeling first acquired the Phoenix, Arizona native in a trade with the Florida Everblades in November of 2023. Prior to turning pro, Castor attended St. Cloud State University for five years, where he majored in Liberal Arts. Jaxon began his college career with the school's ACHA team, then advanced to the NCAA squad as a sophomore, and eventually became the starter in 2022-23. The Huskies won the 2023 NCHC Tournament, and Castor was named to the All-Tournament Team, thanks to a shutout in the clinching victory over Colorado College. Five days later, Jaxon was perfect again, as he blanked Minnesota State to earn the first NCAA Tournament shutout in St. Cloud State history.

Jaxon Castor and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Re-Sign Randy Hernandez

Thursday, July 31st

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their seventh player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Randy Hernández to an ECHL contract.

Hernández, 26, was acquired by the Nailers in June to complete a future considerations trade with the Atlanta Gladiators. Randy began his professional career with Atlanta in 2024-25, and had a solid rookie season, as he finished with 11 goals, nine assists, and 20 points in 65 games. His goals came at key times, as seven of the 11 snapped a tied score to give the Gladiators the lead. Hernández was also an extremely disciplined player in year one, as he was whistled for just seven minor penalties.

Prior to turning pro, the Miami, Florida native played four seasons of college hockey - one at Robert Morris University, then three at Canisius College. Randy's most productive college season was his freshman year at Robert Morris, when he led the Colonials with 11 goals and 25 points in 24 games. That performance earned him AHA (West Pod) Rookie of the Year honors. He transferred to Canisius following the 2020-21 season, due to Robert Morris cutting the hockey program at that time. Hernández posted back-to-back seasons of over 20 points with the Golden Griffins, including a 22-point campaign as a senior, which ranked him third on the squad. Randy also got the opportunity to experience thrilling team success, as Canisius defeated Holy Cross to capture the 2022-23 AHA Tournament Championship and advance to the NCAA National Tournament for the second time in school history and first time in ten years.

Both of Randy's parents are from Cuba, and in 2024, Hernández served as an assistant coach for Team Cuba at the Amerigol LATAM Cup. Cuba defeated Greece, 4-3 to win the championship, and joining Randy behind the bench was head coach and former Nailer (2011-12) Scooter Vaughan.

Randy Hernández and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Sign Mike Posma

Tuesday, July 29th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their sixth player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Mike Posma to an ECHL contract.

Posma, 23, turned pro this past spring, when he played in four games with the Florida Everblades. Mike made his debut on April 4th in a 5-4 win at Savannah, then notched his first career point with an assist on April 9th in a 5-2 win over Atlanta. Prior to that, the rookie forward attended Boston College for four years, where he majored in Finance, while playing for the Eagles.

The native of Pomona, New York appeared in 142 career games at Boston College, and finished his collegiate career with 15 goals, 21 assists, and 36 points. Mike was an ironman in each of his final three seasons, as he played in 114 consecutive contests to conclude his time in Chestnut Hill. His best individual season came as a sophomore in 2022-23, when he collected six goals and ten points. One of those goals came against Harvard in the semifinal round of the annual Beanpot Tournament. The Eagles enjoyed great success during Posma's junior and senior seasons, as they won two Hockey East Regular Season Championships, one Hockey East Tournament Championship, and reached the NCAA National Tournament twice, which included a trip to the 2024 Frozen Four.

Hockey has been a popular sport in the Posma family. Mike's father Bob played collegiately at SUNY-Plattsburgh, while his uncle Mike played one season for the AHL's Utica Devils, then played eight seasons professionally in Europe. Mike also has a younger brother named David, who is entering his senior season at Stonehill College.

Mike Posma and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Re-Sign Jack Works

Wednesday, July 23rd

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their fifth player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Jack Works to an ECHL contract.

Works, 24, began his professional career with the Nailers this past spring, following the completion of his collegiate playing career. Jack appeared in 14 regular season games and three playoff contests with Wheeling, and distributed three assists. The most notable of the three was the second one, as he sent Jordan Martel on a breakaway to snap a 2-2 tie in a 5-2 victory at Trois-Rivières on April 11th. The Nailers solidified their spot in second place in the North Division the following afternoon. Works made history when he donned a Wheeling uniform for the first time on March 14th, as he became the first player in the team's existence to hail from the Northwest Territories.

Prior to turning pro, the Yellowknife native played five seasons of college hockey - two at the University of Denver, then three at Michigan Tech University. In 2022, Jack got to experience the ultimate thrill of team success, as he was part of the Denver team that took home the NCAA National Championship. When Works transferred to Michigan Tech, his individual numbers increased significantly, as he amassed 23 goals, 29 assists, and 52 points in 105 games with the Huskies. His best individual season was 2023-24, when he finished sixth on the team with ten goals, ten assists, and 20 points. Included in those totals were Jack's lone career NCAA hat trick in a 3-3 tie against Michigan State, as well as two goals during the CCHA Tournament, which was won by Michigan Tech.

Jack Works and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Sign Tyler Paquette

Tuesday, July 22nd

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their fourth player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Tyler Paquette to an ECHL contract.

Paquette, 24, is the first new player to sign with Wheeling this summer, as he looks forward to beginning his professional career, following five years at Penn State University. Tyler appeared in 143 career games with the Nittany Lions, and tallied 27 goals, 21 assists, and 48 points. His two best offensive seasons came consecutively in 2021-22 and 2022-23, when he finished with 15 points in each. The 2021-22 campaign saw his highest goal output of 11, which ranked fourth on the team.

The Collegeville, Pennsylvania native got to be part of two runs to the NCAA National Tournament while in State College. In 2023, Tyler scored Penn State's first goal of the tournament in an 8-0 triumph over Michigan Tech. Then, in 2025, he assisted on the opening goal of the Nittany Lions' 3-2 overtime win over UConn, which sent Penn State to the Frozen Four for the first time in school history. Another memorable moment for Paquette came on January 3rd of this past season, when he scored against Notre Dame at Wrigley Field. In the classroom, Tyler was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, as he majored in Finance.

Tyler Paquette and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Re-Sign Cole Tymkin

Thursday, July 17th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their third player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Cole Tymkin to an ECHL contract.

Tymkin, 26, joined the Nailers in February of this past season, after he completed his final USports season at Brock University. Cole brought a mixture of skill and physicality to the Wheeling lineup, as he tallied five goals, three assists, eight points, and 63 penalty minutes in 24 games. The rookie forward was the only player on the team to record a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight) in 2024-25, which he did in a 6-4 road win against Adirondack on March 8th. Other key goals in wins for Tymkin came on March 21st at Toledo and April 11th at Trois-Rivières, which led him to a three-game point streak to end the regular season. Cole threw down the gloves on five occasions, and stood toe-to-toe with some large competition, including 6-foot-5 Mike McKee of Tulsa and 6-foot-7 Jackson van de Leest of Adirondack.

The Rainy River, Ontario native played four seasons at Brock, where he accumulated 17 goals, 33 assists, 50 points, and 111 penalty minutes in 85 games. His most productive offensive season was 2023-24, when he had 19 points. His highest penalty minute total was 55, which he achieved in 2024-25. Prior to that, Tymkin played four seasons of junior hockey with the OHL's London Knights. He enjoyed a tremendous 2018-19 season, when he had 22 goals, 25 assists, and 47 points to help the Knights finish with the second best record in the league. Cole was London's leader in penalty minutes during each of his last three seasons there, as he finished with 98, 95, and 73 respectively.

Cole Tymkin and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Re-Sign Aidan Sutter

Tuesday, July 15th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their second player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed defenseman Aidan Sutter to an ECHL contract.

Sutter, 22, joined the Nailers during the back half of the 2024-25 season, after beginning the year at the University of Calgary. Aidan appeared in 17 games on Wheeling's blueline, and dished out a pair of assists. One of those was his first professional point, as he setup Eli Lieffers for the opening goal, which was also the game winner in a 2-0 home victory over Tulsa on February 22nd. The rookie defenseman was first acquired by the Nailers in a trade from the Florida Everblades in December of 2023. At that time, Sutter had decided to attend the University of Calgary, so Wheeling extended him a qualifying offer in the summer of 2024, which gave the Nailers exclusive rights to negotiate with Aidan during the 2024-25 season. Prior to making the switch to USports, Sutter appeared in six games with the Everblades.

The Kamloops, British Columbia native collected four assists and 36 penalty minutes in ten games at the University of Calgary, which included a game in the University Cup Playoffs. Prior to turning pro, the blueliner played four seasons of junior hockey with the WHL's Everett Silvertips. Sutter's best offensive season with the Silvertips was his final campaign in 2022-23, when he was the club's top scoring defenseman with 38 points in 62 games. Aidan's defensive game shined brightly one year earlier, when he posted a +20 rating, which was third best among Everett blueliners. Combining his time with Everett and Calgary, Sutter amassed a +45 rating in 193 amateur contests.

Aidan Sutter and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Derek Army Named Assistant Coach of Colorado Eagles

Monday, July 14th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced in conjunction with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche and the AHL's Colorado Eagles, that Derek Army has been named as an assistant coach for the Colorado Eagles.

Army, 34, departs Wheeling as the team's all-time winningest head coach, which is a record he achieved this past season. Derek joined the Nailers hockey staff as an assistant coach at the start of the 2020-21 season, and was then promoted to interim head coach and eventually the permanent head coach later that year. Army's teams compiled an overall record of 153-137-19 in 309 games, and reached the playoffs on three occasions. The club's best regular season under his guidance came during 2024-25, when the Nailers finished in second place in the North Division with a 43-25-4 mark, which was good for 90 points.

In Colorado, Army will work under fellow former Nailer Mark Letestu (2007-08), who was named the head coach of the Eagles last week. Derek is the sixth Wheeling head coach to immediately join the AHL coaching ranks, as he joins Tom McVie, Peter Laviolette, Pat Bingham, Stan Drulia, and Clark Donatelli.

The search for the 21st head coach in Wheeling history begins immediately.

Nailers Re-Sign Matthew Quercia

Thursday, July 10th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their first player signing of the 2025 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Matthew Quercia to an ECHL contract.

Quercia, 26, is coming off of a career year for the Nailers, as he reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his three seasons as a pro. His 20 goals were tied for the second most on the team in 2024-25, and he also distributed 13 assists for a total of 33 points, which matched his total from the previous season. Matthew was the team's leader when it came to physicality, as he finished first on the club with ten fighting majors and 188 penalty minutes, both of which were career highs. He achieved all of that while appearing in 68 of 72 regular season games. One of Quercia's most notable moments from this past season came during the team's home opener, when he snapped a 1-1 tie with just over 12 seconds remaining to lift the Nailers to a 2-1 triumph over Bloomington. He scored two goals in a game on three occasions, with the last of those coming on April 11th in Trois-Rivières, when Wheeling was on the verge of locking up second place in the North Division. All of those efforts helped Matthew earn the Fan Choice Player of the Year Award.

The native of Andover, Massachusetts began his professional career in the back half of the 2021-22 season, when he joined the Nailers after playing collegiately at Boston University and Michigan Tech. Since then, Quercia has appeared in 151 regular season games in a Wheeling uniform, and has amassed 34 goals, 39 assists, 73 points, and 385 penalty minutes. He is currently 49 games away from reaching 200 games as a Nailer, which has only been done eight times previously. He is also 54 penalty minutes away from reaching the team's top ten in that category. Matthew's shining moment with Wheeling continues to be his winning goal in overtime of game seven against the Fort Wayne Komets in the 2022 Central Division Semifinal Series.

Matthew Quercia and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2025-26 season in Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The first home game is Saturday, November 1st against the Norfolk Admirals. Season memberships and other terrific ticket plans for the 2025-26 season are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Nailers Announce 2025-26 Schedule

Thursday, May 15th

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced their schedule for the 2025-26 season - the 34th season of professional hockey in Wheeling.

One of the greatest aspects of Wheeling's schedule year after year is how focused it is on weekends, and that is indeed the case in 2025-26. 34 of the 36 home games will be played on weekends and holidays, with one of the two outliers being the annual Education Day game, which will take place on March 11th at 10:45 a.m. Home game times are expected to remain the same as they have been in previous seasons, as Sunday games will begin at 4:10, games on all other days of the week will begin at 7:10, and the annual New Year's Eve game will begin at 6:10.

The Nailers will be playing in the North Division for the second season in a row, and with that, they gain a new divisional opponent in the expansion Greensboro Gargoyles. Wheeling will play 50 of its 72 games (69%) against North Division squads, led by 15 against 24-year rival Reading. In addition to facing all seven teams from the North, Wheeling will maintain some of its geographical rivalries by playing against six teams in the Central Division. There is one other club on the docket, as the Nailers will travel to Rapid City, South Dakota for the second time in their history.

For the third straight season, the opening puck drop will take place on the road, but it is in a city that is a short trip for fans, as Wheeling will make its lone visit to Cincinnati on Saturday, October 18th. The following weekend will be significantly farther away, as the Nailers will play a two-game series at Maine on October 25th and 26th.

In case the wait until November 1st wasn't long enough, Wheeling fans will be extra hungry for the start of the home slate, as the first opponent at WesBanco Arena in 2025-26 will be the final opponent from 2024-25 - Norfolk. The Nailers and Admirals will play a two-game set on Saturday, November 1st and Sunday, November 2nd. Wheeling will then travel to Greensboro, North Carolina for the first time since 2004, where the Gargoyles await the first three head-to-head match-ups (Nov. 6, 7, 8). The Nailers will follow that up with a two-game home series against Maine on the 14th and 15th. Wheeling and Reading will tackle the first four games in their 15-game battle over the course of seven days, with the lone home date in that stretch being November 21st. Thanksgiving Week is stuffed with hockey, and fans will be thankful for three matches at home. Indy is the opponent for the annual Thanksgiving Eve game (Nov. 26), the Nailers will travel to Toledo on Black Friday (Nov. 28), then Cincinnati comes to town for two to wrap up the weekend (Nov. 29 & 30). Feel free to take a deep breath after all of that, as the 15 games in November are the most the team will play in any month.

The early portion of December features two more ventures to Reading (Dec. 3 & 10), but sandwiched in the middle of that is a three-game home weekend against Greensboro on December 5th, 6th, and 7th. Those will be the final home games before the holidays, as Wheeling will play five straight in enemy territory. The second of those Reading games will lead the squad up to Glens Falls, New York for two games against Adirondack (Dec. 12 & 13), then the pre-holiday schedule concludes with two in Greensboro (Dec. 19 & 20).

Rumor has it Nailers fans will have lots of hockey on their wish lists for the holidays, and wow, is the ECHL ever delivering in a big way. Wheeling will start in Toledo on December 26th, then get to unpack for a while, as there will be eight straight home tilts over a three-week span. There is plenty of variety in those eight games, as they will be played against five different opponents - Indy (Dec. 27), Cincinnati (Dec. 28), Worcester (Dec. 31 & Jan. 2), Bloomington (Jan. 3), and Trois-Rivières (Jan. 9, 10, 11). The Nailers will be looking for their eighth straight win on New Year's Eve in their 32nd home game all-time on that date. This will be the first time that the Railers are the opponent for that event. A two-game visit to Norfolk will lead the club into the All-Star Break (All-Star Game in Allen, Texas), and a three-game homestand greets the team after the break. The opponents for that weekend will be Reading (Jan. 23, 24) and Fort Wayne (Jan. 25).

January ends and February begins with an entire week in New England, as Wheeling will play one contest in Maine (Jan. 28) and three in Worcester (Jan. 30, 31, Feb. 1). The Nailers will take the ice for nine of their next 11 games at WesBanco Arena to cover the majority of February. That gets underway with three straight games against Central Division foes - Fort Wayne on the 4th, Indy on the 6th, and Cincinnati on the 7th. After a quick hop, skip, and a jump to Indy (Feb. 11), there will be no love lost when the Friendly City welcomes Reading for all of Valentine's Weekend on the 13th, 14th, and 15th. The Royals will return for one more the following Sunday, the 22nd. Wheeling will have its lone clash with Kalamazoo on February 27th, before a home-and-home series against Fort Wayne (Feb. 28 away, Mar. 1 home).

March features two homestands and two road trips to far away lands. The first homestand will begin with Education Day against Reading on the 11th, and be followed by tilts with Adirondack on the 13th and 14th. The final three home games of the regular season will be on the 27th, 28th, and 29th - all against Worcester. The two journeys away from West Virginia will lead the Nailers to Rapid City (Mar. 4, 6, 7) and Trois-Rivières (Mar. 20, 21, 22).

Wheeling will play all five of its games in April on enemy ice. All joking aside, the Nailers will be in Fort Wayne on April Fool's Day, Toledo on the 4th, and one last set in Reading on the 10th, 11th, and 12th.

2025-26 Opponent Breakdown
15 vs. Reading - 7 home, 8 away
8 vs. Worcester - 5 home, 3 away
8 vs. Greensboro - 3 home, 5 away
6 vs. Trois-Rivières - 3 home, 3 away
5 vs. Cincinnati - 4 home, 1 away
5 vs. Fort Wayne - 3 home, 2 away
5 vs. Maine - 2 home, 3 away
4 vs. Indy - 3 home, 1 away
4 vs. Adirondack - 2 home, 2 away
4 vs. Norfolk - 2 home, 2 away
3 vs. Rapid City - 3 away
3 vs. Toledo - 3 away
1 vs. Bloomington - 1 home
1 vs. Kalamazoo - 1 home

2025-26 Schedule
Sat. Oct. 18 at Cincinnati, 7:35
Sat. Oct. 25 at Maine, 6:00
Sun. Oct. 26 at Maine, 3:00
Sat. Nov. 1 vs. Norfolk, 7:10
Sun. Nov. 2 vs. Norfolk, 4:10
Thu. Nov. 6 at Greensboro, 7:00
Fri. Nov. 7 at Greensboro, 7:00
Sat. Nov. 8 at Greensboro, 7:00
Fri. Nov. 14 vs. Maine, 7:10
Sat. Nov. 15 vs. Maine, 7:10
Sun. Nov. 16 at Reading, 3:00
Tue. Nov. 18 at Reading, 10:30 a.m.
Fri. Nov. 21 vs. Reading, 7:10
Sat. Nov. 22 at Reading, 7:00
Wed. Nov. 26 vs. Indy, 7:10
Fri. Nov. 28 at Toledo, 7:15
Sat. Nov. 29 vs. Cincinnati, 7:10
Sun. Nov. 30 vs. Cincinnati, 4:10
Wed. Dec. 3 at Reading, 7:00
Fri. Dec. 5 vs. Greensboro, 7:10
Sat. Dec. 6 vs. Greensboro, 7:10
Sun. Dec. 7 vs. Greensboro, 4:10
Wed. Dec. 10 at Reading, 7:00
Fri. Dec. 12 at Adirondack, 7:00
Sat. Dec. 13 at Adirondack, 7:00
Fri. Dec. 19 at Greensboro, 7:00
Sat. Dec. 20 at Greensboro, 7:00
Fri. Dec. 26 at Toledo, 7:15
Sat. Dec. 27 vs. Indy, 7:10
Sun. Dec. 28 vs. Cincinnati, 4:10
Wed. Dec. 31 vs. Worcester, 6:10
Fri. Jan. 2 vs. Worcester, 7:10
Sat. Jan. 3 vs. Bloomington, 7:10
Fri. Jan. 9 vs. Trois-Rivières, 7:10
Sat. Jan. 10 vs. Trois-Rivières, 7:10
Sun. Jan. 11 vs. Trois-Rivières, 4:10
Fri. Jan. 16 at Norfolk, 7:05
Sat. Jan. 17 at Norfolk, 7:05
Fri. Jan. 23 vs. Reading, 7:10
Sat. Jan. 24 vs. Reading, 7:10
Sat. Jan. 25 vs. Fort Wayne, 4:10
Wed. Jan. 28 at Maine, 7:00
Fri. Jan. 30 at Worcester, 7:05
Sat. Jan. 31 at Worcester, 6:05
Sun. Feb. 1 at Worcester, 3:05
Wed. Feb. 4 vs. Fort Wayne, 7:10
Fri. Feb. 6 vs. Indy, 7:10
Sat. Feb. 7 vs. Cincinnati, 7:10
Wed. Feb. 11 at Indy, 7:00
Fri. Feb. 13 vs. Reading, 7:10
Sat. Feb. 14 vs. Reading, 7:10
Sun. Feb. 15 vs. Reading, 4:10
Fri. Feb. 27 vs. Kalamazoo, 7:10
Sat. Feb. 28 at Fort Wayne, 7:30
Sun. Mar. 1 vs. Fort Wayne, 4:10
Wed. Mar. 4 at Rapid City, 9:05
Fri. Mar. 6 at Rapid City, 9:05
Sat. Mar. 7 at Rapid City, 9:05
Wed. Mar. 11 vs. Reading, 10:45 a.m.
Fri. Mar. 13 vs. Adirondack, 7:10
Sat. Mar. 14 vs. Adirondack, 7:10
Fri. Mar. 20 at Trois-Rivières, 7:00
Sat. Mar. 21 at Trois-Rivières, 3:00
Sun. Mar. 22 at Trois-Rivières, 3:00
Fri. Mar. 27 vs. Worcester, 7:10
Sat. Mar. 28 vs. Worcester, 7:10
Sun. Mar. 29 vs. Worcester, 4:10
Wed. Apr. 1 at Fort Wayne, 7:30
Sat. Apr. 4 at Toledo, 7:15
Fri. Apr. 10 at Reading, 7:00
Sat. Apr. 11 at Reading, 7:00
Sun. Apr. 12 at Reading, 3:00