TEAM NEWS 2026-27 SEASON
Nailers Sign Zach Bannister
Thursday, September 10th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 22nd player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Zach Bannister to an ECHL contract.
Bannister, 27, is set to begin his third full season in the ECHL, and the Nailers become his sixth team. Zach began his professional career in the spring of 2024, following the conclusion of his collegiate playing career. The forward distributed one assist in two games with the Norfolk Admirals, before joining the Adirondack Thunder that summer. Bannister split his rookie season between Adirondack and Indy, then played the majority of last season with the Reading Royals. 2025-26 was Zach's most productive campaign as a pro, as he amassed four goals, five assists, and nine points in 30 games. His best individual performance was a two-goal effort at Greensboro on February 7th. Overall, Bannister has appeared in 76 games with career totals of eight goals, seven assists, and 15 points.
Prior to turning pro, the Grande Prairie, Alberta native played four years of college hockey - three seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, then one year at Stevenson University (both Division III). Bannister's senior season at Stevenson in 2023-24 was his best individually, as he averaged just under one point per game with ten goals, 17 assists, and 27 points in 28 games. Those numbers helped him get named to the Second Team All-Conference in the MAC. Zach also enjoyed team success, as Wisconsin-Superior won a WIAC Championship in 2020-21. The forward finished his college career with 22 goals, 35 assists, and 57 points in 88 games.
Zach Bannister and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Tanner Hartman
Wednesday, September 9th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 21st player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Tanner Hartman to an ECHL contract.
Hartman, 24, is ready to begin his professional career, following four years of college hockey. Tanner played his first two college seasons at Hobart College (Division III), where he enjoyed tremendous success both individually and with the team. The Statesmen won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Hartman was named to the NEHC All-Rookie Team, thanks to 19 points in 29 games as a freshman, but blew those numbers out of the water a year later. As a sophomore, the forward racked up 20 goals, 25 assists, and 45 points in 31 games, and was named to the NEHC First Team All-Conference, the All-USCHO First Team, an AHCA First Team All-American (East), the NEHC All-Tournament Team, and the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
The Chicago, Illinois native transferred to Brown University for his final two seasons of college hockey. Hartman accumulated four goals, eight assists, and 12 points in 48 games with the Bears. Tanner will become the second member of his family to play hockey at the professional level, as his older brother Ryan is set to begin his 13th NHL season as a member of the Minnesota Wild.
Tanner Hartman and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Mike Posma
Tuesday, September 8th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 20th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Mike Posma to an ECHL contract.
Posma, 24, returns for his second season with the Nailers. Mike had a great rookie season, as he finished second among Wheeling rookies with 13 goals, third among rookies on the club with 26 points, and tied for second on the team overall with a +19 rating. After scoring his first professional goal on opening night at Cincinnati, the forward caught fire in November. Posma posted back-to-back two-goal games in a weekend sweep of the Maine Mariners to close out a personal four-game point streak, then tallied points in three straight victories to close out the month. Mike finished November with a +11 rating, which made him a co-winner of the ECHL Plus Performer of the Month Award. The rookie added two goals, two assists, and four points in 15 playoff games, including the game tying goal in the game one overtime triumph over Maine in the North Division Final Series. Posma also played four games with the Florida Everblades at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Prior to turning pro, the Pomona, New York native played four seasons of college hockey at Boston College. Posma accumulated 15 goals, 21 assists, and 36 points in 142 games with the Eagles. Boston College won the Hockey East Regular Season Championship during his junior and senior years, and won the Hockey East Tournament Championship during his junior season. Mike has a younger brother, David, who played his senior year as a defenseman at Stonehill College in 2025-26.
Mike Posma and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Scott Kirton
Wednesday, September 2nd
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 19th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Scott Kirton to an ECHL contract.
Kirton, 30, is entering his sixth professional season, as he has played in the ECHL and the SPHL. Scott has been the leading scorer for the SPHL's Evansville Thunderbolts during each of the last three seasons. His career totals in the SPHL are 85 goals, 103 assists, and 188 points in 215 games. Kirton's individual success has gone hand in hand with team success, as Evansville captured back-to-back President's Cups as SPHL champions in 2025 and 2026. The forward has appeared in 35 career ECHL games, and current Nailers Associate Coach Jason Payne was his head coach for 26 of the 35, when he suited up for the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2021-22, 2023-24, and 2024-25. Scott has also played for the Norfolk Admirals, the Newfoundland Growlers, and the Maine Mariners in the ECHL.
Prior to turning pro, the Scarborough, Ontario native played three seasons of USports, as he attended the University of Toronto. Kirton accumulated 11 goals, 16 assists, and 27 points in 78 games for the Varsity Blues. Scott's final season at the University of Toronto was the best season in school history, as the Varsity Blues went 21-5-2. That was also his best season there, as he finished with 11 points during the regular season, then added three goals in three playoff contests. Kirton also played three seasons of junior hockey for the OJHL's Whitby Fury.
Scott Kirton and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Nick McCarry
Tuesday, September 1st
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 18th signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Nick McCarry to an ECHL contract.
McCarry, 24, was originally acquired by the Nailers in June at the ECHL Future Considerations Trade Deadline to complete a prior transaction with the Norfolk Admirals. Nick made his professional debut with the Atlanta Gladiators in February, following the completion of his collegiate career at Carleton University. The rookie forward was scoreless in five games with Atlanta, then got traded to Norfolk in early March. McCarry earned first star honors by scoring his first career goal and adding an assist in a 4-1 Admirals win over the Maine Mariners on March 13th to end Maine's 11-game winning streak. Nick completed the ECHL season with three points in 21 contests.
Prior to turning pro, the Calgary, Alberta native played four seasons of USports at Carleton University. McCarry's best season at school was this past year, when he led the Ravens with 16 goals, 14 assists, and 30 points in 28 games. That performance helped him earn a selection to the OUA East First All-Star Team. Nick earned league honors two other times at Carleton, as he was named to the OUA East All-Rookie Team in 2022-23 and the OUA East Second All-Star Team in 2024-25. Overall, McCarry amassed 40 goals, 71 assists, and 111 points in 108 games with the Ravens. Nick also played parts of five seasons in the WHL with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Kamloops Blazers, and Spokane Chiefs, as he produced 104 points in 174 games.
Nick McCarry and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Philip Svedebäck
Monday, August 31st
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 17th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed goaltender Philip Svedebäck to an ECHL contract.
Svedebäck, 24, is ready to begin his professional career, following four years of college hockey at Providence College. Philip was the starting goaltender for the majority of his time with the Friars, as he played in 113 of the team's 145 games. The netminder had a winning record, a goals against average under 2.50, and a save percentage of .900 or better during all four of his seasons at Providence. He had his best goals against average (2.18) as a freshman, his highest win total (18) and shutout total (4) as a sophomore, then his best save percentage (.918) as a senior. This past season, the Friars captured their second Hockey East Regular Season Championship in school history, and advanced to the NCAA National Tournament for the second year in a row.
The native of Växjö, Sweden was originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (117th overall pick) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Svedebäck had played his entire career in Sweden prior to that, including three seasons of junior hockey with his hometown Växjö Lakers. When Philip first came to North America, he played one season of junior hockey for the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2021-22. He went 15-7-3 with a 2.95 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 25 appearances.
Philip Svedebäck and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Kolby Johnson
Thursday, August 27th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 16th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Kolby Johnson to an ECHL contract.
Johnson, 28, has played in parts of three seasons professionally, and two of those have been in the ECHL. Kolby's first year in the league was 2024-25, when he appeared in 34 games with the Worcester Railers. The physical forward finished third on the club with 100 penalty minutes that season and dropped the gloves eight times. He also contributed two goals and two assists. Last season, Johnson produced three goals in 11 games, while accumulating 46 penalty minutes with Worcester and the Jacksonville Icemen.
In addition to his time in the ECHL, the Rosetown, Saskatchewan native has also spent the last two summers playing in the Australian Ice Hockey League. This summer, Johnson was the leading scorer for the Adelaide Adrenaline, as he racked up 17 goals, 20 assists, 37 points, and 106 penalty minutes in 26 games. Kolby has also played for Team Jamaica on three different occasions - twice in the Latam Cup and once in the Challenger Series. Team Jamaica won the Latam Cup in 2019 and won the Challenger Series in 2024.
Prior to turning pro, Johnson played four seasons of USports hockey. He played one season at York University, then transferred to Trinity Western University for his final three years. Kolby totaled five goals, five assists, ten points, and 122 penalty minutes in 51 games.
Kolby Johnson and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Cam Cook
Wednesday, August 26th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 15th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Cam Cook to an ECHL contract.
Cook, 28, is ready to begin his sixth professional season, having played parts of the previous four seasons in the ECHL. Cam spent most of the last two campaigns with the Reading Royals, as he posted ten goals, 11 assists, 21 points, and 74 penalty minutes in 65 games. Last season, the forward lit the lamp five times, and three of those goals opened the scoring in the contest, including two tallies against the Nailers. Cook has also suited up in the ECHL with the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Trois-Rivières Lions, and Adirondack Thunder, giving him career totals of ten goals, 16 assists, 26 points, and 89 penalty minutes in 89 contests.
In addition to his time in the ECHL, the Halifax, Nova Scotia native has played parts of five seasons in the SPHL with Evansville, Fayetteville, Pensacola, and Huntsville. Cook finished second on his team in scoring twice - once with Evansville in 2021-22 when he had 37 points in 50 games, then again in 2023-24, when he finished with 46 points in 40 games with Fayetteville. Cam has played in the playoffs in all five of his professional seasons.
Prior to turning pro, Cook played two seasons of college hockey at Niagara University, and before that, he played parts of four seasons of junior hockey in the North American Hockey League. Cam won two NAHL Championships - one with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in 2015-16, then another with the Shreveport Mudbugs in 2017-18. He was an alternate captain and the leading goal scorer (22) on the 2017-18 Shreveport squad.
Cam Cook and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Ryan Pitoscia
Tuesday, August 25th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 14th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Ryan Pitoscia to an ECHL contract.
Pitoscia, 25, enters his second professional season, after playing for the Jacksonville Icemen as a rookie. Ryan originally signed with Indy, then got traded to Jacksonville, where he made his pro debut on November 8th. The forward didn't take long to find the back of the net, as he scored his first career goal exactly one week later in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta on November 15th. Another significant game in Pitoscia's rookie campaign came on March 7th, when he potted a pair of goals in a 6-3 triumph at Kalamazoo. His second goal of that contest snapped a 3-3 deadlock in the third period. Ryan finished the year with seven goals, six assists, and 13 points in 53 games, and only spent 16 minutes in the penalty box.
Prior to turning pro, the Oakville, Ontario native played four seasons of college hockey at Adrian College. Pitoscia reached double digits in goals and notched at least 20 points during each of his four seasons with the Bulldogs. Ryan set his career high with 15 goals in 2021-22, which was also the year that Adrian won the NCAA Division III National Championship. His 15th and final goal of that season came during the third period of the National Championship Game to give the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead in an eventual 5-2 win over Geneseo State. The forward finished his college career with 56 goals, 48 assists, and 104 points in 117 games.
Ryan Pitoscia and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
Monday, August 24th
Nailers Re-Sign Tristan Thompson
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 13th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed defenseman Tristan Thompson to an ECHL contract.
Thompson, 29, was originally acquired by the Nailers in a trade from the Maine Mariners in late January of this past season. After recording 14 points and a +4 rating in 33 games with Maine, Tristan saw his numbers improve even more with Wheeling, has he tallied 17 points and a +8 rating in 31 contests. The veteran blueliner added one goal and one assist in 15 playoff contests, and both of those points came during the game one victory for the Nailers over the Mariners in the North Division Final Series. Between the regular season and the playoffs, Wheeling was 10-2-2 when Thompson collected at least one point in a game.
This will be Tristan's sixth season as a pro, as well as his sixth in the ECHL, as he has also suited up with the Rapid City Rush, Savannah Ghost Pirates, and Adirondack Thunder. Statistically speaking, 2025-26 was Thompson's second best season individually, trailing only the 2022-23 campaign, when he led all Savannah defensemen with 42 points, while playing in all 72 regular season games. From a team standpoint, last season was also his first time playing in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, although he had won a Norwegian Championship with the Stavanger Oilers in 2021-22. Thompson's career totals in the ECHL are 23 goals, 120 assists, and 143 points in 261 games.
Prior to turning pro, the Canmore, Alberta native played four seasons of college hockey at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks from 2016-20. Tristan accumulated 18 goals, 33 assists, and 51 points in 136 career games with the Nanooks. His best individual season at school came in 2018-19, when he finished second on the team and first among defensemen with 20 points. Thompson also enjoyed success in junior hockey, which included an AJHL Championship while playing for former Nailers Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou and the Brooks Bandits in 2015-16.
Tristan Thompson and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Robby Drazner's Rights from Kalamazoo
Thursday, August 20th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. The Nailers have acquired the rights to defenseman Robby Drazner from the Kalamazoo Wings in exchange for defenseman Aidan Sutter. Drazner has signed an AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters - Wheeling's new AHL affiliate.
Drazner, 26, is entering his second professional season, after playing the majority of his rookie campaign in Kalamazoo, in addition to a pair of AHL contests with the Abbotsford Canucks. Robby appeared in 52 games with the Wings and collected four goals, 11 assists, and 15 points. His best individual performance came in a 7-3 victory at Iowa on February 11th, when he recorded one goal, two assists, and a +4 rating. The blueliner's two AHL games both came in November, and he picked up one assist for the Canucks in a home clash with Henderson.
Prior to turning pro, the Buffalo Grove, Illinois native played five seasons of college hockey - four years at Miami University (Ohio), then one at Western Michigan University. Drazner's best collegiate season came at Western Michigan, as he notched 14 points and a +18 rating in 42 games to help the Broncos win the NCAA National Championship, in addition to the regular season and tournament championship in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). Robby finished his NCAA career with 11 goals, 17 assists, and 28 points in 155 games.
Sutter, 23, is coming off of his first full professional season, as he recorded three goals, six assists, nine points, and a +9 rating in 47 regular season contests with Wheeling. The blueliner then appeared in ten of the club's 17 games during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Aidan was originally acquired by the Nailers in a trade from the Florida Everblades in December of 2023. After a two-year stint at the University of Calgary, he made his Wheeling debut in February of 2025. His ECHL career regular season totals are three goals, eight assists, and 11 points in 70 matches.
The Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Chris Dodero
Wednesday, August 19th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 12th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Chris Dodero to an ECHL contract.
Dodero, 30, is set to begin his fifth professional season and third in the ECHL. Chris began his professional career in 2022-23 in the ICE Hockey League with HK Olimpija Ljubljana. There, he racked up 30 points in 39 games and won a Slovenian Championship. The forward spent one more season in Europe, as he played for the ICE Hockey League's Graz 99ers and DEL2's Starsbulls Rosenheim during the 2023-24 campaign.
Dodero began his ECHL career in 2024-25, when he signed with the Tahoe Knight Monsters. All three of Chris' goals in a Tahoe uniform came in the same game, as he netted his first career hat trick in North America in a 7-3 win at Idaho. In December of that season, the forward was traded to the Cincinnati Cyclones, where he played for current Nailers Associate Coach Jason Payne. Dodero tallied 18 points in 39 games with the Cyclones, and Cincinnati went 18-14-7 with him in the lineup, following a 4-15-4 start prior to his arrival. Last summer, Chris was traded to the Idaho Steelheads, where he went on to have an even better season. He produced 27 points and a +11 rating in 52 games, and helped the Steelheads qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs, as the team earned 91 points.
Prior to turning pro, the Bloomingdale, Illinois native played five seasons of college hockey at American International College from 2017-22. Dodero accumulated 26 goals, 45 assists, and 71 points in 134 career games at AIC, and his best season came in 2021-22, when he finished tied for third on the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 29 points. AIC won four regular season conference championships and three conference tournament championships during Chris' time there. He was named to Atlantic Hockey's All-Tournament Team in 2022 with three goals and three assists in four games, which included two goals and two assists in the championship victory over Air Force.
Last season, Chris got the opportunity to be teammates with his older brother Charlie, as the two skated together with the Steelheads. Chris and Charlie also have a younger brother, Chad, which gives them one brother at each position. Chris is a forward, Charlie is a defenseman, and Chad is a goaltender.
Chris Dodero and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 2026 Preseason Schedule
Tuesday, August 18th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers have announced their 2026 exhibition schedule.
Before they renew their division rivalry with six regular season games, the Nailers and Fort Wayne Komets will lock horns twice in the preseason. The two teams will play at Wheeling's WesBanco Arena on Friday, October 9th at 7:10 p.m., then meet up again two days later at Fort Wayne's Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, October 11th at 5:00 p.m. This will be the third preseason series played between the Nailers and Komets. Fort Wayne swept a two-game set in 2019, then Wheeling swept a two-game set in 2022. This will be the first time since that 2022 series that the Nailers will play multiple preseason matches.
The preseason home game at WesBanco Arena will be free to attend with open seating to give fans their first glimpse at the 2026-27 team.
EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
Fri. Oct. 9 - Wheeling Nailers vs. Fort Wayne Komets, 7:10 p.m.
Sun. Oct. 11 - Wheeling Nailers at Fort Wayne Komets, 5:00 p.m.
The Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Craig Armstrong
Monday, August 17th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 11th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Craig Armstrong to an ECHL contract.
Armstrong, returns for his second season with the Nailers and his third year as a pro. Craig saw a drastic increase in his production from his rookie year to his sophomore season, as his point total nearly doubled with Wheeling. The forward amassed 12 goals, 23 assists, and 35 points in 68 regular season games, then added two goals, three assists, and five points in 17 postseason contests. He was also the team's leader in +/- during the regular season with a +29 mark, which was the best +/- in a single season for a Nailer since Jake Ortmeyer (+36) and J.C. Ruid (+33) both eclipsed +30 during the 2003-04 campaign. Armstrong had a weekend to remember this past season as November came to an end. He scored his first goal in a Wheeling uniform in a 5-2 victory at Toledo on November 28th, then recorded the 53rd five-point game in team history the following night, thanks to one goal and four assists in an 8-3 thrashing of Cincinnati. Craig also collected a pair of two-goal games in home wins over Trois-Rivières and Kalamazoo. Both of his tallies in the playoffs came in home triumphs, as he scored in game two of the North Division Semifinal Series and in game four of the Eastern Conference Final Series. Armstrong's two-year ECHL totals are 19 goals, 35 assists, and 54 points in 132 games.
Prior to turning pro, the Crossfield, Alberta native played parts of six seasons of junior hockey in the WHL and QMJHL. Armstrong posted over 30 points during each of his final three seasons of junior hockey, as he suited up with the Prince George Cougars, the Red Deer Rebels, and the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. His final year in Chicoutimi was his best, when he notched 17 goals, 22 assists, and 39 points in 67 games. Craig was also an alternate captain that season.
Craig Armstrong and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
Thursday, August 13th
Nailers Sign Kishaun Gervais
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their tenth player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Kishaun Gervais to an ECHL contract.
Gervais, 24, is entering his fourth professional season, having spent the majority of his first three years in the ECHL. Kishaun began his pro career by scoring six goals in four games for the SPHL's Birmingham Bulls, which quickly put him on the radar in the ECHL. He was signed by the Tulsa Oilers in November of 2023, and proceeded to amass 13 goals, nine assists, 22 points, and 76 penalty minutes in 52 games. One of the highlights from his rookie season was a game winning goal in the seventh round of a shootout at WesBanco Arena. Gervais began the 2024-25 season in Finland, then returned to North America to rejoin the Oilers, before being traded to the Adirondack Thunder. Once again, he made his presence known against the Nailers, as he notched a goal and an assist in a game in the Friendly City, then dropped the gloves with Cole Tymkin on back-to-back nights in Glens Falls. This past season, Kishaun suited up in 21 games for Adirondack, then finished the year by appearing in five games with the Kalamazoo Wings. His ECHL career totals are 27 goals, 24 assists, 51 points, and 223 penalty minutes in 122 games.
Prior to turning pro, the Keeseekoose First Nation, Saskatchewan native played four seasons of junior hockey in the WHL and SJHL, then attended Lakehead University for one year. Gervais' best season of junior hockey came in 2021-22, when he led the SJHL's Yorkton Terriers with 22 goals, 21 assists, 43 points, and 92 penalty minutes in 47 games. He added 12 points in 11 postseason contests that spring. Kishaun has an older brother Kailum, who has played for the Cote Selects in Saskatchewan for the last four seasons.
Kishaun Gervais and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
Wednesday, August 12th
Nailers Sign Kasimir Kaskisuo
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their ninth player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo to an ECHL contract.
Kaskisuo, 32, is entering his 12th professional season, having spent time in a variety of leagues in North America and Europe. Starting at the top in North America, Kasimir has appeared in two NHL contests, as he entered the crease once each for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators. The experienced netminder enjoyed his best success in the AHL, as he played parts of six seasons for the Toronto Marlies, Chicago Wolves, and Laval Rocket. Kaskisuo has a 53-36-13 record, a 2.68 goals against average, a .909 save percentage, and eight shutouts in 108 career AHL games. He was also the starting goalie for two playoff runs with the Marlies. In the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs, Kasimir won each of his first eight starts, helping Toronto reach the Eastern Conference Final. One year later, Kaskisuo was selected to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic. Kasimir has also been between the pipes for 47 ECHL games with the Orlando Solar Bears, Norfolk Admirals, Bloomington Bison, and Utah Grizzlies. He has a 19-18-7 career mark in the ECHL.
The Vantaa, Finland native has played three pro seasons in Europe - two with Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League and one with Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat in the Mestis in Finland. Kaskisuo posted the highest win total of his professional career with Leksands in 2021-22, as he was victorious 23 times, to go along with a 2.64 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. Kasimir recorded a 2.85 goals against average in 15 matches last season in his home country. Prior to playing professionally, the netminder played two seasons of college hockey at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Kaskisuo went 37-29-8 with a 2.10 goals against average, a .920 save percentage, and six shutouts in 75 games with the Bulldogs.
Kasimir Kaskisuo and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Peter Laviolette III as Assistant Coach
Tuesday, August 11th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce that Peter Laviolette III has been named the team's new Assistant Coach.
Laviolette, 28, is ready to begin the next chapter of his hockey career, as he earns his first coaching opportunity with his hometown team. Peter's playing career spanned four seasons, and he spent three of those years in a Wheeling uniform. As a Nailer, Laviolette appeared in 110 games and registered ten goals, 18 assists, 28 points, and 292 penalty minutes. Last season, the forward suited up in 29 games with the Orlando Solar Bears and Savannah Ghost Pirates, and posted two goals, three points, and 75 penalty minutes. In addition to his play on the ice, Peter was a star in the community, as he won the Project BEST Community Award in all three of his seasons in Wheeling.
"Peter Laviolette III was a tremendous ambassador for the Wheeling Nailers as a player, and we are happy that he will be able to begin his coaching career here at home," said Nailers President & Governor Brian Komorowski. "You couldn't ask for a better mentor for Peter than his father, who also began his coaching career in Wheeling, and has become one of the best coaches in the NHL. Peter's passion for the game aligns perfectly with Nate DiCasmirro and Jason Payne, and we look forward to watching him develop as a coach, while teaching all of our new players what it means to be a Nailer."
Peter Laviolette III will be the second member of his family to make his professional coaching debut in Wheeling, following in the footsteps of his father, Peter Laviolette Jr., who led the Nailers to the Northern Conference Final in 1997-98. Laviolette III was born in Wheeling during the season when his father was coaching the Nailers. In fact, the Nailers earned a win the night Peter was born. Earlier this summer, Laviolette Jr. was named head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, and his 846 career wins are the most by an American head coach in NHL history.
"Peter Laviolette III comes from a strong family lineage of coaching, and he was also recommended to me by Derek Army, who coached him for three years here in Wheeling," said Nailers Head Coach Nate DiCasmirro. "Peter put in a tremendous amount of work to earn this position, plus he has an unbelievable amount of energy, dedication, passion, and enthusiasm for the game of hockey. He is already part of the Nailers family and has started his own family in Wheeling, so I am excited to help him start his coaching career here, just like his dad did almost 30 years ago."
Peter and his wife Lindsey got married this summer and are now parents as well, as they welcomed their daughter Leah to the world on July 19th.
"I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to start my coaching career where I started my playing career and my dad started his coaching career," Laviolette said. "I am ready to take a step in a new direction in my hockey career, and my goal is to help young athletes get better both as players and as people. Wheeling is a perfect fit for me, as I am already part of the community. I have had great chemistry already working with Nate DiCasmirro, and I built a good friendship with Jason Payne when I played against the teams that he coached. I can't wait to come to the rink and work hard every day."
Peter Laviolette III and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Justin Taylor
Monday, August 10th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their eighth player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Justin Taylor to an ECHL contract.
Taylor, 37, is ready to begin his 17th professional season, and is coming off of a year which saw him set the ECHL record for most career games played. Justin played in his 885th career contest to take over the top spot on December 13th against the Nailers. He enters this season with 935 ECHL games played, as well as 25 AHL matches for a grand total of 960 professional games. 2025-26 marked the 11th time that Taylor scored 20 or more goals in a season, as he finished the campaign fourth in scoring for the Adirondack Thunder with 20 goals, 19 assists, and 39 points in 68 games. Wheeling will be Justin's seventh ECHL team, as he has also suited up with Kalamazoo, Trenton, Idaho, Tulsa, Fort Wayne, and Adirondack.
The Mindemoya, Ontario native has spent the majority of his playing career with the Kalamazoo Wings, as he played for them during 13 of his first 14 pro seasons, and served as the team's captain in 2021-22. Taylor's most productive seasons came in consecutive years, as he set a career high with 61 points in 2016-17, then set a career high in goals one year later, when he turned on the red light 35 times in 2017-18.
Justin's teams have qualified for the postseason in 11 of his 17 years as a pro. 56 of his 80 career playoff games were played with Kalamazoo, which included a trip to the Kelly Cup Final in his rookie season of 2010-11. The Wings reached the Eastern Conference Final again the following year, then Taylor reached the Western Conference Final in 2012-13 as a member of the Idaho Steelheads. This past spring, he led Adirondack with four goals and seven points in the North Division Semifinal Series against Maine, which included scoring the overtime goal in game five to force the series back to Portland.
When Taylor makes his debut with the Nailers, he will become the fourth player in the ECHL's top-six in career games played to have suited up for Wheeling. The other three are Michael Pelech (2nd - 884), Garet Hunt (5th - 776), and Louis Dumont (6th - 771).
Justin Taylor and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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, August 7th
Nailers Acquire Two Forwards from Wichita
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired forwards Dante Sheriff and Matt Crasa from the Wichita Thunder in exchange for the ECHL rights to forward Connor Lockhart. Sheriff was originally acquired by Wichita from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, prior to being swapped to the Nailers. Sheriff and Crasa were both signed to ECHL contracts prior to the trade, making them the sixth and seventh players signed for the upcoming season.
Sheriff, 27, is entering his fifth professional season, having spent each of the previous four years exclusively in the ECHL. Dante began his career in 2022-23 with the Tulsa Oilers, and finished third on the team in rookie scoring with 13 goals, 17 assists, and 30 points in 51 games. The forward played one more season in Tulsa in 2023-24 and enjoyed his best campaign as a pro, as his 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) ranked third on the Oilers in scoring. Tulsa also qualified for the playoffs that season, which gave Sheriff his first taste of postseason hockey at the professional level. Prior to the 2024-25 season, Dante was acquired in a trade by the Cincinnati Cyclones, where he played for current Nailers Associate Coach Jason Payne. Once again, he found himself toward the top of the team in scoring, as he finished fourth with 11 goals, 27 assists, and 38 points. Sheriff and Payne were reunited last season, thanks to a trade to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Dante produced ten goals, 16 assists, and 26 points. His career totals in the ECHL are 52 goals, 91 assists, and 143 points in 217 contests.
Prior to turning pro, the Woodbridge, Ontario native played two seasons of college hockey at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Sheriff accumulated 13 goals, 29 assists, and 42 points in 52 career games with the Lakers. He has also competed internationally, as he won the 2024 Challenger Series with Team Jamaica. Dante is not the only member of his family to play hockey professionally, as his sister Kandice played for the NWHL's Buffalo Beauts in 2019-20.
Crasa, 25, is entering his second full professional season and third overall - all of which have been spent in the ECHL. Matt began his pro career in the spring of 2025, when he signed with the Norfolk Admirals, following the conclusion of his college career. The forward notched five points in 11 regular season games, then appeared in six postseason contests, including three against Wheeling in the North Division Semifinal Series. Crasa began last season in Norfolk, before he joined the Wichita Thunder in December. Matt produced nine goals and 15 points in 47 tilts with the Thunder, bringing his career totals in the ECHL to 12 goals, ten assists, and 22 points in 71 games.
Prior to turning pro, the Long Island, New York native played four seasons of college hockey at UMass-Lowell. Crasa amassed 27 goals, 31 assists, and 58 points in 129 games with the River Hawks. His best collegiate season took place in 2021-22, when finished second on his team with 12 goals and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
Lockhart, 23, has played two professional seasons, as he spent one year with the Bloomington Bison and one campaign with the Nailers. After collecting 12 goals, 18 assists, and 30 points in 68 games as a rookie with Bloomington, Connor improved his numbers drastically in Wheeling. He finished second on the team in scoring with 21 goals, 34 assists, and 55 points in 70 games. Lockhart was originally acquired by the Nailers in a trade that sent Chris Ortiz's ECHL rights to the Bison, and Connor proceeded to sign an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Prior to turning pro, the Ottawa, Ontario native played four seasons of junior hockey in the OHL with Erie, Peterborough, and Oshawa. 2022-23 was his best season, as he set a career high with 79 points, while the Petes won the OHL Championship. Lockhart has signed an AHL contract with Wichita's affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
Dante Sheriff, Matt Crasa, and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
Columbus Blue Jackets, Wheeling Nailers Announce Affiliation Agreement
Thursday, August 6th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers have announced that they have signed an affiliation agreement with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. This is a two-year agreement, which will begin with the 2026-27 season.
The Blue Jackets are entering their 26th season in the NHL, and are coming off of back-to-back 40-win seasons. The Monsters are entering their 20th season and are coming off of three consecutive trips to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Cleveland reached the North Division Final this past season and went all the way to game seven of the Eastern Conference Final in 2024.
The geographical layout of the affiliation will be a major advantage for the three teams, as Wheeling is located just 166 miles from Cleveland and 128 miles from Columbus. Cleveland is the closest AHL city to Wheeling, while Columbus is the second closest NHL destination to the Friendly City. Additionally, the 166 miles between Cleveland and Wheeling creates the sixth shortest distance between current AHL and ECHL affiliates.
"We are excited to begin our new partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters," said Nailers President & Governor Brian Komorowski. "Geographically, this makes all of the sense in the world for us. When transactions occur, the travel for the players will be extremely convenient. This also gives us an excellent opportunity to expand our growing fanbase deeper into Ohio, as we look forward to welcoming fans from Columbus and Cleveland to WesBanco Arena. We had amazing conversations with Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell and Assistant General Manager Chris Clark, which makes us that much more eager to officially get things started."
Wheeling and Columbus both have rich hockey histories, and at one time, the two cities served as ECHL rivals. Prior to the arrival of the Blue Jackets in 2000, Columbus was the home of the ECHL's Chill from 1991-1999. The Nailers and Thunderbirds faced the Chill for eight seasons, and Wheeling came out on top in 27 of 51 regular season meetings. The Thunderbirds also swept Columbus in three games during the first round of the 1996 Riley Cup Playoffs.
The Nailers will be the seventh ECHL affiliate for the Blue Jackets and the first since 2023, when Columbus concluded its second partnership with the Kalamazoo Wings. During their history, the Blue Jackets have affiliated with Dayton (2000-07), Elmira (2007-08), Johnstown (2008-09), Gwinnett (2009-10), Chicago (2011-12), Evansville (2012-14), and Kalamazoo (2014-16 & 2021-23) in the ECHL. Columbus and Cleveland have been together as affiliates since 2015, and the Monsters won the Calder Cup in their first season with the Blue Jackets.
"We are excited to partner with the Wheeling Nailers as our new ECHL affiliate," said Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Chris Clark, who oversees hockey operations for the organization’s professional affiliates. “Wheeling has a long tradition of both player development and organizational success, and its proximity to both Cleveland and Columbus will be advantageous on the hockey side, while providing a great opportunity to promote our organization and the game throughout the region."
“We look forward to working with Head Coach Nate DiCasmirro, his staff and the entire Nailers organization while helping the young players in our system take the next step in their development.”
Columbus will be the fifth NHL affiliate for Wheeling, who had previously worked with Edmonton (1992-1997), Montreal (1992-1997 & 2010-2015), Philadelphia (2007-2009), and Pittsburgh (1998-2026).
Wednesday, August 5th
Nailers Sign Remy Parker
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their fifth player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has signed forward Remy Parker to an ECHL contract.
Parker, 28, will be entering his third full ECHL season and fourth overall, and the Nailers will be his third team. Remy first entered the league late in the 2023-24 season, when he joined the Cincinnati Cyclones following the completion of his college hockey career. The forward found success immediately, as he scored in his professional debut at Toledo, and ended up lighting the lamp three times in his first five games. In 2024-25, Parker played in 68 of 72 games for the Cyclones and finished with ten goals, eight assists, and 18 points. Four of his ten markers came on special teams, as he tallied twice each on the power play and the penalty kill. Remy split this past season between Cincinnati and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and finished the campaign with three goals, bringing his ECHL totals to 17 goals, ten assists, and 27 points in 119 career games.
Prior to turning pro, the Montclair, New Jersey native played four years of college hockey, as he attended the University of Maine, Utica University, and Long Island University. Parker was Utica's leading goal scorer during his junior season, when he found the back of the net 23 times in 29 games. He then finished third in goals for Long Island as a senior, as he tallied 13 in 36 matches.
Remy is a very popular individual off the ice, as he is approaching 54,000 followers on TikTok.
Remy Parker and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Jason Payne as Associate Coach
Tuesday, August 4th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce that Jason Payne has been named the team's new Associate Coach.
Payne, 50, has coached in the ECHL for the last seven seasons. His first coaching opportunity in the league came in 2018, when he joined the Cincinnati Cyclones as an assistant coach. During Jason's first season, Cincinnati posted a 51-13-8 record and 110 points to capture the Brabham Cup for the best regular season record in the ECHL. Payne spent one more season as an assistant coach under Matt Thomas with the Cyclones, before being promoted to the club's head coach for the 2021-22 season. Jason led Cincinnati to a 76-point finish and a playoff appearance in his first season as head coach, then won the Central Division Championship in 2022-23, as he guided the team to a 47-16-9 mark, good for 103 points. Payne spent two more seasons with the Cyclones, finishing his tenure with a 143-114-31 record in his four years as head coach. Last season, Jason served as associate coach for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
"Jason Payne has been a phenomenal coach in the ECHL, and we are eager to see him work with Nate DiCasmirro to build a winning team for the Nailers this season," said Nailers President & Governor Brian Komorowski. "Jason knows how to win in the Central Division, and his relationships with players he has coached before will help us drastically when it comes to recruiting. As a former Wheeling player and as an opposing coach, Jason understands what it means to be a Nailer, as well as the impact the team has on the community."
The Toronto, Ontario native also enjoyed a 14-year playing career, as he played professionally in the AHL, the ECHL, and the UHL. Payne was a physical player, who was willing to drop the gloves with anyone in his path. Jason appeared in 416 games in the three aforementioned leagues and totaled 27 goals, 38 assists, 65 points, and 1,448 penalty minutes. Payne's final destination as a player was Wheeling, as he played in 18 regular season games and two playoff contests with the Nailers in 2008-09. Jason becomes the sixth former Nailers player who has gone on to be a coach for the team, following Chris Jensen, Joe Harney, Derek Army, Brad Drobot, and Ryan Kuwabara.
"Jason Payne and I hit it off immediately, and I knew from the start that he is the exact coach I needed to work with in this organization," said Nailers Head Coach Nate DiCasmirro. "He has outstanding experience in the ECHL and he knows a remarkable amount of players, so that will be a huge help for me in my first season in the league. He is also a former Nailer, so he knows Wheeling and can help the players know what to expect. I am extremely excited to have Jason on our staff."
Jason and his wife Ashley have three daughters - 19-year-old Milajae, eight-year-old Malia and two-year-old Mylah.
"There can't be any more excitement for me than having the opportunity to return to Wheeling, where I finished my playing career," Payne said. "During my time there, I was able to understand what the fans are all about, as well as what they like to see both on the ice and in the community. My experience of being a coach in Cincinnati gave me strong knowledge of the Central Division, in addition to the ebbs and flows of an ECHL season, and the work that occurs behind the scenes. Speaking with Nate DiCasmirro has been amazing - he has a great mind for the game, he's experienced, and we have the same work ethic and drive to be successful."
Jason Payne and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
Monday, August 3rd
Nailers Re-Sign Alexander Kuqali
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their fourth player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed defenseman Alexander Kuqali to an ECHL contract.
Kuqali, 35, joined the Nailers in February of this past season, and made an immediate impact both on the ice and in the locker room. Alexander appeared in 23 regular season games and produced one goal, three assists, four points, and a +2 rating. He also suited up in 16 of the club's 17 contests during the Kelly Cup Playoffs and dished out two assists. The blueliner scored his first goal in a Wheeling uniform during a 6-2 win at Reading on April 11th, then played in his 300th career ECHL game the following day, when the Nailers clinched the North Division. The Nailers are Kuqali's fifth ECHL team, as he has also played for Florida, Quad City, Orlando, and Fort Wayne. He also spent three seasons in Europe with the EIHL's Coventry Blaze. Between the ECHL and the EIHL, Alexander has amassed 27 goals, 95 assists, and 122 points in 453 professional games.
Prior to turning pro, the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native played four years of college hockey at the Rochester Institute of Technology from 2012-16. The Tigers won two Atlantic Hockey Tournament Championships during his time there, and Kuqali was named to the All-Tournament Team during his senior season when he served as the team's captain. One year earlier, RIT earned one of its three victories all-time at the NCAA National Tournament, 2-1 over Minnesota State. Alexander scored the opening goal of that contest.
Alexander is the second member of his family to play for the Nailers. His older brother Nicholas played in 25 games for Wheeling during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The Kuqali brothers are both coaches in the Pittsburgh Predators Hockey Club, which is a youth hockey organization that plays out of Ice Castle Arena. Former Nailer Tyler Murovich is the Hockey Director for the Predators, and former Nailer Andrew Schmit also works as one of the coaches.
Alexander Kuqali and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired defenseman Mitchell Smith from the Rapid City Rush in exchange for future considerations.
Smith, 23, is about to begin his third professional season, after spending the majority of his first two campaigns with Rapid City. Last season, Mitchell appeared in 59 games and collected three goals, nine assists, and 12 points, while playing a disciplined game with only 14 penalty minutes. One of his best games of the year came during opening weekend, when he notched one goal, one assist, and a +3 rating in a 5-2 road victory against eventual Western Conference Champion Kansas City. Smith began his pro career with the Bloomington Bison at the start of the 2024-25 season, then got traded to the Rush in February. His career ECHL totals are five goals, 14 assists, and 19 points in 102 games.
Prior to turning pro, the Saginaw, Michigan native played three years of junior hockey in his hometown for the OHL's Saginaw Spirit. Mitchell enjoyed two stellar offensive seasons with the Spirit to conclude his junior career, as he racked up 16 goals, 34 assists, and 50 points in 2021-22, then boosted his numbers to 14 goals, 38 assists, and 52 points in 2022-23. Smith's 2022-23 campaign was an extra special one, as he became the first Saginaw native to be selected as the team captain for the Spirit. That spring, Saginaw defeated Flint in a thrilling seven-game series during the opening round of the OHL Playoffs, and Mitchell was a key contributor, as he produced nine points, including one goal and one assist in the 6-3 win in game seven.
Smith had signed his ECHL contract with Rapid City prior to the trade, so he gets added to Wheeling's list of signed players.
Mitchell Smith and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
Thursday, July 30th
Nailers Acquire Mitchell Smith from Rapid City
Nailers Acquire Hunter Sansbury from Florida
Wednesday, July 29th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired defenseman Hunter Sansbury from the Florida Everblades in exchange for the ECHL rights to goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle.
Sansbury, 25, has appeared in 11 career games with the Everblades, as he began his professional career late in the 2024-25 season. Prior to turning pro, Hunter played four years of college hockey at Sacred Heart University, where he served as the team captain during his junior and senior seasons. The Lomita, California native finished second among defensemen in scoring for the Pioneers during his sophomore, junior, and senior campaigns. Over the course of his four years at Sacred Heart, Sansbury accumulated 18 goals, 46 assists, and 64 points, while playing in 148 of 149 possible games. Hunter's best collegiate season came in 2024-25, when he posted 21 points and a +12 rating in 39 games, while helping the Pioneers to their first Atlantic Hockey playoff series win since 2018. Sansbury signed an ECHL contract with Florida prior to the trade, so he becomes the second player under contract with the Nailers this offseason.
D'Aigle, 19, began his professional career this past spring, when the Nailers signed him to an ECHL contract. Gabriel went 1-2-0 with a 2.63 goals against average and a .925 save percentage in three regular season starts, which included a 38-save effort in his first career win on April 12th at Reading. The netminder also appeared in one postseason contest during the North Division Final Series against the Maine Mariners. Prior to turning pro, the Sorel-Tracy, Quebec native played four seasons of junior hockey with the QMJHL's Victoriaville Tigres. D'Aigle went 56-66-7 with a 3.94 goals against average and an .892 save percentage in 140 games for the Tigres. Gabriel was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and 2026-27 will be the first season on his three-year NHL entry-level contract with Pittsburgh, who is now the NHL affiliate for the Everblades.
Hunter Sansbury and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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.
Tuesday, July 28th
Nailers Re-Sign Aidan Sutter
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their first player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed defenseman Aidan Sutter to an ECHL contract.
Sutter, 23, is coming off of his first full professional season, as he recorded three goals, six assists, nine points, and a +9 rating in 47 regular season contests with Wheeling. The blueliner then appeared in ten of the club's 17 games during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Aidan's first big moment from the 2025-26 season came in the second game of the campaign, when he scored his first career goal at Maine on October 25th. Sutter also enjoyed a three-game point streak in January, which helped to kickstart a five-game winning streak for the team. The end of the regular season was another strong stretch for Aidan, as he posted a +8 rating with three assists over the course of the final 12 games.
The Nailers first acquired the Kamloops, British Columbia native in a trade with the Florida Everblades in December of 2023. By that point, Sutter had appeared in six tilts with Florida, but elected to attend the University of Calgary, where he played parts of two seasons, including an appearance in the 2024 University Cup (Canada's equivalent to the NCAA National Tournament). Aidan ultimately joined Wheeling in February of 2025 and finished the 2024-25 slate with two assists in 17 games. His ECHL career regular season totals are three goals, eight assists, and 11 points in 70 matches.
Prior to turning pro, Sutter played four seasons of junior hockey for the WHL's Everett Silvertips. During that time, he amassed 11 goals, 49 assists, 60 points, and a +37 rating in 183 games. His most productive season with the Silvertips came in 2022-23, when he led his squad in scoring by defensemen with 38 points. Aidan also served as an alternate captain that year.
Aidan Sutter and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. 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 Nate DiCasmirro as Head Coach
Monday, July 20th
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce that Nate DiCasmirro has been named the 22nd head coach in team history.
DiCasmirro, 47, earns his first head coaching opportunity with the Nailers, after most recently serving as the associate coach for the Graz 99ers in Austria's ICE Hockey League. The 99ers experienced a 54-point improvement during Nate's first season with the club in 2024-25, then won the league's championship this past season with a perfect 12-0 record in the playoffs.
"Nate DiCasmirro has had a terrific career as a player and as an assistant coach, and we are proud to give him his first head coaching opportunity," said Nailers President & Governor Brian Komorowski. "Nate is extremely well-connected and well-respected throughout the hockey community, which will give him a significant advantage when signing players for the Nailers. Every team that Nate has coached has improved with him on the staff, which shows the impact he has."
This will be DiCasmirro's ninth season as a coach, following the conclusion of his playing career in 2018-19. His first coaching job came with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers, when he worked under former Nailers Assistant Coach Gene Reilly. The Buccaneers finished fourth in the Western Conference, and won their opening round playoff series. After one-year stops with EC-KAC II of the Alps Hockey League and St. Cloud of the North American Hockey League, Nate advanced to the American Hockey League, where he spent three seasons. In 2021-22 and 2022-23, he was an assistant coach for the Iowa Wild under Head Coach Tim Army. The 2022-23 campaign resulted in one of two playoff appearances in Iowa's 13-year history. In 2023-24, Nate worked under former Nailer Colin Chaulk as an assistant coach for the Bakersfield Condors. Bakersfield won 39 games that season - the club's second highest total in 11 AHL seasons.
"Being the head coach of the Wheeling Nailers is an opportunity I am extremely excited for," DiCasmirro said. "I have known Tim and Derek Army for a long time, and both of them spoke so highly about Derek's time in Wheeling that it intrigued me to want to experience it for myself when I learned that there was an opening. I am also looking forward to joining a team that has enjoyed lots of success on the ice over the past few seasons. Being a head coach will give me the opportunity to bring everything I've learned together and put a product on the ice that everyone can be proud of. Passion and joy for the game are qualities that I want to see from the players, and fans will see that energy and positivity from me, as I will be engaged and excited behind the bench. I am also a big believer in work ethic. That's something I prided myself on as a player, and I will be looking to make sure that translates to our players."
The native of Atikokan, Ontario enjoyed a long 17-year professional playing career, with seven seasons in the American Hockey League, then ten seasons throughout Europe. DiCasmirro began his career by playing in 401 games in the AHL. His best team season in the AHL was 2002-03, when the Hamilton Bulldogs reached the Calder Cup Final. His best individual season came in 2005-06, when he tallied 52 points with the Grand Rapids Griffins. In Europe, Nate did a lot of winning, starting with an Italian Supercup Championship in his first year with HC Bolzano in 2008-09. That was the first of six championships in nine years for DiCasmirro, who won another Italian Supercup in 2011-12, two Italian Cup Championships in 2010-11 and 2012-13, an EIHL Playoff Championship in 2013-14, and a Slovenian Championship in 2016-17. Additionally, Nate played internationally for Team Italy on six occasions, which included a Silver Medal at the 2012-13 World Championship (D1A) and two qualifying tournaments for the Winter Olympics.
"Players, staff, and fans alike will enjoy having Nate here in Wheeling, as he has a positive and energetic personality, and he is passionate about sharing his love for the sport of hockey with everyone around him," Komorowski said. "Within the team, our players and staff will be able to feed off of his energy to continue building the winning culture we have here. Nate will also be a star in the community, and we can't wait for him to meet all of Nailers Nation."
Nate and his wife Sabrina have two daughters - 14-year-old Gianna and eight-year-old Avianna.