Wheeling Nailers

The Wheeling Nailers are a minor-pro hockey team in the ECHL. The club is based in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Wheeling Nailers team logo

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About The Team

The Nailers franchise dates back to 1981 in the ACHL, but the team started play in Wheeling in 1992. From 1992-1996, the team was named the Wheeling Thunderbirds. Since 1996, the club has gone by the Wheeling Nailers which is an ode to the city's history in the nail manufacturing industry.

What players say...

"Wheeling is a blue-collar town through and through. As a physical player who liked throwing checks, fists, and battling, the Nailers was the place for me to grind it out in the minors. The league is tough, but with all the NHL affiliations, there's more young talent mixed into the league today. Wheeling isn't flashy as a destination by any means for players, but away from the arena, it's a laid back place that we enjoyed with kind people and Nailers supporters."

WesBanco Arena

The Nailers home ice hockey arena is the WesBanco Arena (commonly referred to as the Civic Center). Opened in 1977, the multi-use arena hosts all sorts of events besides hockey ranging from basketball and indoor football to concerts and freestyle motorcross events. For ice hockey matches, the arena can sit up to 5,406 spectators.

How many championships do the Wheeling Nailers have?

0. The Wheeling Nailers are still waiting to win a championship in the ECHL (the Kelly Cup). Over the years, the Nailers have won multiple regular season, division, and conference titles.

Notable/Cult Players

A couple of the most notable and popular players to have worn a Nailers sweater are:

  • Tim Tisdale
  • Zack Torquato
  • Zenon Konopka
  • Stefan Bränare
  • Tim Roberts
  • Paul Bissonnette
  • Steve Gibson
  • Darren Schwartz
  • Andy Chiodo

Off The Ice in Wheeling, West Virginia

Wheeling sits in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains. The city itself isn't massive, but the greater metro area has over 100k in population so there's plenty happening in the region from shopping and restaurant dining to outdoor adventures of all sorts (hiking, etc). Wheeling definitely has that small town feel to it whenever we see a game there, but the people we've interacted with over the years have always treated us and players who've player there well. On game nights, Nailers fans can get pretty rowdy and invested in their team once the puck drops- that's for sure!

Interesting Facts

In downtown Wheeling, Centre Market is a historic market that dates way back to the 19th century. The architecture as you walk around is unique as you check out an assortment of shops, boutiques, and restaurants along the district. When you visit, it's worth checking out one day while you're here.

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