Nailers Announce Season Opening Roster

October 16, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL) Wheeling Nailers WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, have announced their season opening roster. The roster consists of 22 players - 14 forwards, six defensemen, and two goaltenders. There is also one player on Injured Reserve, as well as four additions pending.

At the goaltending position, the Nailers have a pair of affiliated players. Pittsburgh prospect Eric Hartzell returns to Wheeling for his second professional season, after going 18-13-2 as a rookie between the AHL and ECHL levels. He is joined in the crease by rookie Franky Palazzese, who recently signed with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Palazzese is coming off of a four-year career in the OHL, which included 27 wins as a 20-year old last season.

The Nailers' blueline features two returning players, as 2013-14 Players Player Award winner Paul Cianfrini and second-year player Myles Harvey make their way back to the Ohio Valley. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rookie Clark Seymour and Hamilton rookie David Makowski are the two affiliated players on defense, while Brendan Rempel and Zach Yuen will both suit up for their sophomore seasons in the ECHL.

Ten of the 14 forwards on the opening roster have called Wheeling home in the past, as Derek Army, Shane Bakker, Jarrett Burton, Tyler Fernandez, Sahir Gill, Chaz Johnson, Max MacKay, Patrick McGrath, Tyler Murovich, and Carter Rowney will all don the Nailers jersey in 2014-15. Joining those ten will be second-year players Riley Brace and Jeremie Malouin, as well as rookies Troy Barss and Stefano Momesso.

Wheeling will open the season with one player on Injured Reserve, as 2013-14 All-ECHL Second Team member Mike Ratchuk looks to battle his way back into the lineup when healthy.

There will be more shuffling taking place prior to Saturday's opener, as the Nailers made two trades, while agreeing to terms with another player. Wheeling acquired forward David Gilbert, as well as defensemen Justin Sefton and Ben Shutron from the Orlando Solar Bears for future considerations. They then swapped defenseman Justin Baker and newly acquired blueliner Dylan King to the Allen Americans for future considerations. Finally, the Nailers agreed to terms with defenseman Ben Blood, expecting to sign him to a contract within the next two days.

Uniform numbers will be available once all transactions have been completed.

The Wheeling Nailers will open the 2014-15 regular season on Saturday night, when they play host to the Reading Royals at 7:35. Tickets are available, but selling quickly. Get yours by calling (304) 234-GOAL.

2014-15 WHEELING NAILERS

Goalies

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Nailers Announce Season Opening Roster