The 2008-09 ECHL season brings change, once again, to the Wheeling Nailers.
Greg Puhalski will begin his first full season as the franchise’s head coach and director of hockey operations. The 43-year-old native of Fort William, Ontario, Canada, took over control of the team on Jan. 2 of last season, relieving then-head coach Glenn Patrick of his duties.
Puhalski has a promising resume that includes Coach of the Year honors twice in the United Hockey League – Chicago Hounds (2006-07) and Fort Wayne Komets (2002-03). He has posted the most game coached (680) and has recorded the most wins (390) in UHL history. His 2002-03 Fort Wayne team captured the Colonial Cup.
This year’s Wheeling team kind of resembles his 2006-07 Chicago team that earned a playoff berth. Both feature more than a handful of youngsters.
Puhalski oesn’t seem like the kind of coach that will mess around. If you don’t perform, you won’t be here. Plain and simple. It’s been awhile since the Nailers have had a coach with that type of authority.
Puhalski, who has also coached Toledo of the ECHL, will be the Nailers’ 12th head coach in 17 season. Only four of them lasted longer than one season, those being Glenn Patrick (2), Pat Bingham (2), John Brophy (2) and Doug Sauter (3).
Others who have spent time, albeit briefly, behind the Nailers bench include Larry Kish, Tom McVie, Peter Laviolette, Chris Jensen, Murray Eaves, Alain Lemieux and Joe Harney.
Holm Re-Sighting
For those diehard Nailers’ fans, they might recall a player from about 10 years ago named Tobias Holm. You know, the guy with the white skates.
The young Swede was a member of the organization back in 1998-99 when Chris Jensen was guiding the team Well, he’s back again, partly due to the efforts of former Nailer Stefan Brannare. It was Brannare that coaxed his youthful countryman to Wheeling a decade ago.
Since his departure, the 30-year old right-winger has skated in Europe. He played for three different leagues last season – the Danish League, Division 1 (Sweden) and Nationalliga (Austria).
In 407 career professional games, the 6-ft.-1, 207-pounder has scored 103 goals and assisted on 112 others. During his 60-game career in the ‘Friendly City,’ Holm netted nine goals and 17 helpers, while also logging 108 minutes in the penalty box.
Welcome back Tobias.
No More Philly Connection
The Philadelphia Flyers and Wheeling Nailers have ended their short, one-year, affiliation.
To me, that is good news. What did the Flyers ever do to help the Nailers? Nothing that I can recollect.
Good riddance to anything connected with the ‘Broad Street Bullies.’
Well, well. What’s Wheeling’s so-called loss is Mississippi’s gain, I guess. It was recently announced that the Sea Wolves have come to agreement with Philadelphia, both the Phantoms and the Flyers, on an affiliation deal.
Meet The Team Night Tonight
The Wheeling Nailers, the ‘AA’ affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, announce today that the team will be the guest of River City Ale Works tonight at 7 for the annual meet the team party. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet the new players as well as get autographs and pictures with their favorite players.
Following the meet and greet at 7:30, WTOV 9 will air their annual pre-season Nailers special live from River City Ale Works.
North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com