Nailers Sign Ryan Pitoscia

Former Division III National Champion Begins Second Pro Season

WHEELING - 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. He originally signed with Indy, then got traded to Jacksonville, where he made his pro debut on November 8. 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. Another significant game in Pitoscia’s rookie campaign came on March 7, when he scored 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. He 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. He 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 15 - 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.

Pitoscia and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16. The first home game is Saturday, October 24 against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.