Down on the Farm... Note Book 11.18.10

Going into the season, goalie depth was one of the much talked about issues. The Pens system has been stocked over the summer, leaving much discussion about who would get playing time. Thus far in Wilkes-Barre, both John Curry and Brad Thiessen have played very well with Thiessen playing lights out hockey.

Thiessen is 8-0 with a 1.74 GAA and a .936 save percentage. Curry has also been phenomenal but to a slightly lesser degree with a record of 4-2 with a 2.64 GAA and a .902 save percentage.

Goaltending has been a strong suit of the Nailers this season thus far as well. Patrick Killeen started his professional career of with a bang going 6-0. Although Mattais Modig has not been great, he has not been horrible either, but one could tell that he’s still getting use to the North American style of play. He also hasn’t received a ton of offensive help when he has been in net.

With Chris Conner up with Pittsburgh and both Nick Johnson and Brett Sterling hurt, the AHL Pens are relying on guys like Keven Veilleux, Chris Collins, Geoff Walker and Bryan Lerg to put in more ice time.

With the injuries happening in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Nailers’ forward Joey Haddad has been recalled to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pens. Haddad registered 10 points (4G, 6A) in 12 games played for Wheeling thus far this season. Haddad also played 29 games with the WBS Pens last season.

After starting the year as-hot-as can be, the Wheeling Nailers have found themselves losers of the last 3 out of 4 games and now sit 7th overall in the ECHL’s Eastern Conference 7-6-0 through 13 games.

Andrew Lord has been named the Nailers’ team Captain, while Kris Vernarsky, Andrew Orpik, and David Urquhart have all been selected to don the “A.” Lord was Wheeling’s Capitan last season so it should come as no huge surprise.

Nailer forward, Nick Peterson has been tearing up the ECHL since being sent down in late October. Peterson has notched 7 goals in 8 games.