(Publisher’s Note: Mr. Yost’s insights on the Wheeling Nailers are a new addition to this year’s coverage of the city’s ECHL hockey team. With the Nailers opening their regular season this evening at Wesbanco Arena, Jeff focused his first entry on the roster, the head coach, and on Wesbanco Arena.)
How do you feel about the recent upgrades to Wesbanco Arena?
I must say, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the upgraded environment in Wesbanco Arena. I really love all of the food options available now from some of the great local establishments that are working with the arena to offer their goods there. Between Generations, River City, and the ice cream vendor for those of us with a sweet tooth, you can definitely find some great options for the whole family.
Also, the seating available is some of the best I’ve found in an arena. When it was announced they were getting rid of the old orange plastic seats, I was hopeful but not optimistic. But I really must say, what they were able to transform that seating into was well beyond my imagination. There really isn’t a bad seat in the arena for all of their events, and every available chair is much more comfortable than you might expect from an arena.
Where are your favorite seats for ECHL hockey inside Wesbanco Arena?
I absolutely LOVE sitting up in the 300 level behind the net. I love being able to follow the action in that way, seeing where breakout opportunities are, getting a good feel for how teams like to gain zone entries by watching them come towards me, and everything about it. I’ve sat in just about every section in that arena for a hockey game (dating back to the early 90’s), and I just don’t think you can beat the view of the action from high above and behind the net.
After reviewing the Wheeling roster, what do you believe the Nailers’ strengths will be to begin the season?
I think one of their biggest strengths is the number of players they were able to return from last year’s team that made it to the second round of the playoffs. In professional sports, it’s often hard to make sure you keep guys together like that, but to have them develop their team identity last year while working with Derek Army (more on him in a minute) really shows how important it is to do what the Nailers were able to do for this year.
The other interesting part that I will be keeping my eye on is who they will be using between the pipes. The front office has found a way to bring together a group of goalies who have seen success in the league already with others who have been playing either at the juniors or collegiate level, and I think, if they can find the right rotation for that group, there’s no reason they can’t be successful behind a very strong group of skaters in front of them.
Where does Derek Army rank with you as far as your favorite Nailers coaches go?
It’s a little hard to state my thoughts on Derek Army in terms of the history of the club since he’s only been here for one full season so far. But if I think about the current team, I couldn’t imagine a better option at coach for the group they are putting together now. It really appears like he has the full confidence of the returning players that I spoke of earlier, and the new guys on the roster (once they’re given time to feel out his style) should follow the example being set by the leaders and really bring this team the success they deserve.
If I were to try to give Derek a ranking in terms of historic Nailers coaches, I would probably put him second behind Doug Sauter right now, based on his entire time with the team (both playing and coaching), and I think he has nowhere to trend but up. There’s no reason for someone to think he can’t be one of the most successful coaches this franchise has seen for as long as he’s here.
Explain, if you would, the rivalry between the Nailers and Toledo.
Oh boy, the question I was looking forward to the most when I had a chance to read them all.
The rivalry between Wheeling and Toledo dates back to the old Thunderbirds and Storm days. We always seemed to run into each other in the playoffs, and the hatred was evident from the drop of the puck every time. Over the years, the animosity between the two franchises has just seemed to deepen, to the point where I don’t think I can ever look at a hockey team from that city in a positive light. Of course, it probably doesn’t help that it always felt like they had the upper hand more often than not, which makes it all the more sweeter when we can find a way to pull one out against them.
But I guarantee you, come puck drop tonight, all of those feelings from all of those years of blood, sweat, and anger will rise to the surface again and remind me of just why I love this game and this team so much.
