It’s a dangerous practice for a fan on the ECHL level to adopt a favorite player because it’s a relationship that always – always – ends in an abrupt breakup.
The players leave without even a goodbye. Every. Single. Time.
“We’ve had some pretty upset fans, that’s for sure,” admitted DJ Abisalih, the media market manager for the Wheeling Nailers the last 11 seasons. “But that’s the nature of this league. It’s about development. Everyone wants to move up.”
With that said and well-known with the faithful fans that flow into Wesbanco Arena for most of the Nailers’ 36 home games, Jeff Yost has made the mistake of adopting a new favorite. Despite his historical heartbreak, Yost – the author of the weekly “ON THE NAIL!!” – has admitted very publicly that Wheeling forward Carter Johnson is his newfound favorite.
“I believe what I am most impressed with Carter’s ability to play the entire length of the ice instead of being a forward that only plays up-ice,” Yost said. “You always get back into the defensive zone and you win a lot of face-offs. I’ve always appreciated players that play the whole game, and I’m not just talking about a lot of minutes. I’m talking all facets of the game itself.
“No matter what sport I’m watching, I always notice the players who take care of the little things and there are a lot of little things in the game of hockey,” he said. “In hockey, you can be the team’s leading scoring but still not be the kind of player I appreciate the most because they’re not winning the hard battles and corner play. To me, if you’re putting the puck in the net while also playing the entire game, too, then you’re my kind of hockey player.”
Bucket list for Johnson?
“It’s truly an honor for me when I hear about anyone being a fan let alone me being a fan’s favorite player,” Johnson explained. “To play professionally is a dream come true, and to be someone’s favorite player is something that means a lot to me. That’s very special to me.
“First, you just want to make the team when you make the jump from college to the pro ranks, but then when you hear the fans cheering and screaming your name loud enough that you’re able to hear it, well, that’s a really cool thing,” he said. “Playing hockey is something I’ve been doing since I could walk, and my parents always told me that if I didn’t have my (baby) skates on when I was really little, all I would do is cry.”
Hocus Pocus with a Puck
He played his college career at the University of de Miami (Ohio) and was an integral part of the Wichita Thunder during his first season in the ECHL in 2021-22.
During his rookie season, he scored 45 points with 16 goals and 25 assists while Wichita finished with a 27-39-0-9 record in the league’s Mountain Division, and so far with the Nailers, Johnson has netted five goals and recorded 16 assists in 34 games.
Last week, Yost had the opportunity to ask Johnson a few questions during the “Generations Sports Hour” on River Talk 100.1/100.9 FM, and a couple of the inquiries were:
What part of your game are you happiest with right now? And what do you believe you still need to improve upon so you can move up to the next level of professional hockey?
Johnson’s answer?
“I do pride myself on playing the entire rink, the full 200 feet,” Johnson replied. “In juniors, I was heavily relied upon for scoring, but then in college it was the exact opposite because they depended on me for hard play in the defensive zone. Now, that did round up my game so it was a very good thing for me.
“Now, as a pro, I try to bring it all every game because I know I am capable of scoring and playing solid defense,” he said. “My father has always pushed me to be the best possible at face-offs, so he gets the credit for the success I have there. It’s something that could get me to the next level because it’s an important talent to have in this game.”
Otherwise, Johnson credits his current success to his work ethic.
“Every single day what I do is work on the little-thought-about skills because I was raised to believe there’s nothing at the rink that’s too small,” No. 18 explained. “That’s why, every summer, I go back to the basics so I can build on those skills because they make a ton of difference during the season. That’s exactly what I’ve been experiencing this year here in Wheeling.
“The next level is the goal,” Johnson insisted. “I mean, of course, the next level is the goal.”
Even if it means leaving Yost and the rest of the Nailers faithful behind?
“Our crowds may not be as big as what other teams attract in this league, but they sure are passionate and they love the game of hockey,” Johnson said. “When Coach (Derek) Army called me about coming to Wheeling, I could tell his enthusiasm for the game and for winning here in Wheeling. He’s not too far away from being a player himself so he brings a special kind of drive to the rink every day.
“And I’m not sure how it does everything he does on a daily basis. He’s a coach, a general manager a husband, and a father all at once,” the forward said. “It wears everything hat in the book and he does a great job, and he’s a blast to be around. It’s great pick his brain because he’s done this. He’s been in the ECHL and the AHL, so he knows what to expect in all of those situations and we, as players, are lucky to have a coach like that to help us get to where we can go in this game.”
