Traffic Patterns Restricted Next Week on US 22 in Brooke County

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Traffic Patterns Restricted Next Week on US 22 in Brooke County

Lane Closures on US 22, Veterans Memorial Bridge, Eastbound and Westbound, to Begin on Thursday, October 22, 2026

Brooke County, WV – A portion of US 22, eastbound and westbound on the Veterans Memorial Bridge will have both the eastbound and westbound lanes closed from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026; and 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026, from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026; and on Friday, October 30, 2026 from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. for cable replacements.

The closures will be at night to minimize the impact on the traveling public. Motorists are advised to follow detour signs and use an alternate route.

Emergency vehicles will be accommodated.

Alternate Routes: Northbound traffic use US 30 to East Liverpool, Ohio / Chester, WV, using the Jennings-Randolph Bridge, to WV 2 and Ohio 7. Southbound traffic use Ohio 7 and WV 2 to Brilliant, Ohio and Wellsburg WV onto the Wellsburg Bridge.

Inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances could change the project schedule.

Wheeling Nailers Collect One Point in Season Opener

DJ Abisalih
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Wheeling Nailers Collect One Point in Season Opener

Tristan Thompson Scores First Goal of the Year, While Nolan Lalonde Stops 29

FISHERS, IN- The Wheeling Nailers and Indy Fuel played a tight defensive game on Friday night at Fishers Event Center, as both clubs dropped the puck on the 2026-27 season.

Regulation wasn’t enough to decide a winner, as the two sides played to a 1-1 stalemate. Harrison Israels was the difference maker for the Fuel, as he scored at the 5:17 mark of overtime, to give the home team a 2-1 decision. Tristan Thompson scored the lone goal for Wheeling, who received a 29-save effort from Nolan Lalonde.

The first period was about what one would expect with a pair of teams building chemistry and learning about their opposition. One goal was scored, while the two sides combined for 14 shots. The Nailers thought they may have scored the first goal of the season, when the Fuel put the puck into their own net during a delayed penalty.

However, the goal was disallowed due to Dante Sheriff either making contact with the puck or impeding the play. 32 seconds into the power play, Indy recorded the first countable goal of the campaign. Former Nailer Tommy Budnick let a wrist shot go from the center point, which was tipped in by Chase Dafoe.

Wheeling drew even with 4:12 remaining in the second period, while the teams were playing four-on-four. Cam Cook gained entry into the middle of the offensive zone, then delivered a pass to his left. The recipient was Tristan Thompson, who cruised into the left circle, then roofed a shot into the top-right corner of the cage. The Nailers-Fuel rivalry began to boil as the middle frame progressed, highlighted by a scrum at the buzzer.

Indy put loads of pressure on during the third period, as shots on goal were 15-4 in favor of the home side. Wheeling bent, but didn’t break, and got superb goaltending from Nolan Lalonde to send the clash into overtime deadlocked, 1-1.

The teams combined for seven shots in overtime, as chances were aplenty. At the 5:17 mark of the extra session, the Fuel scored to earn the bonus point and the 2-1 win. Harrison Israels skated across the offensive zone from right to left, then delivered a shot against the grain to find the twine on the right side.

Adam Gajan collected his first professional win for Indy in his second career start, as he made 18 saves on 19 shots. Nolan Lalonde rejected 29 of the 31 shots he faced in his Nailers debut.

The Nailers will play their home opener on Saturday, October 24th at 7:10 p.m. against the Toledo Walleye. There will be a magnetic schedule giveaway for all fans, plus Rachel Clement will perform an ice skating and fire act during intermissions. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

Tall Tales for Halloween: Ghost Captured at Roney’s Point

Steve Novotney
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Tall Tales for Halloween: Ghost Captured at Roney’s Point

(Publisher’s Note: This is the first chapter of a FICTIONAL series of articles created for the Halloween season.)

The sheriff of Ohio County has confirmed that a poltergeist is now in custody after authorities received reports late Saturday night of loud screams coming from inside a former mental health hospital near Valley Grove.

According to Sheriff Crawford Nelson, the Roney’s Point Sanitarium has a long history of alleged paranormal activity, but not until now could the presence of such “lost souls” be verified.

“Our office had received a lot of calls about trespassers on the property, but usually the reports come from the residents that live nearby,” Nelson explained. “Those folks usually just called the office, but these calls were made by people calling 9-1-1. One of them told a dispatcher that it sounded like someone was being murdered.”

Deputies did not hear screaming when they arrived at the dilapidated building, according to the report, but did notice a light that was on inside the structure.

“This place has been vacant for almost 50 years, and the electric has been turned off since then, so we thought someone had to be inside for sure with a flashlight or a lantern,” Nelson said. “Well, that’s not what we found to be the source of the light.”

A photo in the middle of the woods.
The former hospital was closed for good in April 1972.

A Bright Light

Instead, Nelson and three deputies entered the structure through a door in the back of the building and discovered a glowing image of a woman who appeared to in her late 20’s or early 30s. According to the report, the apparition was standing in a large room on the east side of the former asylum.

That room, according to local historian Jane Finsley, was one of two rooms that housed 20 patients in each. The female patients, Finsley said, were cared for on the east side of the hospital.

“After we walked up the steps to the second floor, we followed the glow to the room where we found her, and when I walked in, she turned toward me,” the sheriff said. “I didn’t move. None of us did. That’s when she said, ‘Take me home.’ The only thing I said back was, ‘We’ll do our best.’

“Right now, we’re not sure if she was the one screaming or if someone else was in the building, and they encountered her and reacted that way,” he said. “No one has come forward and told us that, though, so we don’t know for sure.”

The hospital in Roney’s Point was opened in September 1936 during the nation’s tuberculosis epidemic so individuals who became infected with the disease could be separated from the healthy population in Ohio County. A little more than a decade later, the building was transitioned into a mental health facility. It was closed in April 1972 and has sat empty ever since.

A field that's overgrown.
The County Farm Cemetery in Ohio County contains more than 760 graves, but not many are visible at this time.

No Miranda Rights Read

Technically, the poltergeist was not placed under arrest but was transported to the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office in downtown Wheeling.

“’Take me home’ is still the only thing that she has said to us, so we’re hoping she will say more about where her home might be. If she is talking about where she grew up? Or does she mean where she was buried? We just don’t know,” Nelson explained. “And I don’t believe we’ll be able to help her until she shares more information with us.

“She has been in our conference room since we brought the spirit here, and we have placed a map of Ohio County on the table hoping that she will at least point at something on it. That would at least give us some clues, but that’s not happened yet,” he said. “She’s just standing just like she was in that room in the old hospital, and when someone goes in to see her, she turns toward them.”

The sheriff did confirm that the apparition is translucent and appears to be wearing a hospital gown. Thomas said it also looks as if she is wearing a wedding ring on her left hand.

“The gown and the ring tell us some things like she was probably a patient at the hospital, and was separated from her family, but that’s really it at this point,” he said. “She has not displayed any aggression toward us and has not done anything like flying around the office or walking through walls. She’s just been standing in that room.

“I have to be honest here,” Thomas added. “I wasn’t a big believer in stuff like this, the paranormal, and when I would hear stories about Roney’s Point being haunted, I excused it as malarkey. But, oh boy, am I a believer now.”

(More FICTIONAL chapters will be published between now and October 31st.)

Cameron Man Convicted of Possession of Child Pornography Following Two-Day Trial

Steve Novotney
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Cameron Man Convicted of Possession of Child Pornography Following Two-Day Trial

Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Canestraro announces that on Friday, October 16, 2026, Devon Eckard, 29 years old of Cameron, West Virginia, was found guilty of the felony offense of Distribution and Exhibiting of Material Depicting Minors engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct after a two-day jury trial.

Eckard was found guilty by the jury to have possessed over 600 videos/images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on his cell phone. Of the CSAM found on the defendant’s cell phone the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was able to confirm that 1,024 of the videos/images were of already identifiable CSAM material. NCMEC was able to determine that of the children in the material the defendant possessed, 164 were children already identified by NCMEC.

The investigation involved a cell phone seized from a traffic stop in Glen Dale, West Virginia, wherein a large amount of a controlled substance was found in the defendant’s vehicle. A subsequent search warrant and forensic examination of the cell phone identified that the CSAM material was concealed in two concealment apps on the phone and that a file-sharing app was used to download the material on four different dates in 2023-2024.

Prosecutor Canestraro would like to thank the Glen Dale Police Department and Sgt. William Whitelatch of the Moundsville Police Department who is trained in forensic analysis of cell phones and computers for their extraordinary work in investigating the case.

Canestraro wants the public to know, “These cases are not victimless crimes. Individuals who possess these materials are exploiting real children living somewhere in the world we all live in who have been sexually abused by knowing adults and then photographed and filmed. When a person then hunts for this material on the web, they continue the harm to those children and all children. “Any time we can get this material off the street and have NCMEC identify more children and more of this material aids in investigating future crimes of this nature”

Prosecutor Canestraro would also like to thank Assistant Prosecutor Andrea Poling for her dedicated preparation and work in trying the case to the jury with an assist from Canestraro.

Eckard was immediately remanded to the Northern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility with no post-conviction bond as required by West Virginia Code. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

The case was prosecuted by Marshall County Assistant Prosecutor Andrea Poling and Prosecutor Joe Canestraro.

ON THE NAIL! – Let the New Nailers Season Begin!

Jeff Yost
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ON THE NAIL! – Let the New Nailers Season Begin!

There were several changes that happened during the offseason for the Nailers. How do you think these adjustments will affect the team going into this season?

Boy, talk about an active offseason. Normally you wouldn’t hear as much about a hockey team when they don’t have any games going on as you did about the Nailers over the last few months, but when a 29-year affiliation comes to an end, causing a cascading effect of other movements, it’s definitely something worth covering.

Full disclosure: I am still a Penguins fan, in addition to a Nailers fan. While I am disappointed in the decision of the Hoffman family to change their affiliate to the Florida “Ever-Whatevers,” it’s entirely their right to do so as owners of both franchises, and it makes business sense. But as a fan of the hockey team here in Wheeling, it does hurt to think we’re no longer a part of that organizational structure.

That being said, I do think it’s an exciting opportunity to experience a new fandom, a new organizational model, and see what a team who hasn’t had an ECHL affiliate in years is able to do when building that level again. While it may cause a number of differences from last year, I’m still very excited to see what this edition of the Wheeling Nailers is able to accomplish as part of the Columbus/Cleveland organization.

One of the big differences that happened with that change in affiliation was a change in the head coach position, as last year’s head coach (Ryan Papaioannou, whose name I just had to look up because I forgot how to spell it) was an employee of the Penguins organization, so he left when the change took place (then didn’t even stay with Pittsburgh, as he moved on to become head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL).

That change caused the Nailers to begin their search for a new head coach.  Enter Nate Dicasmirro (whose name I will now have to learn how to spell as well). Nate played 17 years in both North America and Europe before beginning his coaching career in 2019 as the junior coach with EC KAC of the Alps Hockey League, then jumped back to North America to be an assistant coach of the Iowa Wild in the AHL in 2021. He moved back to Austria to become an assistant coach with the Graz 99ers, and this move to Wheeling is his first opportunity to be a head coach.

I look forward to seeing how he assimilates his knowledge of European hockey to the North American game and molds this Nailers team how he sees fit.

A coach.
The Nailers’ new head coach, Nate DiCasmirro, will make his ECHL coaching debut in Indy.

In addition to the above upper-level differences, significant changes happened to the roster from last year to this season. What do you think of the makeup of the roster for the Nailers this year?

With the move in affiliation, a number of players who were on last year’s squad that were here on NHL or AHL contracts had to move on as well. Gone are the likes of Taylor Gauthier, David Breazeale, and Brent Johnson. We also lost players who were not a part of that organization and were signed directly to Wheeling, like last year’s captain, Matthew Quercia, who is now playing for the AHL Chicago Wolves.

While it does suck to see such an outflow of talented players who helped the Nailers win the North Division last season (btw, thanks for the division championship on the way out the door back to the Central Division, suckers), the openings on the roster afforded Coach Dicasmirro the opportunity to start putting his stamp on this team, bringing in players who he believes can run his system.

There are a few players I look forward to watching this season in black and gold. First up is Hunter Sansbury, who joined Wheeling after playing 11 games with Florida last season at the conclusion of four seasons at Sacred Heart University, the last two of which serving as captain of the team from the blue line. Up front, I want to see what new team captain Justin Taylor can do in a Wheeling uniform. Taylor is the ECHL’s all-time leader with 935 games played in the league in his 16 seasons to this point, so that experience should come in handy in teaching the younger players how to approach being a professional now. Finally, between the pipes, I want to see how Nolan Lalonde performs, especially if he’s going up against his former team from Toledo. Lalonde went 11-4-3 last year as a rookie in the league and has championship pedigree, as he won the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit in 2023-24.

A young man.
Peter Laviolette III (“Lavs”) signed with the Wheeling Nailers to become an Assistant Coach for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The Nailers played two preseason games this year, losing both to Fort Wayne. What did you see in these games that you hope carries into the regular season?

While you never want to see your team lose consecutive games, both by identical 4-2 scores, to a divisional rival, at least these ones were in the preseason and don’t count towards anything. What these games were really good for was seeing how Coach Dicasmirro’s system would work in a game setting against a real opponent. And despite losing both games, there were definitely some positives to take away from the performances.

In the first game in Wheeling, the Nailers used the first two periods to get back into game shape. While the Komets did manage to score their four goals in those periods, the home team managed to shut them out from there as the teams played the third period, a practice overtime, and a practice shootout at the end of regulation, while managing to push the issue and score two goals of their own in the final frame of regulation, as well as winning the shootout with a goal by Dante Sheriff.

In the second game, Fort Wayne once again got themselves a lead early in the first, but Wheeling managed to shut it down from there and push the issue, scoring two goals of their own in the second period to head to the final period of regulation with a lead. The Nailers also managed to score one of their goals on the power play, so it gave them a chance to see how their man advantage group would fare. Unfortunately, the Komets came out firing in the third, earning three goals to come away with another (ultimately meaningless) victory to finish off the preseason and send both teams to games that actually matter.

A black man.
Jason Payne is Wheeling’s new associate coach for the 2026-2027 season following seven years of coaching in the ECHL.

The regular season kicks off on Friday, as the Nailers head to Indy to take on the Fuel. How can Wheeling make sure the 2026-27 season starts off on the right foot?

With the season kicking off with real games this weekend, it’s nice to see the Nailers starting things off with the team I personally consider to be their second biggest rival, after Toledo. Back in the 2023-24 season, the last one for Wheeling in the Central Division before returning for this year, Indy managed to barely edge out the Nailers for second in the division to earn home ice in the first round of the playoffs. Of course, that didn’t pay off for them, as Wheeling still managed to eliminate them in five games before getting swept out of the postseason by the Walleye in the next round.

I look at this game as a continuation of what the team began to show in their preseason games. I want to see the players working together as a five-man unit and pressing the issue. Coach Dicasmirro told us in an interview before the season that he wants his team to play with speed, play with the puck, and play physical hockey without going over the line too much. This is their first chance to show in a regular season game that they can play that way. While it would be nice to get a victory to start the new year, seeing growth and proof that the system works is what we need this early in the season for a team that only returned four players from last year’s squad.

A hockey game.
Veteran forward Justin Taylor will be the team’s captain, and four players will share alternate captain duties.

Which games/opponents that are on the schedule for this season are you looking forward to being present for the most?

First off, before I get to answer the question above, I just want to say how much I am looking forward to bringing you On the Nail for my fifth season. When I first started writing this article for Lede News back during the 2022-23 season, I just wanted to have some fun sharing my knowledge of hockey, and I was hoping people enjoyed my thoughts. Now, as I begin this season, I hope you all still like what I’m doing, and I will continue to do it for you.

Back to our regularly scheduled content for this article. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t throw out the game I am looking forward to most on the schedule is the second game of the season, the home opener next Saturday against Toledo. What a welcome back to the division than beginning your home slate against the team you hate the most with a chance to put them in the hole early in divisional games.

The last time Wheeling was in the Central Division, Bloomington didn’t exist yet, and their inauguration is what ended up pushing the Nailers to the North Division. Now that we’re back, it would be nice to show the newcomers who truly runs the division and take advantage of those games against them. We will also get a chance to greet one of the two expansion teams in the league this year (unfortunately the New Mexico Goatheads will not be making the cross-country excursion this season) as the Trenton Ironhawks will come to the Friendly City four times this year and hopefully experience some unfriendly accommodation on the ice.

Finally, there are back-to-back weekends in January against unusual opponents, as Tulsa and Orlando both come to town. I always enjoy going to games featuring teams we don’t get to see often here in Wheeling, so I definitely look forward to getting down to Wesbanco Arena for those contests on top of as many others I can make it to. I hope you all give the schedule a review and start looking to book your tickets now, and I’ll see you at the rink.

Moundsville Man Pleads Guilty for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to Deliver

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Moundsville Man Pleads Guilty for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to Deliver

Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Canestraro announces that on Thursday October 15, 2026, Gage Adams, 29 years old of Moundsville, West Virginia entered a plea of guilty in the Circuit Court of Marshall County, West Virginia for the felony offense of Possession With Intent to Deliver Fentanyl.

The investigation stemmed from an incident on February 10, 2026, in which Moundsville Police Department and the Marshall County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant after learning that Adams and other had returned from a trip to Pittsburgh with amounts of fentanyl.

Adams was sentenced to the custody of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation for an indeterminate term of imprisonment of not less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15) years.

He's wearing a red tie.
Marshall County Prosecutor Joe Canestraro served two terms (2016-2020) in the W.Va. House of Delegates.

Prosecutor Canestraro would like to thank the Marshall County Drug Task Force and the Moundsville Police Department for their investigation into this matter. Prosecutor Canestraro states, “Those bringing fentanyl into Marshall County and/or selling Fentanyl will face the maximum sentence of incarceration allowed by law. Fentanyl and methamphetamine continue a grip on a percentage of our citizens and bringing it in from out of state to poison our residents will result in a prison term.”

The case was prosecuted by Marshall County Assistant Prosecutor Herman D. Lantz for the State of West Virginia.

Wheeling Heritage Receives $90,000 Grant for Artisan Center 

Steve Novotney
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Wheeling Heritage Receives $90,000 Grant for Artisan Center 

WHEELING, W.Va. – Oct. 15, 2026 – Wheeling Heritage has been awarded a $90,000 historic preservation grant from the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia to support exterior maintenance and window restoration at the Wheeling Artisan Center.

The grant is one of eight awards totaling $490,261 through the alliance’s Frontier to Statehood Grant Program, which supports the rehabilitation and continued use of historic buildings across West Virginia in recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary. 

Funding for the Wheeling Artisan Center will be used to paint the building’s upper architectural crown and windows, along with window refurbishment. These improvements will help maintain the historic structure and preserve its role as a downtown destination for shopping, dining, arts, and culture.

“The Artisan Center is a beautiful historic structure and serves our community in so many ways. As with any structure, continued maintenance is important to retain its integrity for years to come. We could not be more thankful to have been chosen to receive this funding. It will contribute to our efforts to enhance and improve our Main Street community,” said Scott Schenerlein, executive director of Wheeling Heritage.

Built in 1867 by Henry List, a prominent wholesale merchant and banker, the Wheeling Artisan Center is located within the Downtown Wheeling Historic District. Wheeling Heritage renovated the building in 1996, transforming it into a hub for local artisans, businesses, and cultural activities. 

Today, the building houses River City Restaurant, the Artisan Center Shop, Prodigal Daughter Treasures and Trinkets, Ltd., “Made in Wheeling” exhibits, a third-floor event space, and Wheeling Heritage’s headquarters. To learn more, visit wheelingheritage.org/project/artisan-center.

For more information about Wheeling Heritage and its historic preservation initiatives, visit wheelingheritage.org.

Novotney: ‘I Was Asked to Sign the Recall Petition and …’

Steve Novotney
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Novotney: ‘I Was Asked to Sign the Recall Petition and …’

So, there I was, minding my own business at Waterfront Hall last Saturday, and a young lady asked me, “Would you like to sign our petition?”

“No. No, thank you.”

A local activist announced in early October that he was collecting signatures of registered voters in the City of Wheeling in an effort to force a recall election for Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder. In his announcement on Facebook, he stated: “We can only be ignored so many times before we stand up and take the power back.”

The activist, a resident of the Village of Bethlehem, is not eligible to sign his own petition, but he does own and operate a business in downtown Wheeling and has been present. He must collect about 1,770 signatures, and his efforts have been promoted by local news outlets.

A man who's a mayor.
Wheeling Mayor Dennis Magruder was sworn in on July 1, 2024.

As of this morning, no update on the number of collected signatures has been offered on the same social media page, but I can confirm there were a few names on the list when the clipboard was presented to me.

Name. Address. Phone#. Signature.

But not mine, and not because I’ve known Mayor Magruder and his family since grade school at St. Mike’s in Wheeling. He is, after all, one of the last remaining humans who still refers to me as “Stevie” despite the fact I’m oh-so-quickly approaching my (cough, cough) 60th birthday. So, yes, I’ve always been a fan of the person, but he’ll tell you that we do not agree on everything.

But I know the man cares. I know he ignores no one. He certainly doesn’t lack empathy for others, and he’s always been persistently pragmatic. Magruder is not a selfish man, and he’s a Christian in all his actions. If he has questions, he asks first and moves forward second, and I know he ran for mayor to address the city’s issues, not add to them.

Freedom of speech is a right that must be respected and protected at all times, and that’s why I politely declined to sign the petition when offered the chance instead of making a scene in opposition. People disagree, and that’s OK, but for far too long, division has squelched quality conversation, and that’s pushed us all into a place where compromise is usually refused.

Not defeated. Declined.

It’s a local issue, a state hurdle, and a national dilemma, and it’s the reason why we have heart-wrenching issues we’re not solving because, on both sides of the political aisle, it’s one way or no way at all.

We can debate about data centers, Flock cameras, parking meters, and even about signing a petition to recall the Mayor of Wheeling, but until we can work together, the lack of all-in cooperation will always be our most pressing problem.

Only we can change that fact.

Nailers Announce 2026-27 Season-Opening Roster & Captains

DJ Abisalih
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Nailers Announce 2026-27 Season-Opening Roster & Captains

Wheeling Starts 35th Season with 16 Forwards, Eight Defensemen, Four Goaltenders

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 2026-27 Season Opening Roster and the team’s captains, as the club prepares to open its 35th season on Friday night with a road contest against the Indy Fuel.

Head Coach Nate DiCasmirro begins his first season with the organization, as he returns to North America following two seasons as an assistant coach with the ICE Hockey League’s Graz 99ers. While this is DiCasmirro’s first time serving as a head coach, Wheeling will be the third professional team he coaches in North America, as he previously served as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Iowa Wild and Bakersfield Condors. Associate Coach Jason Payne enters his eighth season as a coach in the ECHL.

Payne won Central Division Championships as both a head coach and an assistant coach with the Cincinnati Cyclones, and most recently served as an associate coach for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. This is Jason’s second time being a member of the Nailers organization, as he concluded his playing career with Wheeling in 2008-09.

Assistant Coach Peter Laviolette III begins a new chapter in his hockey career, and he does so in his hometown, which is also the same city where he began his professional playing career. Laviolette played three seasons for the Nailers from 2022-25, and his father, Peter Jr., has the most head coaching wins by an American in NHL history.

Goaltending Coach Bailey Seagraves begins his first season in Wheeling, but is very familiar with the team’s new affiliate, as he served as the emergency backup goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2017-22 and worked under goaltending coaches Manny Legace and Ian Clark. Seagraves has done the majority of his coaching in Central Ohio and has over a decade of goaltending development experience.

Equipment Manager Bill Higgins is the longest tenured member of the organization, as the Wheeling, West Virginia native begins his 24th season in his current role. Higgins has worked over 1,600 regular season games and over 100 playoff contests in his career. Athletic Trainer Cole Koontz is a local product, as he hails from Sherrard, West Virginia. This is Cole’s second season as the team’s head athletic trainer and fifth year with the team overall, after previously serving as an assistant athletic trainer and student athletic trainer.

Strength & Conditioning Coach Alan Harper begins his second season with the Nailers. Prior to coming to Wheeling, Harper worked in professional soccer with the Las Vegas Lights and professional baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Veteran forward Justin Taylor will be the team’s captain. Four players will share alternate captain duties. Defenseman Alexander Kuqali and forward Craig Armstrong will wear the “A” during home games, while defenseman Tristan Thompson and forward Chris Dodero will wear the “A” during road games.

The Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season with a roster of 27 players – 16 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goaltenders. It will take some time for fans to learn the names, as only four of the 27 players are returners from last season’s North Division Champions squad. However, this is one of the most experienced Wheeling clubs in recent memory, as there are three veterans (260 professional games or more) and only nine rookies.

Goaltenders

Nolan Lalonde- Kingston, Ontario native under NHL contract with Columbus; went 11-4-3 in 22 games as a rookie with Toledo last season, and appeared in one AHL game with Cleveland; won a Memorial Cup (CHL Champions) with Saginaw in 2023-24
Philip Svedebäck- Stockholm, Sweden native signed this summer; went 54-38-17 in four seasons at Providence College; was drafted by Boston in 2021
Kasimir Kaskisuo- Vantaa, Finland native signed this summer; entering his 11th full professional season; has a 72-55-20 career record in North America, which includes two NHL games and a selection to the 2019-20 AHL All-Star Classic

Defensemen

Jack Karlsson- Köping, Sweden native signed this summer; played the last four seasons at Stevenson University, where he earned three straight MAC First Team All-Conference selections and was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year twice
Hunter Sansbury- Lomita, California native acquired in a trade with Florida; has played in 11 ECHL games; played four seasons at Sacred Heart University and served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons; holds the school record for most career blocked shots with 320.

Robby Drazner- Buffalo Grove, Illinois native under AHL contract with Cleveland (ECHL rights acquired in a trade with Kalamazoo); recorded 15 points in 52 games as a rookie with Kalamazoo last season, and also appeared in two AHL games with Abbotsford; won an NCAA National Championship at Western Michigan University in 2024-25.

Alexander Kuqali- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native re-signed this summer – enters his second season with Wheeling; veteran playing in his 10th professional season and seventh in the ECHL – played in his 300th career ECHL game in April; is the second member of his family to play for the Nailers, following his older brother Nicholas (2013-15)

Scott Cremen- Annapolis, Maryland native signed this summer; played the last four seasons at SUNY-Canton and was the team’s top scoring defenseman each of the last three years; played in six games for Birmingham (SPHL) after finishing his collegiate career.

Mitchell Smith- Saginaw, Michigan native acquired in a trade with Rapid City; entering his third season in the ECHL after playing for Bloomington and Rapid City; recorded 12 points in 59 games last season with Rapid City, and appeared in his 100th career game in April.

Tristan Thompson- Canmore, Alberta native re-signed this summer – enters his second season with Wheeling; veteran playing in his fifth professional season – has 143 points in 261 career ECHL games; recorded 14 points in 33 games last season after being acquired in a trade from Maine in January.

Mitchell Haight- Pittsford, New York native signed this summer; played parts of the last two seasons with Quad City (SPHL), where he had 12 points in 60 games

Forwards

Kevin Gursoy- LaSalle, Ontario native signed this summer; recorded 20 points in 49 games as a rookie with Tulsa & Allen last season
Scott Kirton- Scarborough, Ontario native signed this summer; won back-to-back SPHL championships with Evansville in 2024-25 & 2025-26, and was the team’s leading scorer during each of the last three seasons; has appeared in 35 career ECHL games; played parts of three seasons for Jason Payne in Cincinnati.

Cam Cook- Halifax, Nova Scotia native signed this summer; spent the majority of the last two seasons with Reading, bringing his ECHL career totals to 26 points in 89 games; has also played parts of five SPHL seasons, where he has 130 points in 139 games.

Mike Posma- Pomona, New York native re-signed this summer – enters his second season with Wheeling; finished second among Nailers rookies with 13 goals and third among Nailers rookies with 26 points last season; named a co-winner of the ECHL Plus Performer of the Month Award in November of 2025.

Nick McCarry- Calgary, Alberta native acquired in a trade with Norfolk; began his ECHL career in the spring by recording three points in 21 games with Atlanta & Norfolk; led Carleton University in scoring last season and tied for the team lead in points the previous year.

Kishaun Gervais- Keeseekoose First Nation, Saskatchewan native signed this summer; enters his fourth professional season – has 51 points and 223 penalty minutes in 122 career games; had Wheeling Hockey Hall of Famer Darren Schwartz as one of his youth hockey coaches.

Craig Armstrong- Crossfield, Alberta native re-signed this summer – enters his second season with Wheeling; was the team’s +/- leader last season with a +29 rating and finished sixth in scoring with 35 points; playing in his third ECHL season after playing his rookie year in Utah.

Zach Krajnik- Eagle River, Alaska native signed this summer; has five points in 23 career ECHL games, all with Savannah; won three CCHA Conference Championships at Minnesota State University (Mankato).

Remy Parker- Montclair, New Jersey native signed this summer; has 27 points in 119 career ECHL games over parts of three seasons with Cincinnati & Greenville; has played for Jason Payne during each season of his pro career; has over 54,000 followers on TikTok.

Tanner Hartman- Chicago, Illinois native signed this summer; played two seasons at Hobart University, then two seasons at Brown University; won back-to-back NCAA National Championships (Division III) at Hobart in 2022-23 and 2023-24; his older brother Ryan is playing in his 13th NHL season, currently with Minnesota.

Matt Crasa- New York, New York native acquired in a trade with Wichita; recorded 17 points in 60 games during his first full season as a pro with Norfolk & Wichita last season; his ten goals ranked second among Wichita rookies.

Ryan Pitoscia- Oakville, Ontario native signed this summer; recorded 13 points in 53 games as a rookie with Jacksonville last season; won an NCAA National Championship (Division III) at Adrian College in 2021-22 and scored in the National Championship Game.

Chris Dodero- West Chicago, Illinois native signed this summer; entering his fifth professional season and third in the ECHL; recorded 27 points in 52 games with Idaho last season, bringing his ECHL career totals to 52 points in 106 games; played for Jason Payne in Cincinnati in 2024-25.

Dante Sheriff- Brampton, Ontario native acquired in a trade with Wichita; entering his fifth professional season; recorded 26 points in 45 games with Greenville last season, bringing his ECHL career totals to 143 points in 217 games; playing for Jason Payne for the third straight year.

Kolby Johnson- Rosetown, Saskatchewan native signed this summer; has seven points and 146 penalty minutes in 45 career ECHL games with Worcester & Jacksonville; has spent the last two summers playing in the Australian Ice Hockey League.

Justin Taylor- Mindemoya, Ontario native signed this summer; team captain; is the ECHL’s all-time leader with 935 career games played, as he enters his 17th season; coming off of his 11th season scoring at least 20 goals.

Catch all of the action all season long on the Nailers Broadcast Network, presented by Main Street Bank. All of the games will air on radio on Mix 97.3 as well as via the iHeartRadio app. All home games will be televised locally on My Ohio Valley, thanks to WTRF. FloHockey remains the official streaming partner of the ECHL and AHL, so all games can be viewed there both live and on-demand. Vice President of Communications & Community Relations DJ Abisalih enters his 16th season of delivering all of the play-by-play, and will once again be joined in the Erb Electric Broadcast Booth by Wheeling Hockey Hall of Famer Brock Woods, with Hudson Davis on ice level.

The regular season begins on Friday, when the Nailers travel to Indy for a 7:15 p.m. match against the Fuel. Wheeling’s home opener is Saturday, October 24th at 7:10 p.m. against the Toledo Walleye. There will be a magnetic schedule giveaway for all fans, plus Rachel Clement will perform an ice skating and fire act during intermissions. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.

2026-27 Wheeling Nailers Season-Opening Roster
#2-D-Jack Karlsson
#5-D-Hunter Sansbury
#7-D-Robby Drazner
#8-F-Kevin Gursoy
#9-F-Scott Kirton
#10-F-Cam Cook
#12-F-Mike Posma
#13-F-Nick McCarry
#16-F-Kishaun Gervais
#17-D-Alexander Kuqali
#19-D-Scott Cremen
#21-F-Craig Armstrong
#22-D-Mitchell Smith
#23-F-Zach Krajnik
#24-D-Tristan Thompson
#25-D-Mitchell Haight
#27-F-Remy Parker
#28-F-Tanner Hartman
#29-F-Matt Crasa
#31-G-Nolan Lalonde
#35-G-Philip Svedebäck
#36-F-Ryan Pitoscia
#55-F-Chris Dodero
#73-G-Kasimir Kaskisuo
#80-F-Dante Sheriff
#81-F-Kolby Johnson
#93-F-Justin Taylor

Wheeling Drug Dealer Sentenced for Selling Methamphetamine Near Heritage Port Playground

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Wheeling Drug Dealer Sentenced for Selling Methamphetamine Near Heritage Port Playground

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wheeling, West Virginia man will spend the next five years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine near a playground, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.

Matthew Luff, 42, sold more than 13 grams of methamphetamine near Heritage Port Playground in Wheeling. Luff has multiple prior convictions, including burglary, drug possession and trafficking, and obstructing justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.

U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.

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