Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.”
That statement is, for the most part, true. When it comes to any career, experience is one of the true benchmarks colleges look at. They know that when any situation is thrown at an individual, they have probably seen something similar and they’ve learned from it.
For the Wheeling Nailers, one player certainly has the most “knowledge” on the team.
David Drake is currently in his fourth season in a Wheeling Nailer sweater. He is just one of 19 players in Wheeling’s illustrious history to play in parts of 4 seasons.
Drake started playing significant hockey when he was playing in the USHL for the Des Moines Buccaneers. His first season was during 2012-2013, and he would only spend a couple of seasons playing for the Buccaneers. In his time in Des Moines, the blueliner would accumulate six points in his 63 games with the club. Those numbers do not come as a shock, as Drake plays more of a shutdown defense type of game.
While playing junior hockey, Drake was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 172nd overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Level Draft.
_____________________________________________
Slap Shots
Name: David Drake Position: Defenseman Career Games: 356
Points: 81 Favorite Star Wars Character: “Darth Maul”
_____________________________________________
Drake though, would hold off his professional career for a few years and decided to go to college to play hockey. The Naperville, Illinois native decided to take his talents east and attend the University of Connecticut (UCONN). During his freshman year, Drake saw action in 32 games as a first-year player. He concluded that season with five points, and that included one goal. The lone marker came in his college debut on the road at Merrimack College. Drake’s second season as a Huskie saw him have the same amount of offensive production. He finished with five assists in 25 games played in a season that saw Drake miss some games due to an injury.
Drake was one of three players to finish that season with a plus/minus rating in the positives for the Huskies. In his junior year at UCONN, Drake was named one of the Alternate Captains for the team. He had a fine third season as he played in 31 games. Drake’s offensive totals rose again as well this time with seven points with three of them being goals. He would finish off his college career with career highs in multiple categories.
He appeared in all 36 games for the Huskies, and finished with eight points, all being assists. He also blocked 56 shots during his senior campaign and finished with an even rating.
At the end of his college season in 2018, Drake signed an Amateur Try-Out contract (ATO) with the Lehigh Vally Phantoms in the AHL. The Phantoms are the affiliate of the Flyers. Drake would play in seven regular season games having two assists. His first pro point came in his professional debut on March 31st, 2018, in a home game against the Belleville Senators. He would also skate in one postseason game for the Phantoms that season, as well.
Drake would sign an official AHL contract with the Phantoms for the next season but would only appear in one game for Lehigh Valley. The rest of the 2018-2019 season would be spent with their ECHL affiliate the Reading Royals. In 64 games with the Royals, Drake had eight points with seven of them being assists. Drake’s first professional goal came on December 21st, 2018, in a game against the Manchester Monarchs.
The next season was some more of the same for Drake. He was resigned by Lehigh Valley, but again only appeared in one game. Drake would spend most of his season in Reading. This time around he played in 54 games. He would add to his point total though, as Drake notched a goal and 13 assists. The Royals were well on their way to the playoffs in the 2019-2020 season, but the COVID-19 virus ended everyone’s season.
The 2020-2021 season saw many of the ECHL teams not playing due to the virus including the Reading Royals.
Drake also sat out that season but would be signed by the Royals for the next season. Drake played in 18 games with the Royals before being traded to the Nailers to finish off a future considerations trade between the two squads in late December 2021.
Before arriving in Wheeling, Drake played in four games for the Rochester Americans in the AHL where he was on a Professional Try-Out. That was Drake’s second PTO as he played in one game for the Providence Bruins in early December of the same year. When Drake did arrive in Wheeling his presence was felt. In 40 games with the Nailers, Drake finished with seven assists and a plus-two rating.
The Nailers made the playoffs too, where Drake played in every matchup that postseason for Wheeling.
Head Coach Derek Army brought back Drake for the 2022-2023 season, and he would be an ironman, playing in every game for Wheeling. He would also have a career-high in goals that season, finishing with four goals, 15 assists, and a plus-12 rating. The Nailers ultimately missed the playoffs.
Drake would be resigned again by Wheeling, and he rewarded the team by having a career season. He finished with 20 points, 18 of which were assists, and a plus-18 rating in 65 games. The points and plus/minus are career highs for Drake. His performance helped the Nailers clinch a playoff spot.
Drake would play in every postseason game for Wheeling, this time notching a goal and an assist.
Now, to the present season, the Wheeling Nailers and David Drake continue to be on the same page, even though Drake resigned. This time, Drake is a “Veteran Player.” (Veteran players in the ECHL can sign with any team they want regardless of which team owns their playing rights.)
“I’m the oldest guy on the team, but it doesn’t feel like it,” Drake said when asked about his veteran status. “The guys for sure keep me young.”
This season Drake has played in 28 games and has eight assists. Drake continues to climb the Wheeling leaderboard for games played. With his 205 games in a Nailers uniform, Drake ranks number eight with the possibility of climbing to a tie-in seventh here soon.
“It’s crazy. To be in the history books of the Wheeling Nailers, and you see all the big names that have been here before, it’s a blessing,” Drake explained his feelings on being top 10 in games played in Wheeling.
You can catch David Drake and the Wheeling Nailers this weekend as they play a Saturday-Sunday series against the Worcester Railers. The Saturday is a BIG 6 promotion as it is Star Wars Night. The team will be wearing specialty jerseys and a pom-pom hat giveaway.
Along with all of that, there will be Star Wars-themed concession items and player autographs after the game. The jerseys will be up for auction during the game as well. Sunday is also against the Railers with there being a postgame skate. The even number players will be the ones skating. To buy tickets or find out more information 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.
