“Crumb catcher… muzzy… lip sweater” are all terms used to describe one thing – a mustache.
People start to get out their Christmas decorations at this time of year or debate whether it’s too early to do the latter. You might also see some males growing some hair above their upper lip. It’s November, the time of year to see if you can grow the sought-after facial hair and get to do it for a good cause.
Movember is a charity that helps males of all ages with the battles of mental health, suicide prevention, and testicular and prostate cancers. People create pages, show off their mustaches and have people donate money on their behalf. It seems simple, but it has been funding over 1,300 projects in 20-plus countries to help with these issues, according to Movember.
When you look out on the ice this month, you will see plenty of Nailers players trying to help the cause by growing out some facial hair on their upper lip. One Wheeling Nailer is leading the charge.
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Slap Shots
Name: Matthew Quercia Position: Forward Career games: 99
Stats: 17 goals, 26 assists, 43 points Years in Wheeling: 4
Top three mustaches in the world: 1. Tom Selleck 2. Sam Elliot 3. Burt Reynolds
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Matthew Quercia – or as many fans know him, “Q” – joined the Wheeling Nailers during the 2021-2022 season. Before his professional career began, the Andover, Massachusetts native started his college career not too far from home at Boston University. In his time at BU, Quercia accumulated 18 points, and 13 of those came during a breakout second year. He would spend three seasons with the Terriers before hitting the transfer portal for his fourth and final season.
Michigan Tech was the choice for Quercia in his final season of college hockey. Although Quercia’s time as a Husky was short-lived, he made the most of it, scoring four points, including two goals. That led him to, as previously mentioned, signing with the Nailers in the spring right after his college playing days were over.
Quercia played in his first game as a Nailer on February 22, 2022, in Reading, Pennsylvania, as the team took on the Royals. He scored his first professional point with an assist in a game against the Toledo Walleye just a handful of games after his debut. Then, just a few weeks later, in a game in Fort Wayne against the Komets, Quercia lit the lamp for the first time. That goal would only be an alluding sign of what would happen later in that season. Quercia would finish the season with three goals and four assists as the Nailers clinched a playoff spot.
The Fort Wayne Komets were the opponents in that playoff series. It was a competitive series that saw the road squad winning on each other’s home ice for the first four games. Then, in games five and six, the home teams claimed victory, leading to the all-important Game Seven. The contest was tight throughout and needed overtime to settle the battle. At the 6:30 mark of overtime, Quercia etched his name in Wheeling hockey history by scoring the game-winning goal for the Nailers in Fort Wayne to knock out the higher-seeded Komets.
Quercia was looking to build off the successful first season of pro hockey, but that plan was derailed. He would end up getting injured in a preseason game for the Nailer’s AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and missed the entire season.
In the season after the injury, Quercia would have his best season as a professional yet. He had a career-high 11 goals, 22 assists and 152 penalty minutes. That would lead to Quercia getting an AHL call-up to Wilkes-Barre Scranton, where he saw action in six games for the baby Penguins.
This season, Quercia has a slightly different look about him.
“I’ve always worn number 22 my whole life. I decided to change because of what happened to the Gaudreau brothers, and it was my grandfather’s name, too. I wear it with pride every night.” said Quercia.
That hasn’t changed the production, though, as he already has three goals this season. One of those goals was the home-opening game-winning goal that also meant a little more the Quercia.
“It was exactly one year since my grandfather passed away, and it kind of just gives you chills when you look back at it. I just know he was there rocking with me that night,” Quercia explained.
When asked about why he takes such pride in Movember, Quercia said, “I have a couple of reasons. When I was playing in juniors, my coach passed away, and it was so tough to lose a guy at that age. That’s when I first started raising money. Then, with the health problems my grandfather had, too. It just made me want to raise money for physical and mental health things guys go through,”
To donate to Quercia’s Movember page, click here.
You can watch Quercia and the Nailers this weekend as they take on the Indy Fuel. Friday is a “Frosty Friday,” and Saturday is Pittsburgh Pirates night with the “Pittsburgh Kid” Neil Walker. There will be a Pirates-inspired Nailers hat giveaway, plus a trading card showcase as well, according to information released by the team.
Single-game and package tickets are still available. To purchase or learn 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.
