Directors, Instructors, Counselors, and the Board of Directors:
We forget what you do and why you do it sometimes, and, most often, that’s on purpose, we concede.
We see your big, beautiful building when we’re visiting downtown Wheeling, and we read the sign, too – “eliminating racism – empowering women”. We’re always glad you’re there fighting fights that, sadly, must be fought, but we fail most of the time to realize that, floor after floor and room after room, there are ladies living inside that historic structure who are seeking long overdue refuge away from what has harmed them worse than we’re willing to admit.
This afternoon, though, will be yet another example of that truth. In an effort to open eyes to the realities of human trafficking, the nonprofit I.G.N.I.T.E. H.O.P.E. is offering a program titled “In Plain Sight” at 1 p.m. at the Ohio County Library. There will be questions and answers and perspectives offered by those who know what “body swapping” looks like, even here – especially here.
A survivor of human trafficking will be on the panel, too, and she just might explain how she was one of many enslaved females who were shipped in storage containers by their owners to places like, yes, Jeff Epstein’s island in the Caribbean.
That’s why, in far too many uncomfortable and inconvenient ways, the “In Plain Sight” program will remind us that you and everyone at the Wheeling YWCA work tirelessly to offer the safety, the freedom, and the sense of peace these ladies have had taken from them. Evil has stolen their souls, and your mission is to guide them back to where they can reunite with who they once were.
It’s a long journey. Not everyone makes it. But you don’t quit. Ever.
WHEELING, WV / PITTSBURGH, PA — An Ohio County, West Virginia jury has returned a $3.77 Million verdict in a medical malpractice case against a doctor and a physician’s assistant at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital.
Following a four-day trial, the jury found both Dr. Barry Mitchell and Physician’s Assistant Michelle Porembka negligent in their medical care of 64-year-old Julie Daley when she presented with abdominal complaints at the Wheeling Hospital emergency room in June 2022. As a result of the medical care providers’ failure to timely and properly treat her condition, Daley ultimately sustained a perforated colon along with necrosis which ultimately led to her needing to have a permanent colostomy.
The jury found that the conduct of both Mitchell and Poermbka fell below the standard of care for medical care providers in their field and that their negligence proximately caused injuries and damages to Mrs. Daley. Daley was represented at trial by Geoff Brown and Tyler Smith of the Wheeling law firm of Bordas & Bordas.
Following the verdict, Smith commented, “We are pleased that the jury recognized that this should not have happened to Julie Daley and that they compensated her for the life-long effects that she will have as a result of the negligence of the medical providers.”
Mark Robinson and David Givens of Flaherty, Sensabaugh, and Bonasso represented the medical providers at trial. Circuit Court Judge Jason Cuomo presided over the case.
Brown stated “Our practice is based upon fighting for justice for people who have been injured or wronged by others. Helping others is at the root of everything that we do and we are glad that we were able to help Julie and her family obtain a measure of justice through this case and this result.”
We are proud to announce that a West Virginia legend is becoming part of our ownership group as well as our coaching staff. His experience and guidance for our young players will be invaluable to their further development and success here in Wheeling.
Major, one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in college football history while at West Virginia in the late 1980s, earned first-team All-American honors in 1989 and finished fifth and third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1988 and in 1989. Harris was named ECAC Player of the Year in both seasons, and his impact on the game was cemented with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
Major’s legacy of excellence, leadership, and competitive spirit aligns perfectly with the values of the Wheeling Miners. We are honored to have him as part of our organization and look forward to the inspiration, on-field innovation, and championship mindset he will bring to our organization and community.
Welcome to Wheeling, Major! Most importantly, welcome back to West Virginia!
Major has never been a stranger to the media and football fans here in the Upper Ohio Valley, including former radio talk show host John Blackmore and his son, Jeramiah.
Things went from bad to worse for the Nailers last weekend in Worcester as they got swept in their three-game series with the Railers. What went wrong for Wheeling in this series?
It’s not exactly the best time for the Nailers to hit their first real skid of the year as the teams chasing them in the standings continue to earn points and nip at their heels. But sometimes teams learn more about themselves during a losing streak and facing adversity than just continuing to roll over their opponents. Hopefully, Coach Ryan Papaioannou and the team can look at this stretch and figure out what they can do to fix it going into the last couple months of the season.
Friday’s game started off poorly for Wheeling as Worcester came out flying and scored the first goal of the game less than two minutes in. Things stayed that way until a little later in the period, when the Railers found the back of the net twice more before the horn sounded, and Wheeling found themselves trailing 3-0 after the first. The second period went a little better for the visitors as David Breazeale ended the shutout attempt six minutes into the middle frame, but another Railers goal five minutes later extended the lead to three again. Matty De St. Phalle got another one back for the Nailers with about four minutes left, and Wheeling entered the third period trailing 4-2.
The Nailers will play two opponents in two days when Indy and Cincy visit Friday and Saturday nights.
The Nailers came out pushing hard to cut the lead in half, but nothing would go for them. Unfortunately, things went better than that for Worcester. Despite only getting five shots on net in the period, two of them tickled the twine, including one on the power play, to make the score 6-2. Wheeling finally got their first power play of the game late and converted thanks to Max Graham with just over a minute remaining, but the game ended 6-3 in favor of the home team.
Saturday’s game started off almost as poorly for the Nailers, as they only managed to get four shots on goal in the first period and the Railers staked out to a 2-0 lead within the first five minutes, with the first goal coming within the first minute of regulation. Wheeling managed to slam the door from there though, and the difference was two after the first. The second was a little better for the visitors, as they managed to turn their 12 shots on net into a goal, scored by Matthew Quercia shorthanded to cut the lead in half heading into the third.
The Nailers continued to push in the third period and were rewarded with the game tying goal just over seven minutes into the period by Brent Johnson. Later in the frame, Bogdans Hodass was assessed a match penalty, but Wheeling’s penalty kill group was up to the task and found a way to force overtime. In the extra frame, each team was able to get a shot, but on the third attempt on net, Worcester got one through Taylor Gauthier to earn the extra point.
Wheeling came out on Sunday trying to avoid the sweep, firing 12 shots on goal in the first 20 minutes alone, but couldn’t find the back of the net. The Railers, with only five shots in the frame, managed to squeak one through on Gauthier with just under eight minutes left, and they held on for the 1-0 lead through one.
The Nailers fired another 15 shots in the second, followed by another seven in the third, but were unable to solve the Worcester goalie the rest of the way. Gauthier stood tall himself, despite only facing two shots on goal in the second then another 11 in the third, to keep the score where it was, but the Wheeling offense just couldn’t break through, and the shutout and sweep were earned when the final horn sounded.
The Nailers finally got back in the win column after five losses in a row, beating Fort Wayne 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday. How did Wheeling turn things around in this one?
Not only had the Nailers lost five in a row (0-3-1-1), all five games were against divisional opponents, meaning they helped those teams work towards catching Wheeling in the standings. Which means getting to this stretch against teams from the Central Division, without the additional pressure of facing divisional rivals, couldn’t have come at a better time. Sometimes, getting a chance to catch your breath by playing teams in your rearview mirror can help reset things for the players.
The first period went a little sideways for the Nailers, as the Komets managed to fire 22 shots on net in the first 20 minutes alone while only getting seven shots themselves. Only one goal was scored in the period, and luckily it was for Wheeling, as Matthew Quercia got the power play tally to put the Nailers up 1-0, and Taylor Gauthier made it stand to the first intermission.
Fort Wayne did not let up in the second, getting another 16 shots on goal compared to five for Wheeling. This time, one managed to get through for the Komets to tie the game heading into the third period. Fort Wayne still refused to relent in the third, with 13 more shots on goal in the final period of regulation, scoring on one of them with just under five minutes left. The Nailers only got eight shots themselves in the period, but they managed to pocket one of their own thanks to Connor Lockhart just 21 seconds after the Komets broke the tie, and the game went to overtime.
In the extra frame, the Komets took another four shots, but Gauthier continued to play strong and held them off the scoresheet before Brent Johnson finally brought home the victory for the Nailers. In the game, Gauthier made 53 saves on the 55 shots on goal by Fort Wayne, and the victory gives him 58 as a Nailer, two away from tying Andy Franck’s team record of 60 victories.
Taylor Gauthier set a career high by turning away 53 of the 55 shots he faced in the victory for the Nailers.
The Nailers will now welcome two former division rivals to town, playing Indy on Friday followed by Cincinnati on Saturday. What does Wheeling need to do to come away with four points?
It has to be nice for the Nailers to get to come back home, a place where they currently have a 16-3-1 record (as opposed to their 11-9-1-1 record away from the Friendly City), to play against two opponents from the Central Division, which the Nailers used to call home and against which Wheeling has a 6-0-1 record this season. Not to mention that their two opponents this weekend hold a combined 1-3-0 record against the Nailers this season, with the only win being Cincy earning a 2-1 victory in overtime at WesBanco Arena back on November 30.
The Nailers’ only game so far this year against the Fuel came back on November 26, a 5-2 victory at home. Indy comes to town sitting in fourth place in the Central, tied in points with Bloomington and just five points ahead of Wheeling’s other opponent this weekend. The Fuel have been a better team on the road this year (12-7-1) than at home (8-7-4-1) but do have a negative goal differential in both aspects (-2 on the road to -4 at home).
One thing that sticks out about Indy is their specialty teams away from Fishers Event Center. Their penalty kill group is 21st overall in the ECHL, but 13th in the league away from home, while their power play is in dead last when playing as the road team, with a 10.1% success rate. Indy also leads the league in shorthanded goals against on the road with five. Wheeling has the 13th highest average penalty minutes per game at 13.07, so if they can find a way to get some pressure while shorthanded, and use their power play chances to their advantage, they should come away with a victory.
Then on Saturday, the Nailers get the chance to exact revenge for that game back in November, which was the last time these two teams met. Since that game, the Cyclones have gone 9-11-1-1, with a game at Toledo on Friday before coming to the Friendly City. As I mentioned above with Indy, Cincy currently finds themselves on the outside looking in for a playoff spot but are hopeful to improve their record down the stretch and get up to the fourth and final spot in the postseason.
One thing that sticks out for the Cyclones is their record in games where they score first. Through 40 games played, they have gotten the first goal in 21 of them, earning a record of 14-6-1 in those games. Meaning in the 19 games where they have started off trailing, they are 5-12-2. Meanwhile, the Nailers have managed to score first in 24 of their 42 games played entering the weekend, earning a record of 20-4-0 when they do. If Wheeling comes out quickly in the game and puts Cincy behind the eight ball early, it could go a long way to helping the home team earn the victory.
The Nailers head on the road for a midweek tilt at Indy. How can Wheeling make sure they bring home a victory?
While it might not be quite like playing multiple days in a row, getting the chance to face the same opponent from this weekend, albeit on a different ice surface, could prove beneficial to the Nailers. They say that familiarity breeds contempt, so if the fireworks start on Friday in Wheeling, they could very well get set off again five days later in Indy.
The funny thing about the Fuel is that, while their penalty kill is average on the road while their power play is in the basement, the exact opposite is true on home ice. Their power play sits in 12th place in the ECHL at home, although they still only have a 19.7% success rate, while their penalty kill group is 23rd out of 30 teams with a 78.8% success rate.
While the Nailers’ power play unit has not been overly successful on the road themselves, with a 16.7% success rate away from Wheeling, their penalty kill has been one of the best, sitting in seventh place in the ECHL with an 84.6% success rate. If this is another game that comes down to specialty teams making the difference, I usually side with the team that is doing better on the penalty kill, because power plays can always turn it around against teams with worse penalty kill units. I would bet on Wheeling winning the specialty teams battle in this one, which could help them bring home the two points.
The Nailers will assist once again this weekend during this year’s Inclusion on Ice event.
The Nailers will be hosting Pittsburgh Penguins night on Saturday against Cincinnati. What are you most excited about for this event?
Before I get to the part that has me the most amped up for this game, let me talk about the other cool things they have going on. The Nailers will be giving away beanies to fans as they enter the building, as well as wearing specialty jerseys that they will be auctioning off during the game. They will also welcome Iceburgh to town to engage in mascot shenanigans with Spike to entertain the children as well as taking pictures.
But the most exciting part of the whole thing for me is that Phil Bourque will be in the building, signing autographs before the game and during the first intermission before joining DJ Abisalih and Brock Woods to call the action in the second period. As someone who began watching the Penguins in the late 80’s and into the 90’s, I remember seeing the Ole’ 29’er out on the ice, and I remember just how much fun it looked like he was having out there. And of course, you can’t forget his speeches after winning the Cup in 1991 and 1992, speaking to the fans at Three Rivers Stadium and telling them to come party at the Pointe with the team.
In more recent years, Bourque has become rather ubiquitous with providing color commentary on the radio and television during Penguins games, which I thoroughly enjoy. He has such a way of describing the action that really helps bring the game to life, and you can tell just how much he still cares about the Penguins and the game itself. Also, in case you didn’t catch us during the Sports Hour on River Talk on Thursday (and shame on you for six weeks if you missed it), DJ told Steve and me that they are working on the ability to telestrate on the television side while showing the game.
If you grew up on the Penguins around the same time as I did, you would remember Phil Bourque the player, the spark plug who worked hard for everything he got on the ice and came away a champion. If you started a little later, you would remember Phil Bourque the announcer, the guy who makes the game fun to watch and listen to and makes it an absolute blast to do so. I suggest everyone finds a way to get there and see him in person, get an autograph, and thank him for all of the work he has done for the Penguins like I plan on doing, and I will see you all at the rink.
WHEELING, WV — Wheeling Fashion Week is officially returning in 2026, bringing a week-long celebration of fashion, creativity, and community throughout Wheeling. The highly anticipated events will take place June 7–13, 2026, with the signature Wheeling Fashion Week at Waterfront Hall Runway Show scheduled for Friday, June 12.
Wheeling Fashion Week showcases emerging and established designers, regional brands, and creative talent while highlighting Wheeling as a growing hub for fashion and the arts. The week will feature a variety of fashion-focused events around Wheeling, with the return of the flagship experience, Wheeling Fashion Week Runway Show sponsored by Waterfront Hall. Kelsey Cromar, Real Estate Agent and Media Personality, will emcee this year’s runway show.
Committee Chair, Emily Rouse, stated, “We were blown away by the positive response and impact of last year’s inaugural Wheeling Fashion Week. The common thread of fashion and support of our sponsors brought together community members and professionals from across a variety of industries. Waterfront Hall not only set the stage for a successful runway show, but for Wheeling’s artistic and economic progress. We see this as more than a fashion show – it’s a reason for people to visit, live in, and stay in Wheeling. We have so many opportunities for people to take part in this field locally.” Committee Members Spencer Porter and Lisa Bronchik are motivated to return for a second year of planning ways to elevate the events even further.
Designers and brands interested in showcasing their collections on the runway are invited to apply through February 15th. Applications are available on Wheeling Fashion Week’s Facebook page and on the official website at www.whgfashionweek.com.
Tickets for events will go on sale in April 2026. For more information, sponsorship opportunities, participation, and event updates, visit whgfashionweek.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned—Wheeling Fashion Week 2026 is set to make a bold return.
WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce that Avery Hayes has become the 71st former Nailer/Thunderbird to reach the National Hockey League. Hayes made his NHL debut on Thursday night with the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center against the Buffalo Sabres.
Hayes, 23, has spent nearly all of his professional career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but did appear in one game with the Nailers as a rookie during the 2023-24 campaign. That game took place on February 28, 2024, as Wheeling visited the Reading Royals. This is Avery’s third full season as a pro, and he has career AHL totals of 42 goals, 32 assists, and 74 points in 120 games. The forward tallied 23 goals and 42 points in 60 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season, and is on pace to post similar numbers this year, with 13 goals and 23 points in 31 contests.
The Westland, Michigan native was undrafted, and first joined the organization when he signed an AHL contract with the Penguins in the summer of 2023. He earned his first NHL contract in March of 2025, which helped lead to this opportunity.
On Thursday, Hayes scored two goals in 10:09 of ice time, as the Penguins defeated the Sabres, 5-2. Avery becomes the ninth former Wheeling player to score in his NHL debut, but he is the first to score two goals in his NHL debut.
Avery Hayes becomes the second former Nailer to make his NHL debut this season, joining Sergei Murashov, who also debuted with Pittsburgh.
Sledgehammer hands. A Brooke County guy. Built his own house. Helped his son build his, too. Brick by brick. Involved in everything, that man, and he knew everyone.
His name? Walter “Warren” Fluharty. Passed away in 2004.
Worked hard. Made a good living. Raised his family. And “Pap,” from what grandson Shawn Fluharty has explained, was a role model for his kids and his kids’ kids.
“I remember when I was growing up, grandfather was a construction worker, and he’d pick me up from baseball practice in his truck. He had a green one when I was little-little, and then he had his red one, and we’d travel north from Marshall County to Brooke County where my family has a farm,” Fluharty recalled. “He lived there with my Mamaw Betty and they had a nice home where they raised their family.
Walter “Warren” Fluharty and his wife, Betty, lived for many years on the family farm in Brooke County.
“While we traveled up and down the panhandle, I’d get to hear all of things my grandfather was involved in. All of the projects he was working on with people, and the initiatives he work on with other people from all over the counties in the panhandle,” he said. “He had a lot of pride in his work, where he lived, and in his friends, and my mom and dad were the same way.
“And I’m a product of that same mindset and work ethic my dad had as an electrician with the IBEW (Local 141) and my mom had as a special needs children’s aide at John Marshall.”
Perhaps that’s why he ran three times before he was elected to the House of Delegates in 2014, and perhaps it’s the reason why, despite a Republican super majority in chamber, Fluharty is unafraid to stand and speak when he feels he needs to correct misinformation on the House floor or when he feels he needs to remind his lawmaking colleagues they are governing in West Virginia and not in Washington, D.C.
Del. Fluharty believes his motivation to be active in the Legislature comes from the examples provided by his grandparents and his parents.
That’s one of a lot of reasons why running for a seat in the state Senate has been on my mind for a few years, but now I know it’s time for me to represent the whole Northern Panhandle,” he said. “I’ve represented a lot of the residents in Wheeling and Ohio County now for a number of years, but I think people are familiar with me throughout the entire district because I’ve fought for them since Day 1. I’m looking forward to getting out in the entire district and having real conversations with real people who care about real solutions.
“What I’ve gathered from my time in office, especially in the last couple of years, is that people are sick and tired of the culture war legislation that we’re seeing coming out of Charleston, and they’re especially tired of the Northern Panhandle being ignored,” Fluharty believes. “This is about reining in the extremism that we’ve seen, especially in the Senate, and bringing it back to the people who actually care.”
Del. Shawn Fluharty will begin his campaign for the state Senate as soon as he returns home at the conclusion of the state Legislature’s current regular session.
Make-Sense Mindset
The tragedy took place less than a decade ago.
Raylee Browning was 8 years old in 2018, and she lived in Oak Hill, West Virginia, a Fayette County city of less than 10,000 residents. Raylee died from severe abuse, starvation, and neglect, and following the child’s passing, three adults were convicted of neglect.
It’s a case that revealed worrisome gaps in the state’s child protection and homeschooling laws, and the young child’s death inspired “Raylee’s Law” to prevent similar cases/ The proposed legislation – with Fluharty as its primary sponsor – won bipartisan support in the House of Delegates, but in the Senate?
“It’s one of several reasons why I know the time has arrived for a new mindset in the state Senate, and that’s because I worked for two years in the House to get Raylee’s Law passed in bipartisan fashion, and then what happened to the legislation when it went over to the Senate? Nothing. Absolutely nothing,” he said. “That’s incredibly frustrating, and it should be frustrating for everyone in the state.
Fluharty (third from the left) grew up in Marshall County and is still friends with many of his childhood pals.
“Every West Virginian who cares about protecting our children should be frustrated, too,” he said. “There are young people who are in danger because they are not a priority in the Senate, and that needs to change.”
Raylee’s Law is just one of a number of topics he plans to discuss with potential constituents when he finally gets to officially hit the campaign trail this spring following the state Legislature’s regular session.
“I’ve always been fighting for the Northern Panhandle, along with serving as the delegate representing my district in Ohio County. That’s been my mindset when I’ve walked into the House chamber over the past decade,” Fluharty said. “But now, I believe it’s time for me to actually represent the panhandle, and while I’m running for office, I’m not going to get caught up in partisanship and all the nonsense and BS.
“I’m going to roll up my sleeves and go meet the people where they’re at. I’m going to talk to them in their communities, in their homes, and I’m going to have real conversations before elections are supposed to be about the people and what they need,” he added. “That’s one of the most important lessons I’ve learned while serving the residents in Ohio County, and now I’m ready to do the same for everyone in the Northern Panhandle.”
During the Legislature’s regular session, Del. Fluharty often works on legislative amendments with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw.
The calendar has flipped to February, and Punxsatawny Phil saw his shadow on Tuesday, which means there will be six more weeks of winter. There are still 11 more weeks of regular-season hockey left, and the Wheeling Nailers continue to hold onto first place in the North Division, which has been theirs since November 15th. Wheeling battled through a challenging four-game road trip to New England last week, and will look to get back to its winning ways with three home games this week against three different Central Division foes.
THE OL’ 29-ER The Nailers will host their annual Pittsburgh Penguins Night on Saturday, and the special guest will bring a recognizable voice to the Friendly City. Two-time Stanley Cup Champion and current broadcast analyst Phil Bourque will be signing autographs prior to Saturday’s 7:10 game against the Cincinnati Cyclones. He will then go to a familiar place, as he will join Wheeling broadcasters DJ Abisalih and Brock Woods for the call of the second period. In addition to getting an autograph from Bourque, fans can stick around after the game for a full team autograph session. The Nailers will also be wearing specialty jerseys, designed similarly to the ones Pittsburgh wore in the 2008 NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo. In a fun twist, if Wheeling can win all three games this week, Saturday will be win #29 with the Ol’ 29-er in the building. Other games this week are Wednesday at 7:10 against the Fort Wayne Komets and a Frosty Friday against the Indy Fuel at 7:10.
ONE WINNING MONTH AT A TIME The third game of last week’s road trip brought the end to another month, and the Nailers improved their season mark yet again. Wheeling went 6-4-2 in 12 games during the month of January, and is now 14 games above .500 for the year. The Nailers have posted a winning record in each of the first four months of the 2025-26 season, as they went 2-1-0 in October, 12-2-1 in November, and 6-4-0 in December. This is just the third time in team history that Wheeling has earned a winning record in each of the first four months of a season. The other two occurrences were in 2003-04 and 2005-06. Both of those clubs finished one month shy of running the table with seven months worth of winning records. The 2005-06 squad saw its run end with a 5-5-1 record in February, while the 2003-04 club saw the finish line in sight, but dropped game 72 to go 1-1-0 in April.
IT’S GOOD TO BE HOME After four road games last week, the Nailers will spend almost the entire month of February in the Ohio Valley. Wheeling will play nine of its next 11 games at WesBanco Arena, with the only two road contests taking place at Indy on February 11th and at Fort Wayne on February 28th. Home ice has treated the Nailers especially well this season, as they have gone 15-3-1 when taking the ice in front of the local crowd. Wheeling still owns a winning record on the road as well at 11-9-2. However, the last two months have seen a drastic difference in the team’s performance, depending on whether the games are at home or on enemy ice. Since the start of December, the Nailers are 9-2-0 in 11 home games. During that same period of time, Wheeling has gone 3-7-2 in 12 road battles. The biggest statistical gap during that stretch for the Nailers comes in the form of goals scored. Wheeling is averaging 3.45 at home to just 2.00 on the road. The goals against average is significantly closer, with 2.08 at home and 2.46 on the road.
NAILERS IN THE OLYMPICS The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to begin later this week in Italy, and there will be plenty of eyes focused on ice hockey to see if another epic match between the United States and Canada could decide who takes home the gold. For Nailers fans, this year’s Olympics will be extra exciting, as there are four former Nailers players who will take the ice in hopes of earning a medal. Germany’s Freddie Tiffels (2017-18) and Latvia’s Renars Krastenbergs (2018-20) will both be appearing in their second Olympic Games, after playing in Beijing in 2022. Italy is playing men’s hockey in the Olympics for the first time since hosting the Games in 2006, and Nick Saracino (2018-20) will be on the roster for the host squad. It’s been even longer since France’s last appearance in 2002 in Salt Lake City, but Justin Addamo (2022-24) is looking to make this year a memorable one with his teammates. There are two more fun connections on the women’s side. 2010-11 Nailers Assistant Coach John Wroblewski is the head coach for Team USA, while linesperson Kirsten Welsh, who made her ECHL debut at WesBanco Arena in 2022, will be officiating in the tournament.
A QUICK BREAK FROM RECENT PROGRAMMING We interrupt this run in which Wheeling played 22 of 23 games against North Division opponents to bring you three games against Central Division squads this week at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling will start the week on Wednesday by playing the Fort Wayne Komets for the first time in 325 days. The other team from the Hoosier State comes to town on Friday, as the Nailers will battle the Indy Fuel. Finally, Saturday night will be a showdown with the Cincinnati Cyclones. Let’s dive into these match-ups.
The Nailers and Komets will face-off five times this season, and four of the five games will take place over a 26-day span, including all three clashes at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling won the season series against Fort Wayne last year for the first time since 2014-15 by taking three of the five tilts. The Komets saw their five-game winning streak end on Sunday against Tahoe, but that run has them sitting comfortably in second place in the Central Division at 23-11-6, which is good for 52 points. Six players are within four points of each other for the team’s scoring lead, which is currently held by Kirill Tyutyayev and his 33 points. Austin Magera is the leading goal scorer with 17, while Jalen Smereck has contributed 30 points from the blueline. Nathaniel Day (12-6-4) and Samuel Jonsson (9-5-2) have played all but two of the games in net.
Wheeling and Indy played the first game of its season series on Thanksgiving Eve, when the Nailers skated away with a 5-2 triumph at WesBanco Arena. At that point, the Fuel were hovering around the .500 mark. However, Indy has played significantly better lately, earning points in 14 of its last 17 games with an 11-3-3 record. That has helped lift the Fuel into a tie for third place in the Central Division with Bloomington, and the two teams have a nine-point cushion over Kalamazoo and Cincinnati. Last week, Indy took a pair of 3-2 decisions in Iowa. Sahil Panwar is the only Fuel player with double digits in goals (11), while Matt Petgrave leads the way with 28 points. Mitchell Weeks has played seven of the last eight games in goal, and has allowed two goals or less in six of the seven, going 4-1-2.
While the Fuel have shot up the standings, Cincinnati has experienced a more bumpy path lately, as the Cyclones are 4-9-0 in 2026 and 18-18-3 overall. One of the glaring struggles recently for Cincinnati has been goals against, as the Cyclones have allowed five goals or more in seven of their last eight losses. Last weekend, Cincinnati went 1-2-0, as it sandwiched a 2-1 win over Bloomington between a 6-0 loss to Fort Wayne and a 6-3 setback to Toledo. The Nailers are 2-0-1 against the Cyclones this season, and the last two games were vastly different, as Wheeling won 8-3, before Cincinnati took a 2-1 overtime decision the following day. Ben King’s 39 points lead the Cyclones, while Ken Appleby started all three games in goal last weekend.
WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty University will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly renovated Hilltop Center for Biomedical Research on Wednesday, February 11, at 2:00 p.m. in Arnett Hall, followed by an open house from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The Hilltop Center for Biomedical Research significantly expands dedicated laboratory space for biomedical research at West Liberty University, addressing long-standing capacity constraints while supporting the university’s growing academic programs and externally funded research portfolio.
Previously, Arnett Hall housed only one dedicated research laboratory shared among five faculty members and approximately 30 students engaged in externally funded biomedical research. To meet increasing demand and enhance collaboration, faculty members Dr. Deanna Schmitt and Dr. Holly Vopal successfully applied for a $250,000 Alterations and Renovations grant through the WV IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE) program.
“These funds allowed us to renovate a previously underused classroom into a state-of-the-art research laboratory that now serves as a collaborative biomedical research suite providing opportunities for student-driven research,” said Dr. Holly Vopal.
Since 2012, West Liberty University’s biology program has experienced a 43 percent increase in undergraduate majors. During that same period, the university launched two graduate programs—MA/MS in Biology and an MA in Biomedical Sciences—as well as a new undergraduate biomedical research major. The expanded laboratory space positions the university to sustain this growth while increasing its research output and student engagement in hands-on scientific inquiry.
“The newly renovated laboratory in Arnett Hall will significantly expand West Liberty University’s laboratory space for dedicated bench research and support faculty and students on their path to scientific discovery,” said Dr. Karen Kettler, Dean of the College of Sciences.
Faculty affiliated with the Hilltop Center for Biomedical Research include Drs. Schmitt, Racine-Vopal, Cantlay, Garrison, and Horzempa, who collectively hold more than $1.6 million in active research grants. These projects integrate student research, experiential learning, and real-world scientific innovation across multiple biomedical disciplines.
The renovation was funded through a competitive Alterations and Renovations grant from the WV IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE), a federally supported research program established by the National Institutes of Health to strengthen biomedical research capacity in eligible states.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony is open to the campus community, elected officials, project partners, and members of the public. Guests are encouraged to remain for the open house to tour the facility and learn more about ongoing and planned research initiatives.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students’ aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. To apply or learn more about West Liberty University, visit westliberty.edu.
Brent Johnson Delivers Game-Winning Goal to End Wheeling’s Five-Game Skid
WHEELING, WV- Taylor Gauthier is on the verge of Wheeling history, as his 58 career wins are two shy of Andy Franck’s all-time record of 60.
Gauthier’s performance for the Wheeling Nailers on Wednesday night against the Fort Wayne Komets at WesBanco Arena was definitely a legendary one. The Nailers netminder made an astounding 53 saves on 55 shots, and although he had to wait an extra 5:19 to earn the win, it was worth it. Brent Johnson delivered the game-winning goal in overtime for Wheeling to end the team’s five-game winless skid. The final score was 3-2.
The Komets missed out on their first trip to Wheeling due to some nasty winter weather, but they put a storm’s worth of shots on the Nailers during the first period. However, Wheeling took advantage of its best opportunity of the stanza by cashing in on a power play to take a 1-0 lead. Brent Johnson sprinted into the right side of the offensive zone to snap a pass to Randy Hernández in the bottom of the right circle.
Hernández wasted little time in setting up Matthew Quercia, who shoveled in a one-timer from the top of the crease. The Nailers fended off a 22-7 shots advantage by Fort Wayne, which included a 1:28 two-man disadvantage.
Wheeling had a tremendous opportunity to extend its lead in the opening minute of the second period, when Matty De St. Phalle was taken down from behind on a breakaway. De St. Phalle was awarded a penalty shot for his efforts, and although he made a slick move to his backhand, goaltender Nathaniel Day stretched over to make a right pad save. The Komets continued their shooting barrage with 16 attempts in the middle frame, and ultimately broke up Taylor Gauthier’s shutout bid with their 37th shot of the night.
Austin Magera tapped a pass ahead to Kirill Tyutyayev, who dribbled a shot just inside of the right post for the equalizer.
The score stayed 1-1 until the final five minutes of regulation, when the two sides exchanged goals 21 seconds apart from each other. Fort Wayne took the lead at the 15:08 mark, when Alex Aleardi slipped behind the defense, and squeezed a backhander between the left post and Gauthier’s right skate. The Nailers rebounded immediately with a crazy bounce.
Tristan Thompson’s dump-in from neutral ice hopped onto the goal, but Day was unable to control the puck, which kicked to Connor Lockhart, who cashed in from the right side.
Both teams secured a point in the non-conference game, as overtime was necessary to determine a winner. The extra session wasn’t the typical up-and-down sequence with chances being traded constantly, but at the 5:19 mark, Wheeling sent its fans home happy. Logan Pietila led Brent Johnson in toward the net, and Johnson faked to his backhand to slide the winning goal through Day’s legs for the 3-2 Nailers triumph.
Taylor Gauthier set a career high by turning away 53 of the 55 shots he faced in the victory for the Nailers. The 53 saves were also tied for the third most by a Wheeling goalie in a game in team history. Nathaniel Day made 19 saves on 22 shots in the overtime loss for the Komets.
The Nailers will have Thursday off, before continuing their homestand with a Frosty Friday against the Indy Fuel on Friday night at 7:10. On Saturday night at 7:10, Wheeling will host the Cincinnati Cyclones for Pittsburgh Penguins Night. The star of the night will be two-time Stanley Cup Champion Phil Bourque, who will be signing autographs before the game and during the first intermission.
Bourque will also join the Nailers broadcast during the second period. The Nailers will be wearing specialty jerseys designed after Pittsburgh’s jerseys from the 2008 NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo.
Additionally, the entire team will be signing autographs following the game. Individual tickets, group tickets, and more are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL.
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.
