Nailers on top of the North

READING , Pa – The Wheeling Nailers would like to forget all about last season. So far, it looks at though they have. Last season, the Nailers had the second worst record in the ECHL. So far this season, the Nailers are one of only four teams who have not lost a game so far this season.
 
The Dayton Bombers are one of those undefeated teams. The Bombers look to get back to the Kelly Cup finals after missing the big dance last season. Dayton lost in the finals in 2007 to the Idaho Steelheads.

 
Let’s take a look at the ECHL’s North Division and see how things have taken shape after the first 2 weeks of the season. (All stats as of October 29, 2008)
 
Wheeling – Offense is the name of the game for Wheeling so far this season. The Nailers lead the ECHL with 29 goals. Only the Charlotte Checkers have scored at least 20 goals so far this season. Three of the top four scorers in the league are Nailers: Tommy Goebel, Aaron Clarke, and Rob Sirianni. Goeble and Clarke are tied for second in the league with 5 goals each, but it’s a rookie who is leading the charge. Nick Johnson already has six goals in five games.
 
Another rookie, defenseman Cliff Loya, is tied for third in the league among rookies in scoring with one goal and three assists. T
 
One look at the Nailers goaltenders makes you wonder how David Brown has been solid in net for the Nailers posting a goals against average of under 2.00 and a save percentage of .943 percent, yet Wheeling is the second worst defense in the league allowing 22 goals. Curtis Darling has started in net four of the five games for the Nailers and has struggled mightily.  
 
One look at the Nailers special teams and you get a good barometer as to why the Nailers are inconsistent. Wheeling ranks first overall on the power play, but are getting rocked on the penalty kill ranking 21^st out of 23 teams.  
 
Prospect Watch – Brown is an 8^th round draft pick of Pittsburgh in 2004 (228^th overall). With Darling struggling look for Brown to get more playing time.
 
Dayton – The Bombers are off to a good start to their season in the win/loss category, but someone might want to tell them that unless they decide to score some goals, the Bombers might be confused with the New Jersey Devils of the 1990’s.
 
After three games the Bombers are undefeated, but Dayton has scored nine goals and has allowed only five. Of the Bombers nine goals, six have come on the power play. Of the five goals allowed, three have come onthe penalty kill.
 
Needless to say goaltender David Shantz leads the league in goals against (.50) and save percentage (.979).
 
While the Bombers offense is off to a slow start, that can’t be said of Dan Riedel who has four of the Bombers nine goals, three have come on the power play.
 
Prospect Watch – Shantz, a Florida Panthers prospect, was originally draft by the Panthers in the second round (37^th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Last season Shantz played for the Florida Everblades compiling a 11-5-3 record.
 
Johnstown – While the future of the Chiefs remains in doubt, the outlook for the Chiefs for the upcoming season sure doesn’t look it.
 
The Chiefs are off to a 3-2 start and have played some solid hockey. Johnstown has balanced scoring with seven players with at least one goal, three with three goals apiece. Oddly enough the Chiefs leading scoring does not have a goal. Petr Pohl has seven assists, no goals.
 
Johnstown ’s special teams have been solid ranking ninth on the power play and eleventh on the penalty kill.
 
Goaltender Ian Keserich is tied for eleventh in goals against (2.26) and Tampa nineteenth in save percentage (.915).
 
Prospect Watch – Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Kyle Wharton, a defenseman, was also a 2004 draftee taken 59^th, 22 spots after Shanz. Last season Wharton played for the Elmira Jackals.
 
Elmira – The Jackals burst onto the ECHL scene last year after playing in the UHL (now known as the IHL) for 10 seasons. The Jackals finished in second place in the division but lost in the first round of the playoffs. Elmira is off to a 3-3 start.
 
Elmira ’s record can be reflected in the scoring department. The Jackals have scored 21 goals and 21 assists. Like Wheeling, offense is not an issue, but defense is.
 
Tyler Donati leads the league in scoring with four goals and 10 assists. Moises Gutierrez leads the team in goals with 5.
 
Goaltender Rob McVicer after only 2 games is tied for fifth in goals against (2.00) and seventeenth in save percentage (.917).
 
Prospect Watch – The Jackals do not have an NHL prospect on the roster despite being affiliated with the Ottawa Senators and the Binghamton Senators.
 
Reading – The Royals are off to a rough start having one only one game in Trenton. Scoring might become a long term issue as the Royals have very few proven scorers on the roster.
 
Despite only scoring 12 goals and allowing 16, the Royals are 12^th in penalty killing and 18^th on the power play. The Royals do not have a league leader in scoring or goaltending in the top 20.  
 
The good news for Royals fans is that the team has balanced scoring. Eleven palyers have scored at least one goal, but no one player has scored more than two. Shawn Snider and Tyler Doig are tied for the team lead in points with 5 each.
 
Prospect Watch – Goaltender James Reimer, a fourth round pick (99^th overall) but the Toronto Maple Leafs has the only Royals only win. Despite his 4.20 goals against average and 837 save percentage, Reimer will share duties with Los Angeles Kings prospect Danny Taylor all season long.
 
Trenton – The Titans are struggling, not only at the gate, but one the ice as well. The Devils have only won one game as well and like the Royals are struggling on offense and defense.
 
The Devils are dead last in penalty killing, but oddly enough are seventh on the power play. Eight of the Devils 13 goals have been scored on the power play.
 
Trenton does not have a scorer in the top 20, but rookie goaltender Jeff Franzee comes in at number 19 in goals against (2.84) and is 22^nd in save percentage (.906).
 
Prospect Watch – Frazee is currently the only NHL prospect on the roster.
 
Cincinnati – The defending ECHL champion Cincinnati Cyclones hardly look like the team that won the Kelly Cup just four short months ago. The Cyclones have yet to win a game and look like a team in dire need of a defense.
 
Cincinnati is tied for last goals with 24. The offense isn’t that bad scoring 17 goals but Thomas Beauregard is fifth in scoring with 9 points and is tied for second in the league with 5 goals.
 
The Cyclones are only 10^th on the power play, but they are the leagues second worst penalty killing unit allowing nine goals on 34 chances.
 
Prospect Watch – Montreal Canadiens prospect, goaltender Loic Lacasse, a sixth round pick in 2004 (181^st overall), has played in only one game so far for the Cyclones allowing eight goals on 31 shots in a 9-7 loss to the Wheeling Nailers.  
 
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at lewis.bleiman@prohockeynews.com