WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, are excited to announce their tenth player signing of the 2017 offseason. Wheeling has signed goaltender Colin Stevens to an ECHL contract.
Stevens, 24, has played two full seasons in the ECHL, suiting up with the Manchester Monarchs and Tulsa Oilers. His rookie season of 2015-16 was a strong one for Manchester, who earned 87 points, topping the North Division. Colin posted a 15-9-2 record in 28 appearances that year, as well as a 2.77 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. He was between the pipes for two games against the Nailers, going 1-1, while stopping 71 of the 75 shots he faced. Last season, the netminder reached double digits in the win column again, earning three victories with the Monarchs, then seven wins with the Oilers.
"Colin Stevens is a quality guy, who is right on the edge of breaking through," said Nailers Head Coach Jeff Christian. "He knows what it takes to win a championship, as he won a National Championship at school with Union. We saw him twice during our run to being Eastern Conference Champions in 2016, and he played really well in both games."
Prior to turning pro, the Niskayuna, New York native attended Union College for four years, where he majored in Economics, while playing for the Dutchmen. Stevens' greatest accomplishment in college took place in 2013-14, when he and the Dutchmen won the NCAA Division 1 National Championship. That season, he racked up 28 wins, which included six shutouts and a 15-0-1 run to end the year. Over the course of his four seasons at Union, Colin went 53-24-6 in 90 games, while posting a goals against average under 2.50 and a save percentage over .910 all four years. Stevens collected a 24-3-0 record in his lone season of junior hockey with the Boston Jr. Bruins.
"I've heard nothing but great things about the organization, and I am excited to get out there," Stevens said. "I want to prove to myself and everyone in Wheeling that winning is the most important thing."
Colin Stevens and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2017-18 season with two road games against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on October 13th and 14th. The home opener at WesBanco Arena takes place on October 21st at 7:05, when the Nailers do battle with the Cincinnati Cyclones. To purchase season, flex, or group tickets, or to get more information on tickets and events, call (304) 234-GOAL.