WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced two transactions, which both take effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired goaltender Adam Morrison from the Rapid City Rush in exchange for future considerations. Additionally, Pittsburgh has reassigned forward Freddie Tiffels to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Morrison, 26, begins his sixth full season of professional hockey, having spent the majority of his career in the ECHL, to go along with a pair of AHL appearances. Adam eased his way into the pro game with the South Carolina Stingrays and Utah Grizzlies in 2012-13 and 2013-14, before his career really took off with South Carolina in 2014-15. The former Philadelphia Flyers draft pick went 15-5-2, with a 1.88 goals against average, and .928 save percentage in 23 games for the Stingrays, and was part of South Carolina's ECHL record 23-game winning streak. In 2015-16, Morrison spent the majority of the year with the Reading Royals, posting a 7-4-6 mark in the regular season, before going 3-1 against the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Wheeling Nailers. Last season, the White Rock, British Columbia native set a career high, earning 16 wins with the Rapid City Rush.
"We were after Adam Morrison for quite a while, and we're excited to be able to acquire him," said Nailers Head Coach Jeff Christian. "Adam is a legitimate number one goaltender in the ECHL, and he played very well against us in the 2016 playoffs. He will be a good complement for Sean Maguire."
Tiffels, 22, returns to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, following a terrific six-game stretch in Wheeling. Freddie racked up three goals, four assists, and seven points with the Nailers, starting with his first professional goal on November 11th at Toledo. The Cologne, Germany native followed that up with two assists the next day against Norfolk, then collected two goals and one assist on Education Day against Adirondack. Tiffels has played in three AHL games thus far this season for the Penguins.
The Wheeling Nailers return to WesBanco Arena on Wednesday night to take on the Worcester Railers at 7:05. The first 1,500 adults will receive a glass beer stein for Animal House Night. On Saturday, Wheeling and Worcester clash again, and that will be Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring a new or gently used stuffed animal to throw onto the ice when the Nailers score their first goal. The next big promotional game is Star Wars Night on December 2nd. To purchase tickets, or to get more information about season tickets, flex plans, group tickets, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL.