WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers have announced a trade, which takes effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired forwards Dante Sheriff and Matt Crasa from the Wichita Thunder in exchange for the ECHL rights to forward Connor Lockhart. Sheriff was originally acquired by Wichita from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, prior to being swapped to the Nailers. Sheriff and Crasa were both signed to ECHL contracts prior to the trade, making them the sixth and seventh players signed for the upcoming season.

Sheriff, 27, is entering his fifth professional season, having spent each of the previous four years exclusively in the ECHL. Dante began his career in 2022-23 with the Tulsa Oilers, and finished third on the team in rookie scoring with 13 goals, 17 assists, and 30 points in 51 games. The forward played one more season in Tulsa in 2023-24 and enjoyed his best campaign as a pro, as his 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) ranked third on the Oilers in scoring. Tulsa also qualified for the playoffs that season, which gave Sheriff his first taste of postseason hockey at the professional level. Prior to the 2024-25 season, Dante was acquired in a trade by the Cincinnati Cyclones, where he played for current Nailers Associate Coach Jason Payne. Once again, he found himself toward the top of the team in scoring, as he finished fourth with 11 goals, 27 assists, and 38 points. Sheriff and Payne were reunited last season, thanks to a trade to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Dante produced ten goals, 16 assists, and 26 points. His career totals in the ECHL are 52 goals, 91 assists, and 143 points in 217 contests.

Prior to turning pro, the Woodbridge, Ontario native played two seasons of college hockey at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Sheriff accumulated 13 goals, 29 assists, and 42 points in 52 career games with the Lakers. He has also competed internationally, as he won the 2024 Challenger Series with Team Jamaica. Dante is not the only member of his family to play hockey professionally, as his sister Kandice played for the NWHL's Buffalo Beauts in 2019-20.

Crasa, 25, is entering his second full professional season and third overall - all of which have been spent in the ECHL. Matt began his pro career in the spring of 2025, when he signed with the Norfolk Admirals, following the conclusion of his college career. The forward notched five points in 11 regular season games, then appeared in six postseason contests, including three against Wheeling in the North Division Semifinal Series. Crasa began last season in Norfolk, before he joined the Wichita Thunder in December. Matt produced nine goals and 15 points in 47 tilts with the Thunder, bringing his career totals in the ECHL to 12 goals, ten assists, and 22 points in 71 games.

Prior to turning pro, the Long Island, New York native played four seasons of college hockey at UMass-Lowell. Crasa amassed 27 goals, 31 assists, and 58 points in 129 games with the River Hawks. His best collegiate season took place in 2021-22, when finished second on his team with 12 goals and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.

Lockhart, 23, has played two professional seasons, as he spent one year with the Bloomington Bison and one campaign with the Nailers. After collecting 12 goals, 18 assists, and 30 points in 68 games as a rookie with Bloomington, Connor improved his numbers drastically in Wheeling. He finished second on the team in scoring with 21 goals, 34 assists, and 55 points in 70 games. Lockhart was originally acquired by the Nailers in a trade that sent Chris Ortiz's ECHL rights to the Bison, and Connor proceeded to sign an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Prior to turning pro, the Ottawa, Ontario native played four seasons of junior hockey in the OHL with Erie, Peterborough, and Oshawa. 2022-23 was his best season, as he set a career high with 79 points, while the Petes won the OHL Championship. Lockhart has signed an AHL contract with Wichita's affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.

Dante Sheriff, Matt Crasa, and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16th. The first home game is Saturday, October 24th against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and 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.