WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce their 11th player signing of the 2026 offseason. Wheeling has re-signed forward Craig Armstrong to an ECHL contract.
Armstrong, returns for his second season with the Nailers and his third year as a pro. Craig saw a drastic increase in his production from his rookie year to his sophomore season, as his point total nearly doubled with Wheeling. The forward amassed 12 goals, 23 assists, and 35 points in 68 regular season games, then added two goals, three assists, and five points in 17 postseason contests. He was also the team's leader in +/- during the regular season with a +29 mark, which was the best +/- in a single season for a Nailer since Jake Ortmeyer (+36) and J.C. Ruid (+33) both eclipsed +30 during the 2003-04 campaign. Armstrong had a weekend to remember this past season as November came to an end. He scored his first goal in a Wheeling uniform in a 5-2 victory at Toledo on November 28th, then recorded the 53rd five-point game in team history the following night, thanks to one goal and four assists in an 8-3 thrashing of Cincinnati. Craig also collected a pair of two-goal games in home wins over Trois-Rivières and Kalamazoo. Both of his tallies in the playoffs came in home triumphs, as he scored in game two of the North Division Semifinal Series and in game four of the Eastern Conference Final Series. Armstrong's two-year ECHL totals are 19 goals, 35 assists, and 54 points in 132 games.
Prior to turning pro, the Crossfield, Alberta native played parts of six seasons of junior hockey in the WHL and QMJHL. Armstrong posted over 30 points during each of his final three seasons of junior hockey, as he suited up with the Prince George Cougars, the Red Deer Rebels, and the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. His final year in Chicoutimi was his best, when he notched 17 goals, 22 assists, and 39 points in 67 games. Craig was also an alternate captain that season.
Craig Armstrong 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.
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