Our History

Significant Dates in Wheeling Hockey History

BEFORE THE MOVE TO WHEELING
December 5, 1991- Management and ownership from the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds makes first ever visit to Wheeling, West Virginia and the Wheeling Civic Center.
January 16, 1992- Thunderbirds owners meet with Auditorium Board and local business leaders.
February 7, 1992- Ohio County Commission commits $100,000 to project.
February 20, 1992- Arena representatives have preliminary meeting with architects.
March 19, 1992- Auditorium Board & Thunderbirds owners met with local civic and business leaders.

MARCH 31, 1992- PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINSTON-SALEM THUNDERBIRDS RELOCATION TO WHEELING FOR 1992-93 SEASON.

April 25, 1992- Inaugural season tickets go on sale.
July 13, 1992- Construction begins on Wheeling Civic Center floor.
August 27, 1992- Floor construction and seating retrofits completed.
September 1, 1992- Montreal Canadiens become first NHL affiliate.
September 22, 1992- Ice is made for the first time. First skater is Bob Otten.
October 5, 1992- Training camp begins for the Wheeling Thunderbirds.
October 8, 1992- First exhibition game is played between the Wheeling Thunderbirds and Dayton Bombers.

OCTOBER 18, 1992- FIRST REGULAR SEASON GAME. WHEELING THUNDERBIRDS DEFEAT DAYTON BOMBERS, 9-3. TIM ROBERTS SCORES FIRST GOAL. MARC RODGERS SCORES FIRST HAT TRICK.

November 1, 1992- First 4-goal game in team history (Devin Edgerton); 9-1 win vs. Roanoke Valley Rampage
November 6, 1992- First shootout in team history; 3-2 win vs. Johnstown Chiefs
December 10, 1992- 100th goal in team history; part of 7-3 win vs. Roanoke Valley Rampage
December 20, 1992- Fastest hat trick in ECHL history; Darren Schwartz in 30 seconds of 11-3 win vs. Roanoke Valley Rampage
January 31, 1993- First shutout in team history; 8-0 win vs. Louisville Icehawks
February 2, 1993- Wheeling Civic Center hosts ECHL All-Star Game; 4 Thunderbirds play; 7-3 East win
February 12, 1993- First overtime win in team history; 4-3 vs. Nashville Knights
March 19, 1993- First playoff game in team history; 3-2 win vs. Johnstown Chiefs
March 23, 1993- First playoff series win, shutout, hat trick in team history; 5-0 win vs. Johnstown Chiefs
April 2, 1993- First playoff overtime win in team history; 5-4 win vs. Raleigh Icecaps
April 9, 1993- First home game in championship series in team history; 5-3 win vs. Toledo Storm
November 13, 1993- 100th standings point in team history; 7-6 overtime loss at Johnstown Chiefs
December 3, 1993- Craig Ferguson becomes first Wheeling Thunderbird to graduate to the NHL, debuting with Montreal Canadiens
January 11, 1994- 100th game in team history; 6-3 win vs. Huntington Blizzard
January 14, 1994- 500th goal in team history; part of 4-3 win vs. Johnstown Chiefs
January 6, 1995- 100th win in team history; 4-2 win vs. Johnstown Chiefs
November 8, 1995- 1,000th goal in team history; part of 5-4 win at Columbus Chill
June 18, 1996- Team name changed from "Thunderbirds" to "Nailers"
November 30, 1996- 100th home win in team history; 7-4 win vs. Dayton Bombers
March 23, 1997- 200th win in team history; 6-2 win vs. Peoria Rivermen
February 12, 1998- Nailers begin affiliation with Pittsburgh Penguins
March 1, 1998- 500th standings point in team history; 3-1 win vs. Peoria Rivermen
April 8, 1998- First "winner-take-all" playoff game in team history; 4-2 win vs. Dayton Bombers
November 6, 1998- 100th road win in team history; 6-4 win at Dayton Bombers
April 4, 1999- 2,000th goal in team history; part of 4-3 shootout loss vs. Huntington Blizzard
October 23, 1999- 1 Millionth Fan in team history; 3-2 loss vs. Dayton
December 5, 1999- 500th game in team history; 4-3 win at Peoria Rivermen
April 2, 2000- Most goals scored in a game in team history; 14-2 win vs. Toledo Storm
December 15, 2000- 300th win in team history; 2-1 win vs. Johnstown Chiefs
October 20, 2002- Game played at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena; 6-5 win vs. Peoria Rivermen
January 2, 2004- 400th win in team history; 5-0 win vs. Toledo Storm
February 22, 2004- 3,000th goal in team history; part of 3-2 win at Peoria Rivermen
March 19, 2004- 100th standings point in a single season for the first time in team history; 3-2 shootout loss at Dayton Bombers
March 28, 2004- 50th win in a single season for the first time in team history; 3-2 win at Dayton Bombers
March 9, 2005- 1,000th standings point in team history; 3-2 win at Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
February 24, 2006- 500th win in team history; 4-1 win vs. Trenton Titans
March 22, 2006- 50th shutout in team history; 4-0 win at Johnstown Chiefs
December 2, 2006- 1,000th game in team history; 7-4 win vs. Gwinnett Gladiators
December 15, 2006- 500th game at WesBanco Arena; 6-3 loss vs. Reading Royals
December 27, 2008- 4,000th goal in team history; part of 5-4 loss vs. Cincinnati Cyclones
January 9, 2009- 2 Millionth fan in team history; 8-4 loss vs. Dayton Bombers
March 15, 2009- 600th win in team history; 2-1 win vs. Johnstown Chiefs
April 20, 2009- First game seven in team history; 2-1 overtime loss at Cincinnati Cyclones
April 27, 2011- First game seven win in team history; 4-3 overtime win at Greenville Road Warriors
January 11, 2012- 1,500th standings point in team history; 3-2 win vs. Toledo Walleye
February 4, 2012- 700th win in team history; 2-1 win at Trenton Titans
November 21, 2012- 1,500th game in team history; 4-0 win vs. Evansville IceMen
March 17, 2013- 5,000th goal in team history; part of 3-2 win at Toledo Walleye
January 23, 2015- 800th win in team history; 5-4 win vs. Fort Wayne Komets
May 5, 2016- Longest game in team history (104:22); 2-1 win at Reading Royals
May 9, 2016- Most goals for in a playoff game in team history; 8-3 win vs. Reading Royals
May 11, 2016- First game seven at home in team history; 4-3 overtime win vs. Reading Royals
May 24, 2016- First time winning E.A. "Bud" Gingher Memorial Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions; 5-2 win at South Carolina Stingrays
November 22, 2017- 500th win at WesBanco Arena in team history; 4-3 win vs. Worcester Railers
November 25, 2017- 10,000 assist in team history; part of 4-3 loss vs. Worcester Railers
November 26, 2017- 900th win in team history; 5-1 win at Reading Royals
December 12, 2017- 6,000th goal in team history; part of 3-2 win vs. Indy Fuel
January 11, 2020- 3 Millionth fan in team history; part of 6-1 loss vs. Fort Wayne Komets
February 26, 2021- 2,000th game in team history; 5-2 win vs. Utah Grizzlies
May 26, 2021- 1,000th win in team history; 5-1 win vs. Indy Fuel
October 22, 2022- 7,000th goal in team history; part of 5-3 loss vs. Toledo Walleye
March 15, 2024- 1,100th win in team history; 1-0 win at Iowa Heartlanders