Delaney Brado
“There’s nothing to do tonight!” “Where should we even hangout?” We have all heard our friends complain that there is nothing to do in Wheeling, but how many have tried out attending a Nailers game at the Wesbanco Arena?
As a season ticket holder, I am on the glass most home games cheering on as a proud member of the Nailers Army.
The Wheeling Nailers are a ECHL hockey team located in Wheeling,WV.
They have games on Fridays, Saturdays at 7:10pm and sometimes on Sundays at 4:10pm.
Dj Abisalih,radio broadcaster and media/community relations director,had always dreamed of being a professional hockey Broadcaster. He got his start on a team called the Lewiston MAINEiacs in 2011. He then got an offer to work for the Nailers a couple days before the 2011-2012 season started. He’s worked for the Nailers for 14 seasons!
Abisalih talks about his favorite parts about working for the Nailers, “My favorite part about working for the Nailers is game day.”
He loves the feeling of waking up and knowing he gets to do what he loves later that day.
“Community is one of the organizational pillars that we have a strong belief in,” said Abisalih.
The Nailers do around 40-50 appearances per season.They have co-hosted Inclusion on Ice with Easterseals and Augusta Levy Learning Center.These are places that work with kids with autism and other disabilities.
They also do a program called Booze, Cruise, You’ll Lose, with Gold, Khourey, and Turak.They go to local high schools and teach the dangers and consequences of drunk driving.
Youth Hockey teams and local groups are also invited by the Nailers to come to games,and they have Education days for local schools.
The Nailers hosted having a St Patricks Night on March 15th. “Fans really seem to love that promotion. Everyone wants the green hats, the green beverages, and some will be fortunate enough to go home with one of the jerseys worn by the players that night. We also have former Pittsburgh Penguin Tyler Kennedy coming out for the game this year, which adds a little something extra to the night. Personally, I always enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, because that was my grandmother’s birthday. I’m also from New England, and that’s an area of the country that really gets into St. Patrick’s Day,” explains Abisalih.
There have been a lot of successful promotion nights that the Nailers have had,for example Wizards and Wands night had a sell out crowd. New Years Eve and Pittsburgh Penguins night are also crowd favorites. Dj’s favorite themed night was NASCAR night in 2015.
How are Nailers Games a family friendly environment?
“The more we can do to create a memorable experience for the fans, the better it is for everyone in the arena. Taking a family to a game of any sport at the big league level can get expensive, so if we can make it affordable and enjoyable, they’re more likely to come back again and again,” said Abisalih.
Nailers games are great for families and friends to go to! There’s so much positivity and a great fanbase. If you’re ever bored and don’t know what to do, give the Nailers a chance.