It was a busy day for coaches in the ECHL, as Terrence Wallin would leave the Maine Mariners to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and later in the day, Derek Army would leave the Wheeling Nailers to join the Colorado Eagles. Army, 34, spent led the Nailers to a 43-25-4 mark during the 2024-25 season, the most wins by the Nailers since the 2005-26 season when they won 45 games. He’s the sixth Wheeling coach to join the AHL; previous coaches include Tom McVie, Peter Laviolette, Pat Binghampton, Stan Drulia, and Clark Drulia. Wheeling will begin the search for their 21st head coach immediately. The Maine Mariners and Wheeling Nailers are the only two teams currently without a head coach.
Derek Army Coaching Career
Derek Army began his coaching career with the Worcester Railers, spending just over a year with the team as their assistant coach before being fired on November 27th, 2019. The following year, the North Kingstown, Rhode Island, native would join the Nailers. He spent one season as an assistant coach with Wheeling before being promoted to Head Coach on April 20th, 2021. During his four years as Head Coach of the Nailers, the team would go 153-137-19 in 309 games. Wheeling would qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in three of the four years under Army. Last season, Army would become the all-time winningest Head Coach in Nailer history, passing Clark Dontatelli.
Playing Career
Prior to coaching, Army spent five seasons playing for the Wheeling Nailers. In 159 games with the Nailers, he would put up 59 goals and 71 assists for 130 points. In his first season in the ECHL, he would have a career year, putting up 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points while playing in all 72 games. Army would end up being named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team that year as well. Army would spend his last two seasons as the captain of the Nailers. He would add four goals and eight assists for 12 points in 29 career Kelly Cup Playoff games. Army also saw action at the AHL level, putting up 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points while spending time with six different AHL teams.
ITR 46: Offseason Chaos – Inside The Rink
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