ECHL: Derek Army Secures 125th Win Behind Wheeling Bench

With their 11th straight win Sunday, Derek Army collected his 125th win behind the Wheeling Nailers‘ bench. He also moved into sole possession of second place for the most wins in Nailers’ history, surpassing Doug Sauter, who had 124 wins.

Derek Army’s Journey in Wheeling

Army’s journey with the Nailers began long before his coaching career. After his college career at Providence College, Army joined the Nailers at the end of the 2013-14 season, posting four points in the four regular season games he played. His talents impressed the coaching staff, and he was added to their playoff roster. Though he played three games, he did not manage to collect a point.

Army played five seasons with the Nailers from 2013-14 to 2017-18 while also getting some chances in the American Hockey League with the Portland Pirates, Ontario Reign, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Texas Stars, Milwaukee Admirals, and Tucson Roadrunners. He captained the Nailers in his final two seasons of pro hockey. In those five seasons with Wheeling, he played 159 regular season games, tallying 59 goals and 71 assists. He made the postseason three times, playing 29 games where he tallied four goals and eight assists.

From Playing to Coaching Wheeling

Army joined the Nailers’ coaching staff during the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach. After the season concluded, he was promoted to the head coaching position. In his first season as head coach, Army led the Nailers to a 37-31-4-0 record, securing a playoff spot after missing out the previous season. The Nailers faced the Fort Wayne Komets in the first round, winning the series 4-3. However, they were swept by the Toledo Walleye in the second round.

In the 2022-23 season, the Nailers experienced their first down season under their new head coach, finishing with a 29-38-5-0 record and missing the postseason for the second time in three seasons. However, they returned to the Kelly Cup playoffs the following season, with Army leading them to a 38-28-4-1 record. The Nailers won the first round against the Indy Fuel with a 4-1 series victory but were once again swept by the Walleye in the second round.

This season, in a new division, Army is achieving something special. His Nailers are currently 15-3-1-0, with a 78.9% win percentage, placing them first in the North Division and third in the league.

Army is just 23 wins away from having the most wins in franchise history. He has the opportunity to capture that milestone this season while leading the Nailers to their best season since 2015-16, when the team went 37-26-5-4.