With the Kelly Cup Finals underway, the ECHL community is counting down the days to puck drop in October for the 2024-25 season. The Wheeling Nailers announced their schedule for the upcoming season as well as their conference and division realignment. With the expansion of the Bloomington Bison heading to the Western Conference’s Central Division and the termination of the Newfoundland Growlers from the ECHL towards the end of this past season, the Nailers will be moving to the Eastern Conference’s North Division. They will join the Adirondack Thunder, Norfolk Admirals, Trois-Riviers Lions, Worcester Railers, Reading Royals, and Maine Mariners.
The Nailers will start their season on the road for the first five games, beginning with a two-game series against the Mariners at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, ME, on October 18th and 19th. The Wheeling fanbase will welcome their team back to WesBanco Arena when they host the newly added Bison on November 2nd. The Nailers will play 38 of their 72-game schedule against nine teams that are not in their conference, which includes 33 games against former divisional rivals: Cincinnati Cyclones, Toledo Walleye, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings, and Iowa Heartlanders.
Out-Of-Conference Opponent Breakdown
Seven vs. Toledo, two home, five away: November 1st at Toledo, November 27th vs Toledo, December 20th vs Toledo, December 21st at Toledo, February 2nd at Toledo, March 21st at Toledo, and March 22nd at Toledo
Nine vs. Cincinnati – four home, five away: November 6th at Cincinnati, November 29th at Cincinnati, November 30th vs Cincinnati, December 7th at Cincinnati, December 27th at Cincinnati, January 31st at Cincinnati, March 16th vs Cincinnati, March 28th vs Cincinnati, and March 29th vs Cincinnati
Six vs. Indy, two home, four away: November 15th vs Indy, November 16th vs Indy, January 8th at Indy, January 10th at Indy, February 7th at Indy, and March 23rd at Indy
Five vs. Fort Wayne, three home, two away: November 12th vs Fort Wayne, November 23rd at Fort Wayne, February 1st at Fort Wayne, March 14th vs Fort Wayne, and March 15th vs Fort Wayne
Three vs. Kansas City, all at home: January 24th, 25th, and 26th vs Kansas City
Two vs. Bloomington, both at home: November 2nd vs Bloomington and March 30th vs Bloomington
Two vs. Iowa, both at home: December 28th and 29th vs Iowa
Two vs. Kalamazoo, one home, one away: December 6th vs Kalamazoo and December 22nd at Kalamazoo
Two vs. Tulsa, both at home: February 21st and 22nd vs Tulsa
In-Conference Play
The Nailers will face their new division opponents 31 times, while the remaining three games will be against South Division teams, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and South Carolina Stingrays.
11 vs. Reading, seven home, four away: October 26th and 27th at Reading, December 8th vs Reading, December 13th and 14th at Reading, December 31st vs Reading, February 8th vs Reading, February 23rd vs Reading, and April 4th, 5th, and 6th vs. Reading
Six vs. Trois-Rivieres, three home, three away: November 8th and 9th vs Trois-Rivieres, March 12th vs Trois-Rivieres, and April 11th, 12th, and 13th at Trois-Rivieres
Five vs. Adirondack, two home, three away: February 28th vs Adirondack, March 1st vs Adirondack, March 7th, 8th, and 9th at Adirondack
Four vs. Worcester, two home, two away: January 11th and 12th vs Worcester, January 18th and 19th at Worcester,
Three vs. Maine, one home, two away: October 18th and 19th at Maine, March 2nd vs Maine
Two vs. Greenville, both away: February 16th and 17th at Greenville
Two vs. Norfolk, both away: January 3rd and 4th at Norfolk
One vs. South Carolina, one away: February 15th at South Carolina
