ECHL: Wheeling Nailers Make First Goalie Signing

The Wheeling Nailers have made their first goalie signing as they have re-signed Jaxon Castor for the 2024-25 season. Castor played a huge role between the pipes in the last stretch of the 2023-24 regular season when his goalie partner, Taylor Gauthier, was called up to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL.

Castor just completed his second season as a professional, putting up solid numbers in his first full year and taking the reigns between the pipes late in the season in must-win situations. Castor went 10-4-1 in the regular season, securing a 2.71 goals against average and a .899 save percentage with 381 saves on 424 shots faced. During the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Castor led the way past a very difficult Indy Fuel in round one, who have had the Nailers number over the years. Castor held a .931 SV% and a 2.50 GAA against the Fuel. In round two, the Nailers would face the Toledo Walleye who have been a thorn in the Nailers side. Castor would start the series strong, stopping 33-of-35 in a 2-1 loss, with a .943 SV% and a 1.70 GAA. Castor would take the loss in game two of the series, 5-3, allowing four goals on 41 shots, and being safe to say it was not on him. Castor would eventually end the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 4-3-1 record with a 2.73 GAA, .913 SV%, and one shutout.

His road to playing professional hockey and stability with a team was a long one. Castor bounced around three teams before landing a permanent spot with the Nailers. Castor began with the Florida Everblades in the 2022-23 season, seeing action in two games, having a 2.07 GAA and a .912 SV%. He would then end up with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL but saw no playing time. To start the 2023-24 season, Castor began with the Atlanta Gladiators, but saw no time in net and would end up back with the Everblades, then finally with Wheeling.

Prior to turning pro, Castor played in the United States Hockey League with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. He played three seasons with the Fighting Saints, making it to the Clark Cup Finals in the 2015-16 season but ultimately losing to the Tri-City Storm. During his time in Dubuque, Castor played 82 games with a 44-25-8 record, holding a 2.55 GAA and .897 SV%. During the Clark Cup Playoffs, Castor played eight games, going 4-4 with a 2.97 GAA and a .914 SV% with one shutout. Castor would find himself dropped down to the North American Hockey League playing with the Shreveport Mudbugs. He played 18 regular season games with the Mudbugs, holding a 1.50 GAA and a .931 SV%. He would have a stellar Robertson Cup Playoff run, playing 12 games with a 1.66 GAA and a .929 SV%. Castor helped the Mudbugs win the Robertson Cup and be named Robertson Cup MVP, be named to the Robertson Cup All-Tournament Team, and have the best GAA in the regular season.

Castor would commit to St. Cloud State University and play for the American Collegiate Hockey Association Club DII team for the 2018-19 season. Castor played 11 games for them, posting two shutouts with a 2.09 GAA and a .946 SV%. He would be called up to the NCAA DI team for the remaining three years of his eligibility and play his fourth with them as a graduate student. The Phoenix native played 42 games, going 20-16-1 with a 2.38 GAA and a .910 SV% with four shutouts, which all came in his grad year. In his grad year, the Huskies won the NCAA National Collegiate Hockey Conference championship and Castor was named to the NCHC All-Tournament Team.