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Pittsburgh, PA –Nick Johnson could not have
picked a more appropriate jersey number to be wearing
when he made his NHL debut against the Washington
Capitals on Thursday night. While wearing #42, Johnson
became the 42nd Wheeling Nailers alum to make it
to the National Hockey League.
Johnson also maintained an impressive trend by scoring
a goal in his first NHL game when he flipped home
a rebound off a Ruslan Fedotenko shot in the 2nd
period. Way to go Nick!
Other recent Nailers to score a goal in their NHL
debut have included David Laliberte this year as
well as Cam Paddock (STL) and Tim Wallace (PIT)
last season. It’s really quite amazing when
you consider how truly rare it is for a player to
score a goal in their very first NHL game.
Nick Johnson becomes the 430th ECHL player all-time
to graduate from the ECHL to the NHL. The Nailers
stretched their hold on the league record with #42.
That means that almost 10% of the ECHL’ers
advancing to the NHL have been Wheeling Nailers.
Johnson is the 4th Nailers alum to make it this
season joining David Laliberte (PHI), Mark Letestu
(PIT) and Luca Caputi (PIT).
Johnson, the 3rd round choice of the Penguins in
the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, also becomes the first
member of the 2008-09 Nailers squad to make it to
hockey’s highest level. The Calgary, Alberta
native took the league by storm when he came to
Wheeling in October, 2008. He scored 14 goals and
10 assists in just 18 games and led the ECHL in
goals when he received a well-earned call up to
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL.
The Dartmouth College product tacked on another
14 goals in 57 games last year with WBS. This season
he has 7 goals and 15 assists in 26 games with WBS
having also missed a few weeks early in the year
with an injury.
Congratulations on being #42 in two different ways
Nick!
Other Nailers alums currently playing in the NHL
include Tomas Vokoun (FLA), Daniel Carcillo (PHI),
Paul Bissonette (PHX) and David Koci (COL).
Nailers alums debuting in NHL this season:
David LaLiberte –Oct 31, 2009 – CAR
at PHI
Mark Letestu – Nov 14, 2009 – BOS at
PIT
Luca Caputi – Jan 5, 2010 – ATL at PIT
Nick Johnson – Jan 21, 2010 – WSH at
PIT
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