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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