Wheeling, WV – The Wheeling Nailers, the proud ECHL affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, have announced their schedule for the upcoming 2009-2010 campaign. The 72 game season features many highlights and it all begins with a visit to the Kelly Cup Champion South Carolina Stingrays on October 16 to commence a 3 game southern road swing that also includes a pair of games at the Gwinnett Gladiators in Georgia.

The big home opener vs. the Cincinnati Cyclones is on Friday, October 23. The first ever Wheeling trip from the ECHL's newest team, the Kalamazoo Wings, will be Friday, October 30. The other new team to the North Division, the Toledo Walleye, will make their WesBanco Arena debut on Sunday, December 6th.

WesBanco Arena will be a popular place to be over many of the upcoming holidays as the Nailers will host a game on Halloween, 3 big games around the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend, a game shortly after Christmas on December 27, and the annual New Year's Eve game on December 31. Wheeling will also have a special Kids Day game on Tuesday, February 9 at 11:00 a.m.

Greg Puhalski's group will host all 11 American Conference teams throughout the season including some teams from the South Division who haven't visited Wheeling in some time such as the Charlotte Checkers, Florida Everblades, Gwinnett Gladiators and South Carolina Stingrays. Wheeling will also travel to each team in the conference at least once including a December 16-19 road-trip to the beaches of southwest Florida in the Ft. Myers region for a three game series vs. the Florida Everblades.

Of course, Wheeling will also see plenty of their traditional North Division rivals such as Johnstown and Cincinnati and Elmira. The Nailers will play the Elmira Jackals the most squaring off against them a total of 12 times. The Nailers will play the Johnstown Chiefs and Cincinnati Cyclones 10 times each.

Friday, October 16 at South Carolina Stingrays

Saturday, October 17 at Gwinnett Gladiators

Sunday, October 18 at Gwinnett Gladiators

Friday, October 23 vs. CINCINNATI CYCLONES

Saturday, October 24 at Cincinnati Cyclones

Sunday, October 25 vs. ELMIRA JACKALS

Wednesday, October 28 at Trenton Devils

Friday, October 30 vs. KALAMAZOO WINGS

Saturday, October 31 vs. CINCINNATI CYCLONES

Friday, November 6 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS

Saturday, November 7 vs. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

Friday, November 13 at Johnstown Chiefs

Saturday, November 14 vs. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

Friday, November 20 at Elmira Jackals

Saturday, November 21 at Elmira Jackals

Wednesday, November 25 vs. FLORIDA EVERBLADES

Friday, November 27 at Elmira Jackals

Saturday, November 28 vs. CINCINNATI CYCLONES

Sunday, November 29 vs. CINCINNATI CYCLONES

Wednesday, December 2 at Johnstown Chiefs

Friday, December 4 at Johnstown Chiefs

Saturday, December 5 vs. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

Sunday, December 6 vs. TOLEDO WALLEYE

Wednesday, December 9 at Toledo Walleye

Friday, December 11 vs. GWINNETT GLADIATORS

Saturday, December 12 at Kalamazoo Wings

Sunday, December 13 vs. GWINNETT GLADIATORS

Wednesday, December 16 at Florida Everblades

Friday, December 18 at Florida Everblades

Saturday, December 19 at Florida Everblades

Saturday, December 26 at Kalamazoo Wings

Sunday, December 27 vs. ELMIRA JACKALS

Wednesday, December 30 at Reading Royals

Thursday, December 31 vs. TOLEDO WALLEYE

Saturday, January 2 at Trenton Devils

Friday, January 8 vs. CINCINNAATI CYCLONES

Saturday, January 9 vs. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

Friday, January 15 vs. TOLEDO WALLEYE

Saturday, January 16 vs. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

Sunday, January 17 vs. ELMIRA JACKALS

Saturday, January 23 at Charlotte Checkers

Sunday, January 24 at South Carolina Stingrays

Tuesday, January 26 at South Carolina Stingrays

Saturday, January 30 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS

Sunday, January 31 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS

Wednesday, February 3 at Cincinnati Cyclones

Friday, February 5 at Elmira Jackals

Saturday, February 6 vs. KALAMAZOO WINGS

Tuesday, February 9 vs. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

Friday, February 12 vs. ELMIRA JACKALS

Saturday February 13 vs. ELMIRA JACKALS

Sunday, February 14 at Reading Royals

Friday, February 19 at Elmira Jackals

Saturday, February 20th at Elmira Jackals

Sunday, February 21st at Trenton Devils

Wednesday, February 24th at Cincinnati Cyclones

Friday, February 26th at Reading Royals

Saturday, February 27th at Elmira Jackals

Friday, March 5th vs. CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

Saturday, March 6th vs. TRENTON DEVILS

Sunday, March 7th vs. TRENTON DEVILS

Saturday, March 13 at Johnstown Chiefs

Sunday, March 14 vs. KALAMAZOO WINGS

Wednesday, March 17 at Kalamazoo Wings

Friday, March 19 at Kalamazoo Wings

Saturday, March 20 vs. KALAMAZOO WINGS

Sunday, March 21 vs. TOLEDO WALLEYE

Wednesday, March 24 at Cincinnati Cyclones

Friday, March 26 vs. KALAMAZOO WINGS

Saturday, March 27 at Toledo Walleye

Friday, April 2 vs. READING ROYALS

Saturday, April 3 vs. CINCINNATI CYCLONES