The Blue Jackets now have an ECHL affiliation, announcing Aug. 6 that a two-year agreement with the Wheeling Nailers will start with the upcoming season.
Adding the Nailers gives the Jackets a second developmental team, and being in Wheeling, West Virginia, it's a relatively short driving distance from Columbus and Cleveland, where the AHL's Monsters reside.
"Wheeling has a long tradition of both player development and organizational success, and its proximity to both Cleveland and Columbus will be advantageous on the hockey side, while providing a great opportunity to promote our organization and the game throughout the region," Blue Jackets assistant general manager/Cleveland
Monsters GM Chris Clark said in a statement.
The Nailers, who were the Pittsburgh Penguins' ECHL affiliate from 1998-2026, will compete in the ECHL's Western Conference Central Division with the Bloomington Bison, Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings and Toledo Walleye.
Former Blue Jackets forwards Mark Letestu and Zenon Konopka played for the Nailers, while current Jackets who logged ECHL time include goalie Jet Greaves (Kalamazoo) and forward Ryan Lomberg (Adirondack).
Dispatch Blue Jackets/Crew reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets add Wheeling Nailers as ECHL affiliate
