WHEELING - After a good deal of soul searching and numbercrunching, the principal owners of the Wheeling Nailers have decidedto keep the franchise going for at least one more season. Teamgovernor Michael Baker said Friday he has told the East Coast HockeyLeague that the Nailers would play in Wheeling through the 2001-2002 season.
"I'm the eternal optimist in our organization and I've alwayswanted for us to play next year," Baker said.
As of Friday, Wheeling (19-30-7) had the worst record in theECHL.
Wheeling has not made the playoffs since the 1997-98 season whenthe Nailers reached the Northern Conference finals.
Attendance has fallen from 5,000 per game in 1993-1994 to 2,571after 29 home dates this season.
"We had to get together and run all the numbers and list thefigures on graphs before deciding what we wanted to do," said Baker."We finally felt it was better for us to come back and try to make ago of it instead of disbanding or trying to market the teamelsewhere."
Other principal owners are Jack Felton, Pat Felton, Ross Felton,Bill Medovic, Jim Hurley, Rich Castagna, Bruce Wilson and LeeGlessner.
"We'll be looking at a lot of things," Baker said. "You wouldhave to consider changes with the kind of season we're having. Wecertainly can't have another one like this next year."
The Nailers' head coach is Alain Lemieux, brother of PittsburghPenguin owner Mario Lemieux.
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