Nailers Acquire Chris Higgins from Grizzlies and Andrew Hotham from Cyclones

[chilly666]

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, are excited to announce a trade, which will take effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired forward Chris Higgins from the Utah Grizzlies, in exchange for future considerations.

Higgins, 26, joins the Nailers after starting the season by playing in two games with the Grizzlies. Prior to turning pro, Chris spent four seasons at Boston University, where he racked up 49 goals, 84 assists, and 133 points in 159 games, while also winning a National Championship in 2009. The following fall, Higgins turned pro, splitting the 2009-10 season with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch and ECHL's Gwinnett Gladiators. Since turning pro, he has played in 66 games, accumulating 20 goals, 22 assists, and 42 points, suiting up with Syracuse, Gwinnett, Las Vegas, South Carolina, and Utah. Last spring, the Lynnfield, MA native helped the Stingrays to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, totaling ten points in nine games.

"Chris is a solid player, who will help to give our team some more scoring punch offensively," said head coach Clark Donatelli. "He comes to us with a winning pedigree, and will also add some depth to our power play," he said.

[chilly666]

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers, proud ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, are excited to announce a trade, which will take effect immediately. Wheeling has acquired defenseman Andrew Hotham from the Cincinnati Cyclones, in exchange for future considerations.

"We are very excited to bring Andrew back to the Nailers, as he is a player that his teammates really enjoy, and he can make an immediate impact," said head coach Clark Donatelli. "He is a solid two-way defenseman, who can put lots of points on the board, while also helping to improve our special teams," he said.

Hotham, 26, returns to the Nailers, after making a significant impact on last season's team, posting 44 points in 52 games, while being named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, as well as the All-ECHL Second Team. Prior to turning pro, Andrew spent parts of five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, as well as four years at St. Mary's University in Halifax, NS. His most productive season of juniors came during the 2006-07 campaign, when he recorded 17 goals and 52 points in 59 games with the Erie Otters and Saginaw Spirit. The Barrie, ON native can frequently be found on the offensive side on the scoresheet, and had five points in 13 games with Cincinnati, prior to the trade.

"I am excited to return to Wheeling, where I really enjoyed myself last season, thanks to the great support from the fans," said Hotham. "It will be nice to see the guys, reunite on and off of the ice, while also helping the team succeed however I can," he said.

[Kid Roberts]

The Nailers ACQUIRED Hotham...Lol.