Photo: Wheeling Nailers
Washington Capitals head coach and former Wheeling Nailers Head (ECHL) Coach Peter Laviolette and former Thunderbirds Captain Brock Woods became the 11th and 12th members of the Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame on Friday night.
Laviolette had his first head coaching Job with the Nailers during the 1997-98 season, before returning to the AHL’s Providence Bruins. Laviolette’s son, Peter, currently plays for the Nailers.
“I was player-assistant coach (with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins),” Laviolette said following his current team’s morning skate at PPG Paints Arena. “The head coaching job became available. I didn’t get interviewed for that. After being player-assistant coach, I knew I wanted to be a head coach. I talked to my wife (Kristen) and we thought that the opportunity might come dropping down a level. So, we put a resume out to a couple of places and Wheeling was the first one that called. Went down there with new ownership and no (NHL or AHL) affiliates. Interviewed and ended up getting hired. That’s how I got there in Wheeling to start my career.”
Congratulations to tonight’s Wheeling #Nailers Hall of Fame Inductees! Well deserved! 👏 pic.twitter.com/n9NKu1BOhH
— Wheeling Nailers (@WheelingNailers) March 24, 2023
In his sole season in Wheeling, Laviolette, who also was the team’s director of hockey operations, took the Nailers to a 37-24-9 record and 83 points as well as an appearance in the Northern Conference semifinal (i.e. third round) series which remains one of the deepest postseason runs in franchise history.
“You learn everything,” Laviolette said. “It’s not like you have a blueprint for systems and you know exactly what you want to do. It’s not like you know how to handle every situation that pops up. You’re the (director of hockey operations) as well which means you make the trades, you cut people, you hire people. There’s a lot of responsibility that goes with that. I was learning as I went. But when the year is over, you look back and you say that was a really meaningful year with all you’re able to learn and all you’re able to do to try to become a better coach. It was a great place for a young coach to start.”
You wrote ” Laviolette’s won, Peter, currently plays for the Nailers.”
Jon, Lavi’s ‘won?” I know you want Lavi to win tonight, but still . . .
Ugh. I cleaned that up in editing, but it didn’t stick. 🙄 Thanks Fyre. Let me know when you want to start your editors role with NoVa Caps.
Your subconscious desire coming to the forefront.
But, alas, so far unrealized desire . . .
☹️ Have you had a chance to catch Wheeling/Lavi jr at all this season. Curious how he’s doing.
Sorry, winter here is time to work in the yard, not watch tv. I can barely keep up with Rays. But I see in their stats that he has played 31 games, 3 goals and 3 assists. Scored 2 of those goals today. He is second in PIM with 73. Plus/minus of 3. 2:35 PIM per game.
Ah, gotcha, I thought you bought FloTv for that? Maybe I misunderstood. Yes, get out of the house!
Thought I would but with good weather and chores to do . . .
Stingrays are 7th in goals scored, 3rd in goals against. They are 25% on powerplays and 79% on kills. Leaguewide they are 5th in points.
Bear Hughes and Josh Wilkins have 55 points, Bear leads with 22 goals, Josh leads with 36 assists. Both are just under a point per game played.
Among defensemen, Michael Kim is second with 31 points and 6 goals, .72 points per game. Martin Has has 11 points and 3 goals, Benton Maass 9 and 4.
In 32 games played Clay has a .915 save percentage and 2.57 GAA while Tyler is .905 and 2.83 in 29 games.
Michael Kim is a graduate of Boston College (captain) and in his previous three seasons of pro hockey played for the Baby Pits, Nailers, Icemen, Thunderbirds, and Mariners, who he is playing against this weekend.
I see that Minnesota and Boston U are coming to Tampa for one semi-final.
Go check out Chesley.
Congratulations coach!