COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced a new affiliation agreement with the Wheeling Nailers that will connect the two organizations through the 2027-28 season.
Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced that the Nailers will serve as the team’s ECHL affiliate, as well as the ECHL affiliate for the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters, beginning with the 2026-27 season. The agreement is set for two years.
“We are excited to partner with the Wheeling Nailers as our new ECHL affiliate,” Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Chris Clark said. “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.”
Clark, who oversees hockey operations for the organization’s professional affiliates, said the Blue Jackets look forward to working with Nailers Head Coach Nate DiCasimiro, his staff and the entire Wheeling organization to help develop young players.
The Nailers have been a fixture in West Virginia professional sports since 1992 and served as the longtime ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins for 28 seasons from 1998 through 2026.
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, Wheeling will compete in the ECHL’s Western Conference Central Division alongside the Bloomington Bison, Cincinnati Cyclones, Fort Wayne Komets, Indy Fuel, Kalamazoo Wings and Toledo Walleye.
The Nailers play home games at WesBanco Arena and have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs 18 times, including each of the past three seasons.
The team captured its fourth division title during the 2025-26 season, winning the North Division with a record of 46-20-3-3 and 98 points.
Last Updated on August 6, 2026 by AVC News
