What, you don't think Wheeling sports are relevant here? As a native of Wheeling myself, I'd beg to differ. The Wheeling Nailers (who are, after all a minor league affiliate of the Penguins) have hired Stan Drulia as their new head coach.
↵↵↵Stan Drulia, with a list of accomplishments in various hockey stops both as a coach and a player as long as his arm, was introduced Thursday during a mid-afternoon press conference at the McClure Hotel as the 13th coach in Nailers history.
↵With alumni like Stanley Cup-winner Peter Laviolette and Pat Bingham lining the history books, Wheeling has become a hot spot for up-and-coming coaches. Add in the close relationship with both the Penguins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Drulia says this is the place he wanted to be.
↵A former 11th-round draft pick of the Penguins in 1986, Drulia has come full circle.
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Despite being drafted by the Pens, Drulia never played for them, although he did play chunks of several seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. His most recent coaching gig was with the Port Huron Icehawks, a team he led to three straight winning seasons.