Hornets continue to lead MWEHL in scoring with 6 players in top 10

Earl Bugaile - Top Hockey Reporter in Western Pennsylvania!

If you had a chance to read the articles on Pittsburgh Hornet greats Mike Betz and Bill Downey, then you have become aware of the excellent writing and reporting of Earl Bugaile. Earl is a reporter for WJPA radio in Washington, Pa. and is unquestionably the top media reporter on pro/amateur hockey in the Western Pennsylvania area. His daily reports file on his Center Ice Website have become the default media location on the internet to learn about daily developments in the NHL, Minor Pro Hockey, College and High School Hockey throughout Western Pennsylvania. His reporting is fair and balanced and he treats all levels of hockey, from the pro level down to the amateur level with dignity and respect. We encourage everyone to touch base with Earl Bugaile at his Center Ice Website (by clicking here) if you want to keep up to date on the latest information and developments in the world of hockey. Way to go Earl, it is folks like you that make Western Pennsylvania a great location for the sport of hockey !!!

Out of Africa - Hornet great Mike Betz returns to the Ice

Earl Bugaile has done it again with this insightful interview about the career, hopes and aspirations of former great Mike Betz and his new hockey opportunity with the Wheeling Nailers. Congratulations Mike and Kudo's again to Earl!


It has been said that you can never really leave a place that you love. It is especially true as it applies to hockey, because the sport has a way of taking hold of one’s self. Players who love the game have difficulty leaving it entirely.

Take the case of goalie Mike Betz, from Elizabeth, PA, who signed on last week as back-up netminder for the Nailers. Only a few weeks ago was working in a mission serving youth in West Africa. He felt the desire to return to hockey, and attempt to pick up a career that demonstrated a lot of promise, when he established himself as one of the NCAA’s top goalies at Ohio State.

Betz was signed briefly by the Nailers last spring to fill an emergency role, and left shortly thereafter to fulfill his call to mission. “I had been planning to go to Africa for over a year, he said. “The last few months, I was working in a home for street children in Sierra Leone. It’s been quite an off-season, because I had no intention of coming back and playing hockey this year. The situation was really good there, and I loved the work, but it was time to come back.”

One of the first things Betz did upon returning home was to send letters of interest to the ECHL teams, and it was the Nailers who called. “I was hoping Wheeling would need a goaltender, and to be able to come back here is beyond anything I could ask for,” he said. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.Betz returned just as the Nailers and the rest of the Penguins organization experienced a reshuffling of their goalies. Jocelyn Thibault was placed on Injured Reserve, Sebastian Caron and Dany Sabourin were recalled by the Penguins, and Andy Chiodo was recalled to Wilkes Barre, which left Andy Franck as the only goalie in Wheeling. Barring any major moves among the Penguins goalies, Betz is likely to stay with the Nailers for the remainder of the season, and perhaps beyond.

There may be more to being in the right place at the right time with Betz arrival in Wheeling. Maybe it has something to do with Divine Intervention. “While I was there the whole time I was thinking about hockey,” he said. “For some reason, on Sundays at church my mind just kept wandering to hockey, and I knew that was the time that maybe I should start to heed this call.”With Betz, the Nailers have a goalie with strong credentials, who established himself for four seasons at Ohio State, where he still holds most of the significant goaltending records.

As a four-year starter with the Buckeyes, Betz compiled a record of 73-57-9, for the all-time record in wins, and he also owns the record for lowest single-season goals-against average at 2.24. In addition to finding a pretty good backup, the Nailers have found themselves an even better person. Those who have met him, will tell you that Mike Betz is one of the nicest persons you’ll ever want to meet. During his years at Ohio State, Betz traveled to Tanzania on a Medical and Educational mission, he raised over $9,000 for children of Tanzania, and was a finalist for the College Hockey Humanitarian Award.

He has been active in mission work most of his life.For the immediate future, Betz will concentrate in getting himself in game-shape, since he has not been on the ice since last March, the last time he was signed by the Nailers. But most estimations, Betz could be ready to play within the next 10 days.The return to Wheeling is much more than just a homecoming for Betz. It not only affords him the opportunity to play professional hockey just a little over an hour from his home town, but it reunites him with players with whom he played with over the years.

Most notably, are Nailers defenseman Cliff Loya from Mt. Lebanon, and Bill Downey, who played high school hockey at Central Catholic.“It’s just been great. To came back into this locker room knowing Cliff and Bill since my childhood, and knowing a lot of other guys from last year. It’s been such an easy transition for me,” he said. He’ll also have the opportunity to come across many of the other players in the ECHL he has either played with or against in his years at Ohio State.

Most notable among those will be JB Bittner, of the Johnstown Chiefs, who, like Betz, was a former Pittsburgh Hornet, and who played on the same teams with him at Ohio State.“I had a great experience here last year. Being a Pittsburgh boy, it’s exciting to be part of all this,” he said.If all goes according to plan, the Nailers and their fans will be happy with his decision to follow his love back to Wheeling.

Former Hornet Bill Downey Grows into role with Nailers

Kudos to Earl Bugaile, the #1 hockey journalist in Western Pennsylvania, on this insightful article reprinted below about Former Hornet Bill Downey on his successes in hockey. Great job Billy, keep up the good work, and great job Earl, you are the best !

Sometimes some of the best advice a young player can get comes from high school coach. If that is the case, than Bill Downey may want to thank Kevin Zielmanski for some tips he gave him when he was a junior at Pittsburgh Central Catholic. “I told him that any coach will give you more ice time as long as you play defensively,” Zielmanski said. “Obviously it’s paying off for him now.”

Downey has found a niche for himself with the Wheeling Nailers, playing on a regular shift on a line with Eric Sonnenberg and Mike Doyle. After spending part of the last two seasons between the Nailers, the Johnstown Chiefs, the SPHL Ashville Aces and the UHL Richmond Riverdogs, Downey may have found himself steady work in Wheeling, after signing on in December to fill a vacancy on the roster. In 14 games with the Nailers, Downey has a goal and two assists on a hard-working line. “From where I came before, it’s a big jump,” he said. “I know I have to give my all every night to keep up in this league. I may not have some of the gifts that the other guys have, but I know if I work hard, I can keep up, and hopefully make a name for myself in the league.”Hard work was never an issue with Downey. Despite being a junior and without tremendous size, the Central Catholic Vikings, who had 12 seniors at the time, selected him to be team captain for the 1997 season. They won the Penguin Cup that season, then went to the finals the following season.

Downey was captain of the Team Pittsburgh team that went to the Chicago Showcase finals in 1999 before losing to Team Illinois , and after playing a season with the NAHL Chicago Freeze, he played for Joe Battista’s Penn State Icers where he also became Captain, while the Icers won three consecutive National Championships and a runner-up finish.He finished his Penn State career with 57 goals, 102 assists and 159 points, and was selected to represent Penn State in the World College Hockey Championship during his senior year. Not too bad an accomplishment for a player that may at one time been considered too small to succeed at a higher level.

When Bill returned for his senior season after a summer camp, he had really grown,” said Zielmanski. “He grew not only in size, but he grew in his skills as well.” Today, Downey is listed at 6’1 and 180 pounds on the Nailers roster. He continues to play even bigger than his size. “I was not even sure if I was going to keep playing this year, but once I got here they gave me an opportunity and I’m trying to take advantage of it. Hopefully I can continue to play well and continue to help out the team.”

Downey has plenty of close company in Wheeling. He rejoins former Penn State Icer teammate Curtiss Patrick, and is also reunited with fellow Western Pennsylvanians, Cliff Loya and Mike Betz. “It’s been great,” he said. “We’ve all kept in touch with each other over the summertime, and throughout the year, we all want to know how each other is doing. It’s great to see all the Pittsburgh guys beginning to make a name for themselves, and give hockey in Pittsburgh a great name.”Downey will continue to come to play every night, and be prepared for the challenges ahead as the Nailers attempt to make a run for the playoffs and first place in the ECHL North. “The guys at this level just make better decisions, and each level that you go up you see that more,” said Downey. “They’re all just a little better with the puck.” Bill Downey has a history of being on teams that win championships. As he grows into his new role, maybe Wheeling will be the place for his next title.

Hornets rise to 8th in latest National Rankings

The Pittsburgh Hornets have risen to 8th in the nation in the latest USA Midget AAA computerized rankings, while remaining in 5th in the U.S. in the USHN National Rankings .

United States Midget Major (U18) AAA
as of Thursday January 12, 2006*

RANK TEAM W/ L/ T
1,Shattuck Prep,____________________ 23 7 1
2,Team Illinois,_____________________ 44 3 1
3,Chicago Chill,_____________________ 44 5 1 4,Honeybaked,_____________________ 29 10 3
5,Greater Boston Jr Bruins,____________ 19 2 4
6,Team Wisconsin,___________________ 8 13 2,
7,Chicago Young Americans,____________ 33 18 4
8,Pittsburgh Hornets,________________ 30 23 4
9,Culver A,________________________ 13 11 2
10,Dallas Stars,_____________________32 14 4

Former Hornet Dane Hetland has goal and an assist in All-Star game

Former Pittsburgh Hornet, Dane Heltand, had a goal and an assist in the EJHL All Star game over the weekend. Hetland, a 1987 birth year, was one of the key players for the 2004-2005 Hornet squad that finished 3rd in the United States.

Hornets split weekend games at USA National Team Tournament

This past weekend in Ann Arbor, the Pittsburgh Hornets got off to a hot start with a 8-1 win over the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets behind 4 shorthanded goals (Cramer & Cerutti)(South & Polidor)
Raymond & Gaul)( Cerutti & Cramer). In game 2, the Hornets dropped a hard fought affair to the Chicago Mission 6-3 with an empty netter. The Hornets bounced back with a 2-1 win behind goals from Pat Gaul and Andrew Blazek to defeat the Colorado Thunderbirds.

After advancing to the semi-finals, the Hornets dropped a 2-1 heart breaker to Victory Honda.
Rob Madore made 41 saves and saw one of the two goals be inadvertantly kicked in by Brad Reck of Victory Honda. Andrew Palmisano of Victory Honda was stellar as well making 27 saves.
Palmisano, who had been playing for the USA National Team as an emergency fill in, was stellar throughout the weekend as was Rob Madore.

Chris Clackson makes NHL Midterm Rankings

More Hornet alumni good news. Chris Clackson, currently with the Chicago Steel has recently been listed on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau Mid Season Rankings. These preliminary rankings indicate players that are being watched as potential draft picks at the NHL draft in the spring. Chris was projected at this point in time to get drafted in the 7th round of the NHL Draft. Learn more about Chris and his accomplishments at Chicago this year by clicking through to his current stats here. Congratulations Chris and keep up the good work!!