Wheeling will host the Cincinnati Cyclones in mid-October as they play their first season in a new division.
The Wheeling Nailers have announced their lone preseason contest for the 2024-25 season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' ECHL affiliate will welcome the Cincinnati Cyclones to WesBanco Arena for a 6:10 Pm ET matchup on October 12.
The two teams squared off in an exhibition game last year, with the Nailers coming away with a 5-0 shutout. While it was only a preseason game, it turned out to be a good omen for Wheeling, who also claimed a victory over the Cyclones in the regular-season opener before going on to take the head-to-head season series for the first time since 2015-16.
The upcoming season will see the Nailers shift from the Central to the North Division, joining Adirondack, Maine, Norfolk, Reading, Trois-Rivières, and Worcester. However, they will still see plenty of action against their previous Central Division geographic rivals, including nine meetings with the Cyclones.
The exhibition game against Cincinnati is free to attend with open seating. The Nailers will kick off the regular season on the road, as they travel to Portland, Maine, to face the Mariners for the first time since changing divisions. The Nailers will host the expansion Bloomington Bison in the home opener November 2.
The switch to the North Division should make for an interesting season for the Nailers, who will start with a five-game road trip before their home opener against the Bison. Besides the Cyclones, Wheeling's most frequent opponent will be Reading, whom they will face 11 times. Bloomington and the Trois-Rivières Lions will be first-time matchups.