For nearly 30 years, the Wheeling Nailers have proudly served as the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. This partnership is not only one of the most successful in professional hockey—it is the longest continuous NHL–ECHL affiliation in history.

Throughout three decades, the Nailers have helped develop countless players, coaches, and staff who have gone on to contribute to the Penguins organization. More importantly, this partnership has built a loyal fan base stretching across western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and eastern Ohio, strengthening the Penguins’ regional identity.

With the Penguins’ recent acquisition by owners who also own the Florida Everblades, reports indicate the organization may end its historic relationship with the Nailers in favor of affiliating with the Everblades.

While we respect the rights of ownership to make business decisions, ending a 30-year partnership solely because another affiliate is owned by the same ownership group would disregard decades of history, loyalty, and community investment.

We respectfully ask the new ownership to:

Honor and preserve the Penguins’ historic affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers.
Recognize the importance of this partnership to generations of fans and the regional hockey community.
Engage with fans before making a decision that would permanently end one of professional hockey’s most enduring affiliations.
The Penguins have always represented more than a team—they represent a hockey family that extends throughout the region. The Nailers have been an important part of that family for three decades.

Please preserve this tradition.

Sign this petition to tell Penguins ownership: Don’t end 30 years of history. Keep the Penguins and Nailers together.