A Bold New Look for the Nailers
The Wheeling Nailers unveiled a striking new alternate jersey that blends black, grey and red tones, drawing direct inspiration from the team's logo, which evokes the iconic horror figure Jason Voorhees from *Friday the 13th*.
The design abandons the long‑standing black‑and‑yellow scheme, replacing it with demonic red eyes and crossed nails on the shoulders, while a grey insert framed by a red outline of West Virginia adorns the collar, tying the uniform to the state's heritage.
After nearly three decades of affiliation with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Nailers have terminated that partnership and entered a two‑year agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets, a move that signals a fresh direction for the franchise as it prepares for the 2026–27 campaign.
The upcoming season will open on October 16 with a road game against the Indy Fuel, followed by a home opener against the Toledo Walleye on October 24, and the team will alternate between white and dark jerseys featuring black‑and‑yellow crossed nails on the shoulders, a nod to the new partnership rather than the former Penguins branding.
All home contests will be staged at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, where the new look will be on display for the growing fan base eager to see the team's updated visual identity.