Midseason Check-In: Logan Pietila Finding Consistency And Confidence With The Wheeling Nailers
Midseason in the ECHL is where habits matter most. The excitement of opening night has worn off, the schedule has tightened, and teams are tested not just by opponents, but by fatigue, travel, and adversity. For Wheeling Nailers assistant captain Logan Pietila, this stretch of the season has been about leaning into leadership, consistency, and continued growth in his professional game.
For Pietila, wearing a letter is something he doesn’t take lightly — but it’s also not something that’s changed how he approaches each day. “It’s a pretty cool feeling,” Pietila said. “Obviously, being one of the older guys here and a second-year pro, anytime you get a letter on your chest, you just try to lead by example. Do little things each day to help the first-year guys. It’s a good feeling, but you try to keep everything the same.”
That steady mindset has defined Pietila’s approach all season. Rather than focusing on the title of assistant captain, he’s focused on actions — practice habits, preparation, and details that often go unnoticed but have a ripple effect throughout the lineup. On the ice, Pietila’s versatility has been a key asset. His ability to adapt his game to different linemates and situations has allowed him to impact games in multiple ways, particularly alongside Captain Matt Quercia, whose style contrasts with his. “I feel like we play a little bit different games,” Pietila said. “Q is more physical with forechecking, so I try to complement that by playing fast, using my speed, making plays, and building off his energy.”
- Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network
That adaptability speaks to a broader emphasis Pietila has placed on being reliable in all areas of the game — something he believes is essential for a leader at the professional level. “It’s really important,” he said. “Being a second-year guy and an assistant captain, you’ve got to bring consistency each night. A team might rely on you to do something every night. If you’re not scoring, try to have a good penalty kill. Consistency is huge, and that’s something I’ve really tried to work on this year.”
Consistency doesn’t just show up during games. For Pietila, it’s built during the quieter moments of the season — the workouts, the routines, and the days that don’t always come with immediate reward. “I’d say just try to bring it every day,” he explained. “Whatever that looks like in the middle of January or February. Getting to the gym on a Tuesday might not sound too exciting, but putting that little work in goes a long way over the year.”
That commitment has extended beyond individual preparation and into the team dynamic. One of the defining traits of this year’s Nailers group has been its closeness away from the rink — something Pietila believes has translated directly into on-ice chemistry. “Everyone’s really close,” he said. “You see the hard work and energy on the ice, but the team itself is tight. On road trips, we get together. When we were just in Worcester, we had a team event. Guys go out to dinner together. Building that away from the rink really comes out on the ice for us.”
Like any team over the course of a long season, the Nailers have faced adversity. A challenging road trip and a brief skid tested the group, but Pietila pointed to communication and accountability as key factors in steadying the ship. “We’ve had a couple of good team meetings recently,” he said. “Our last road trip didn’t go how we wanted, so just having conversations between the leadership and everyone to get back to what we are — doing the little things right. Everyone wants to win. No one’s going out there, not trying. It’s about getting back to playing hard, playing the right way, and the scoring will come.”
That resilience has been evident in games where the Nailers have had to battle back from deficits — experiences Pietila believes will pay dividends down the line. “We’ve had games where we started down one, two, even three,” he said. “Especially in Worcester, we battled back. We didn’t always get the outcome we wanted, but playing from behind shows resilience. It’s good for the playoffs. You’re not always going to get the first goal.”
Individually, Pietila continues to take pride in being a dependable, 200-foot player — someone who can be trusted defensively while still contributing offensively. “I take pride in the defensive zone, specifically the penalty kill,” he said. “Those things go a long way. If you can score goals but also help your team defensively, that’s a big deal.”
- Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network
This season, that foundation has allowed Pietila to play with more confidence when he has the puck, particularly in offensive situations. “I’ve had a little more confidence offensively this year,” he said. “Last year, I focused on being responsible defensively and chipping in offensively. This year I feel more confident playing with the puck — in overtime, on the power play — and I feel like I’ve developed that part of my game.”
Still, Pietila understands that a long season isn’t about perfection. It’s about managing the inevitable ups and downs and finding ways to contribute even when things aren’t clicking. “It’s a long season,” he said. “You’re not going to have your A game every night. When you don’t, try to have your A-minus or B-plus game. You don’t want an A game one night and a D game the next. You can still contribute in a lot more ways than just scoring.”
As the Nailers push into the second half of the season, Pietila’s steady presence — as a competitor, leader, and teammate — continues to shape the team’s identity. In a league where consistency is often the difference between playoff positioning and missed opportunity, Pietila’s approach embodies exactly what the midseason grind demands. Over the summer, Pietila did something that players rarely do: sign an ECHL contract with the Wheeling Nailers after being on an AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season. Pietila has dressed in 44 games so far this season for the Nailers and has tallied 13 goals and 24 assists.
- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit: Stacey Gramlich/Olde City Sports Network
