Justin Taylor Joins Wheeling Nailers for 2026-27 Season

The Wheeling Nailers have announced the signing of forward Justin Taylor to a contract for the upcoming 2026-27 season.

Taylor, a veteran forward at 37 years old, is set to embark on his 17th professional season. Last year, he established a new ECHL record for the most career games played, surpassing the previous mark in his 885th contest against the Nailers on December 13th. He enters this season with an impressive 935 ECHL games under his belt, in addition to 25 AHL appearances, bringing his total professional game count to 960.

His performance last season continued a notable trend, as it marked the 11th time Taylor has scored 20 or more goals in a single season. He concluded the campaign fourth in scoring for the Adirondack Thunder, accumulating 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 68 games. The Nailers will be Taylor’s seventh ECHL team, having previously played for Kalamazoo, Trenton, Idaho, Tulsa, Fort Wayne, and Adirondack.

Hailing from Mindemoya, Ontario, Taylor has spent the majority of his career with the Kalamazoo Wings, where he played for 13 of his first 14 professional seasons and served as team captain during the 2021-22 season. His most offensively productive years occurred in consecutive seasons, setting a career high of 61 points in 2016-17, followed by a career-best goal total of 35 in 2017-18.

Taylor's teams have reached the postseason in 11 of his 17 professional seasons. He played 56 of his 80 career playoff games with Kalamazoo, including a trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in his rookie season of 2010-11. The K-Wings also advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals the following year, and Taylor reached the Western Conference Final in 2012-13 as a member of the Idaho Steelheads. In the most recent spring season, he led Adirondack with four goals and seven points in the North Division Semifinals against Maine, scoring the overtime goal in Game 5 to force a return to Portland.

Upon making his debut with the Nailers, Taylor will become the fourth player in the ECHL's top-six for career games played to have suited up for Wheeling. The other notable players include Michael Pelech (2nd – 884 games), Garet Hunt (5th – 776 games), and Louis Dumont (6th – 771 games).

Taylor Signs Contract with the Nailers

The Wheeling Nailers have officially announced that forward Justin Taylor has signed a contract for the 2026-27 season.

At 37 years old, Taylor is preparing for his 17th professional season. He is coming off a season where he set the ECHL record for the most career games played, achieving this milestone in his 885th game against the Nailers on December 13th. He begins this season having played 935 ECHL games, plus 25 AHL matches, bringing his total professional game count to 960.

Last season marked the 11th time Taylor has scored 20 or more goals. He finished the campaign fourth on the Adirondack Thunder in scoring with 39 points (20 goals, 19 assists) in 68 games. Wheeling will be Taylor’s seventh ECHL team, having previously played for Kalamazoo, Trenton, Idaho, Tulsa, Fort Wayne, and Adirondack.

Originally from Mindemoya, Ontario, Taylor spent most of his career with the Kalamazoo Wings, playing for them in 13 of his first 14 professional seasons and serving as captain in 2021-22. His most productive seasons were consecutive: a career-high 61 points in 2016-17, followed by a career-best 35 goals in 2017-18.

Taylor's teams have qualified for the playoffs in 11 of his 17 professional years. Fifty-six of his 80 career playoff games were with Kalamazoo, including a trip to the Kelly Cup Finals in his rookie season of 2010-11. The K-Wings reached the Eastern Conference Finals again the next year, and Taylor made it to the Western Conference Final in 2012-13 with the Idaho Steelheads. Last spring, he led Adirondack with four goals and seven points in the North Division Semifinals against Maine, scoring the overtime winner in Game 5 to force the series back to Portland.

When Taylor debuts for the Nailers, he will become the fourth player in the ECHL's top-six for career games played to have also played for Wheeling. The other three are Michael Pelech (2nd – 884 games), Garet Hunt (5th – 776 games), and Louis Dumont (6th – 771 games).