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WHEELING - The Wheeling Nailers are excited to announce that Peter Laviolette III has been named the team’s new Assistant Coach.
Laviolette, 28, is ready to begin the next chapter of his hockey career, as he earns his first coaching opportunity with his hometown team. His playing career spanned four seasons, and he spent three of those years in a Wheeling uniform. As a Nailer, Laviolette appeared in 110 games and registered 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points, and 292 penalty minutes. Last season, the forward suited up in 29 games with the Orlando Solar Bears and Savannah Ghost Pirates, and posted two goals, three points, and 75 penalty minutes. In addition to his play on the ice, he was a star in the community, as he won the Project BEST Community Award in all three of his seasons in Wheeling.
“Peter Laviolette III was a tremendous ambassador for the Wheeling Nailers as a player, and we are happy that he will be able to begin his coaching career here at home,” said Nailers President & Governor Brian Komorowski. “You couldn’t ask for a better mentor for Peter than his father, who also began his coaching career in Wheeling, and has become one of the best coaches in the NHL. Peter’s passion for the game aligns perfectly with Nate DiCasmirro and Jason Payne, and we look forward to watching him develop as a coach, while teaching all of our new players what it means to be a Nailer.”
Laviolette III will be the second member of his family to make his professional coaching debut in Wheeling, following in the footsteps of his father, Peter Laviolette Jr., who led the Nailers to the Northern Conference Final in 1997-98. Laviolette III was born in Wheeling during the season when his father was coaching the Nailers. In fact, the Nailers earned a win the night he was born. Earlier this summer, Laviolette Jr. was named head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, and his 846 career wins are the most by an American head coach in NHL history.
“Peter Laviolette III comes from a strong family lineage of coaching, and he was also recommended to me by Derek Army, who coached him for three years here in Wheeling,” said Nailers Head Coach Nate DiCasmirro. “Peter put in a tremendous amount of work to earn this position, plus he has an unbelievable amount of energy, dedication, passion, and enthusiasm for the game of hockey. He is already part of the Nailers family and has started his own family in Wheeling, so I am excited to help him start his coaching career here, just like his dad did almost 30 years ago.”
Laviolette III and his wife, Lindsey, got married this summer and are now parents as well, as they welcomed their daughter Leah to the world on July 19.
“I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to start my coaching career where I started my playing career and my dad started his coaching career,” he said. “I am ready to take a step in a new direction in my hockey career, and my goal is to help young athletes get better both as players and as people. Wheeling is a perfect fit for me, as I am already part of the community. I have had great chemistry already working with Nate DiCasmirro, and I built a good friendship with Jason Payne when I played against the teams that he coached. I can’t wait to come to the rink and work hard every day.”
Laviolette III and the Wheeling Nailers will begin the 2026-27 season in Indy on Friday, October 16. The first home game is Saturday, October 24 against the Toledo Walleye. For information about season tickets, group tickets, ticket packages, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.