Lees returns to Nailers

Action photo of Jesse Lees of the Wheeling Nailers

WHEELING, W.Va. - The Wheeling Nailers, ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced the team has re-signed defenseman Jesse Lees to a contract for the 2021-22 season.Lees, 25, was first acquired by the Nailers in a March trade with the South Carolina Stingrays, and his numbers increased drastically following the trade. He amassed 16 points (10g-6a) in 27 games with the Nailers, and became just the fifth rookie defenseman in team history to reach double digits in goals. The ten goals came in a span of 15 games, starting on April 9 - just two weeks after he had debuted with the club. The 2020-21 season served as the blueliner's rookie season, despite the fact that he appeared in nine games with South Carolina at the end of the 2019-20 campaign. In his pro career, Lees has 27 points (14g-13a) in 54 games.Prior to turning pro, the Calgary, Alberta native attended Mount Royal University in Calgary, where he ranked first on his team in defensive scoring all four years, and even led the entire team with 26 points in 26 games in 2017-18. He was named to an end of season USports (West) All-Star Team on three occasions, and was named to the USports All-Rookie Team in 2016-17. Additionally, Lees played parts of six seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Rockets and Prince Albert Raiders.