Toledo Walleye

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Toledo Walleye
Toledo Blade
WCWA (1230 AM)
BCSN
AffiliatesDetroit Red Wings (NHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Websitewww.toledowalleye.com
Franchise history
1991–2007Toledo Storm
2009–presentToledo Walleye
Championships
Regular season titles3 (2014–15, 2016–17, 2021–22)
Division titles6 (2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18), 2021–22, 2023–24)
Conference titles2 (2018–19, 2021–22)
Current season

The Toledo Walleye are a professional

2009–10 season, the team has been affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League[1] with an agreement in place through the 2023–24 season.[2]

The team is currently owned and operated by Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. The current ownership group is a subsidiary of Toledo Mud Hens Baseball Club, Inc., another ownership that owns and operates the Toledo Mud Hens.

History

Toledo Storm (1991–2007)

Main article: Toledo Storm

The Walleye were founded in

Gwinnett Gladiators in five games. The Storm's final game came on April 19, 2007 during the 2007 North Division semifinals losing to in-state rival, Cincinnati Cyclones
by a score of 4–0 getting swept in the series 3 games to 0. In sixteen seasons in the ECHL, the Storm posted a 610-395-103 record, winning two Riley Cups, two Brabham Cups and six division titles.

Sale to Toledo Arena Sports and Two Year Suspension

In 2007, Toledo Arena Sports, Inc., an Ohio-Not-For-Profit Corporation, purchased the rights to the Toledo, Ohio Territory from the ECHL. The new ownership group was planning to build a new state-of-the-art arena in downtown Toledo to replace the aging Sports Arena. Shortly after the sale, Toledo Arena Sports announced that after the 2006–07 season, the Storm would not compete again until the arena was completed and the ECHL granted the Storm a two-year voluntary suspension from competition.

In February 2008, General Manager Joe Napoli announced that former Storm goaltender, ECHL Hall of Famer, and head coach from 2003 to 2007, Nick Vitucci would return to coach the franchise when it returned to the ice in 2009.[3] One week after announcing Vitucci as head coach, Toledo Arena Sports Inc. renamed the Storm the "Walleye," in reference to the popular game fish that is abundant in the area.[4]

Toledo Walleye (2009–present)

See also:
2009–10 Toledo Walleye season
Inaugural season logo promoting Opening Weekend, 2009

At the ECHL Mid-Season Board of Governors meeting, the league announced that the Walleye would be members of the American Conference's North Division along with the Cincinnati Cyclones,

Thomas McCollum or Daniel Larsson) to Toledo for the season.[7][8] On August 5, 2009, the Walleye announced a second affiliation agreement, becoming the ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago's AHL affiliate the Rockford IceHogs.[9]

Alternate logo

The Walleye opened their inaugural season on October 16, 2009, hosting the defending

Gwinnett Gladiators.[18]
However, the Walleye would lose the next three games to Charlotte and were eliminated from the playoffs in four games.

2012–13 home opener vs. Kalamazoo Wings.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Walleye voluntarily suspended operations for the 2020–21 season.[19] Coming back from the voluntary suspension, the Walleye would go on to win the Brabham Cup[20] in the 2021–22 season, finishing with the league's best points % with.708, the only team above .700%. They would then go on to win in comeback fashion the first series of the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs, 4–3.[21] They then went on to sweep Wheeling[22] and best Utah in 5 games after losing Game 1.[23] The Walleye would go on to lose the Kelly Cup Finals to the Florida Everblades, who beat the Newfoundland Growlers, the team that beat Toledo in the 2018-19 Kelly Cup Finals, 4 games to 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinal [24][25][26]

Mascots

On July 27, 2009, the Walleye introduced Spike, their costumed mascot at a Toledo Mud Hens baseball game. Spike is a yellow anthropomorphic walleye, adorned with a white Walleyes jersey, blue gloves, helmet and shoes and a gap tooth smile. Spike's nemesis is Cat Trick, a fuzzy blue cat, with a fishing vest and bright yellow boots. The two like to take cheap shots at each other during games.

Winterfest

The first ECHL outdoor hockey event was at

Toledo Fire Department occurred on December 31,[28] the U.S. National Under 18 Team defeated Adrian College 6-1 in an exhibition on January 1,[29] and Bowling Green played Robert Morris to a 2-2 draw on January 4.[30] Anthony Wayne High School, Saint Ignatius High School, Saint John's High School, Whitmer High School, and many other youth and adult teams also participated in the Winterfest. Over 10 days, an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 people attended events at the stadium.[31]

Rivalries

Fort Wayne Komets

The Walleye’s rivalry with the

Komets is arguably the best in the ECHL. The teams are only 100 miles apart and would take a less than two hour drive to get from the Huntington Center to Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
. The games between the two often result in some of the most hostile atmospheres in minor league hockey. Both teams play in the same division, making every matchup hotly contested.

Cincinnati Cyclones

The Walleye’s rivalry with the Cyclones is one of proximity, as both teams play in the state of Ohio. They also play in the same division. In both the 2022 and 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the two teams met each other, with Toledo winning the series 4-3 in 2022 and Toledo winning again in 2023 4-0. Although not as fierce as the Komets rivalry, the Walleye and Cyclones matchup never seems to disappoint. Both teams usually finish at the top of their division.

Season-by-season record

Opening night of the 2009–10 Toledo Walleye season

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Regular season Playoffs
Season GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM Standing Year 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Kelly Cup
2009–10 72 35 30 2 5 77 254 274 1452 3rd, North 2010 L, 1–3,
CHA
 — — —
2010–11 72 33 33 4 2 72 239 255 1195 4th, North 2011 did not qualify
2011–12 72 28 38 2 4 62 189 258 1140 4th, North 2012 did not qualify
2012–13 72 37 26 5 4 83 224 195 982 2nd, North 2013 L, 2–4,[33] CIN — — —
2013–14 72 21 44 4 3 49 193 268 1020 5th, North 2014 did not qualify
2014–15 72 50 15 5 2 107 281 182 785 1st, North 2015 W, 4–3, WHL W, 4–3, FW L, 3–4, SC[34] —
2015–16 72 47 20 2 3 99 225 174 665 1st, North 2016 L, 3–4, REA — — —
2016–17 72 51 17 2 2 106 302 191 849 1st, Central 2017 W, 4–3, KAL W, 4–1, FW L, 1–4, COL —
2017–18 72 50 17 3 2 105 242 170 846 1st, Central 2018 W, 4–0, IND L, 2–4, FW — —
2018–19 72 40 23 6 3 89 237 221 1016 2nd, Central 2019 W, 4–2, FW W, 4–1, CIN W, 4–3, TUL L, 2–4, NFL
2019–20 59 37 17 4 1 79 225 163 748 2nd, Central 2020 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Opted out of participating due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 did not participate
2021–22 72 49 19 2 2 102 277 203 760 1st, Central 2022 W, 4–3, CIN[35] W, 4–0, WHL[36] W, 4–1, UTA[37] L, 1–4, FLA[38]
2022–23 72 45 19 5 3 98 252 179 886 2nd, Central 2023 W 4–0 IND[39] W 4–0 CIN L 1–4 IDA —

Players and personnel

Current roster

Updated December 1, 2023.[40]
Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
9 United States Matt Anderson D L 25 2023 Shakopee, Minnesota Walleye
30 Czech Republic Jan Bednar G L 21 2023 Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic Griffins
58 Canada Adrien Beraldo D L 24 2023 Stoney Creek, Ontario Walleye
18 United States Trenton Bliss F L 26 2022
Dallas, Texas
 Griffins
7 United States Sam Craggs LW L 27 2022 Elmhurst, Illinois Walleye
55 United States Will Cullen D R 27 2023 Pelham Manor, New York Walleye
22 Canada Carson Denomie RW L 24 2023 Regina, Saskatchewan Walleye
37 Canada Alexandre Doucet C L 22 2023
Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, Quebec
 Red Wings
4 United States Thomas Farrell D R 25 2023 Mettawa, Illinois Walleye
13 United States Chase Gresock F R 25 2023 Powell, Ohio Walleye
16 United States Brandon Hawkins RW R 29 2021 Macomb Township, Michigan Walleye
23 United States Conlan Keenan C L 28 2021 Webster, New York Walleye
28 United States Brandon Kruse LW L 25 2023 Saline, Michigan Walleye
31 United States John Lethemon G L 27 2022 Northville, Michigan Red Wings
67 United States Mitch Lewandowski LW L 26 2023 Clarkston, Michigan Walleye
26 Canada Riley McCourt D L 23 2022
St. Catharines, Ontario
 Walleye
15 United States Patrick McGrath RW R 31 2023 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Walleye
34 Canada Rylan Parenteau G L 27 2023
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
 Walleye
29 Canada Darian Pilon LW L 25 2023 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Walleye
10 Canada Riley Sawchuk C R 25 2023 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Griffins
44 Finland Antti Tuomisto D R 23 2023
Pori, Finland
 Red Wings
27 Russia Kirill Tyutyayev LW L 23 2022 Yekaterinburg, Russia Walleye
6 United States Jake Willets D R 24 2023
Erie, Michigan
 Walleye

Team captains

Head coaches

Team records

Updated August 12, 2021[43]

Awards and honors

References

  1. Toledo Blade
    . Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  2. ^ "TOLEDO TO CONTINUE DETROIT AFFILIATION FOR THREE SEASONS". Toledowalleye.com. August 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Vardon, Joe (February 13, 2008). "Ex-Storm coach Vitucci is first hire of next hockey team". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  4. ^ Vardon, Joe (February 20, 2008). "Mud Hens snag catchy "Walleye" as moniker for hockey franchise". Toledo Blade.
  5. ^ "ECHL Concludes Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting" (Press release). ECHL. March 30, 2009. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  6. ^ Monroe, Mark (June 21, 2009). "New Walleye will revive old IHL rivalry with Kalamazoo". Toledo Blade. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  7. ^ Sipple, George (June 19, 2009). "Alex Ovechkin has fun beating Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk". Detroit Free Press.
  8. ^ Monroe, Mark (August 3, 2009). "Red Wings link with Walleye". Toledo Blade. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  9. ^ Monroe, Mark (August 5, 2009). "Blackhawks, Walleye join forces". Toledo Blade. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  10. ^ Angie, Marie (October 16, 2009). "Ryan Stokes named captain of the Toledo Walleye". Examiner. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  11. ^ Monroe, Mark (October 17, 2009). "Walleye iced in debut". Toledo Blade. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  12. ^ Monroe, Mark (October 18, 2009). "Pearce shines in first win for Walleye". Toledo Blade. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  13. ^ Staff (January 1, 2010). "2 from Walleye named ECHL all-stars". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  14. ^ Staff (January 20, 2010). "Walleye's Sawyer all-star captain". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  15. ^ Staff (April 8, 2010). "Walleye's Sawyer named top ECHL defenseman". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  16. ^ "ECHL All-Rookie Team Announced" (Press release). ECHL. March 31, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  17. ^ Monroe, Mark (April 4, 2010). "Walleye get Charlotte in first round of playoffs". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  18. ^ Monroe, Mark (April 7, 2010). "Keefe ignites Walleye". Toledo Blade. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  19. ^ "ECHL FINALIZES ROSTER OF TEAMS FOR 2020-21 SEASON". ECHL. January 4, 2021.
  20. ^ "TOLEDO WINS BRABHAM CUP TITLE". echl.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  21. ^ "WALLEYE COMPLETE SERIES COMEBACK WITH 4-2 GAME 7 VICTORY OVER CYCLONES". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  22. ^ "WALLEYE COMPLETE SWEEP OF WHEELING NAILERS WITH 3-1 GAME 4 VICTORY". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  23. ^ "TOLEDO CAPTURES BRUCE TAYLOR TROPHY AS WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS". echl.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  24. ^ "FLORIDA WINS 2022 KELLY CUP TITLE". echl.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  25. ^ "FLORIDA CAPTURES E.A. "BUD" GINGHER TROPHY AS EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS". Echl.com. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 6 Jul 2022.
  26. ^ "Newfoundland wins 2019 Kelly Cup title". www.echl.com. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  27. ^ "Outdoor hockey coming to ECHL, Toledo". ECHL. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  28. ^ "Toledo Safety Officials Battle at Winterfest". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  29. ^ "U.S. team shows off skills against Adrian". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  30. ^ "Frozen, wet Falcons tie Robert Morris". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  31. ^ "Toledo Walleye Winterfest". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  32. ^ "Toledo Walleye 2010 Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  33. ^ "Toledo Walleye 2013 Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Walleye Lose Game 7 in Triple Overtime". toledoblade.com. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  35. ^ "WALLEYE COMPLETE SERIES COMEBACK WITH 4-2 GAME 7 VICTORY OVER CYCLONES". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  36. ^ "WALLEYE COMPLETE SWEEP OF WHEELING NAILERS WITH 3-1 GAME 4 VICTORY". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  37. ^ "WALLEYE ADVANCE TO KELLY CUP FINALS WITH 5-1 WIN OVER UTAH". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  38. ^ "WALLEYE'S SEASON ENDS IN GAME 5 OF KELLY CUP FINALS". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  39. ^ "THIRD PERIOD RALLY LEADS TO SERIES SWEEP OVER INDY". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  40. ^ "Toledo Walleye - Team Roster". 2023-12-01.
  41. ^ "Hirschfeld named new Walleye Captain". 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  42. ^ "Hensick named Walleye captain; Berschbach alternate captain". 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  43. ^ "Toledo Walleye all-time player roster". 2017-04-08. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  44. ^ "2016-17 All-ECHL Second Team". 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  45. ^ "All-ECHL First and Second Teams announced". 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  46. ^ "2016-17 All-Rookie Team". 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  47. ^ "Spink named ECHL Rookie of the Year". 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  48. ^ "Toledo's Berschbach receives ECHL Sportmanship Award". 2017-04-07. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  49. ^ "NEUKAM, OHRABLO NAMED CO-RECIPIENTS OF ECHL EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD". ECHL. June 26, 2018.
  50. ^ "Walleye GM Neukam named ECHL executive of the year". Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  51. ^ "Award of Excellence Winners". Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  52. Toledo Blade
    . June 21, 2018.
  53. ^ "Toledo receives 2016-17 ECHL Best Ice Award". 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
  54. ^ "Toledo Receives 2019-20 Best Ice Award". OurSports Central. April 16, 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Toledo Walleye.
Preceded by Professional ice hockey team in
Toledo, Ohio
2009–present 		Succeeded by
Current team
Preceded by
Missouri Mavericks
Florida Everblades
 Brabham Cup champions
2014–15
2016–17
2021–22 		Succeeded by
Missouri Mavericks
Florida Everblades
Idaho Steelheads
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