Toledo Walleye

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Toledo Walleye
2021–22 ECHL season
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City Toledo, Ohio
League ECHL
Conference Western
Division Central
Founded 1991
Home arena Huntington Center
Colors Powder blue, navy blue, gold, white
                   
Owner(s) Toledo Arena Sports, Inc.
General manager Neil Neukam
Head coach Dan Watson
Media Toledo Blade
WCWA (1230 AM)
BCSN
Affiliates Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Franchise history
1991–2007 Toledo Storm
2009–present Toledo Walleye
Championships
Regular season titles 3 (2014–15, 2016–17, 2021–22)
Division Championships 5 (2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18), 2021–22)
Conference Championships 2 (2018–19), (2021–22)

The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL. The Walleye were founded in 1991 as the Toledo Storm and play their home games at the Huntington Center, which opened in 2009. Since the beginning of the 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)

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Main article: Toledo Storm

The Walleye were founded in 1991 as the Toledo Storm, playing their home games at Toledo Sports Arena across the river from downtown Toledo. The Storm were the first hockey team to play in Toledo since the International Hockey League's Toledo Goaldiggers suspended operations in 1986, eventually moving to Kansas City in 1990. In the Storm's inaugural season, the team won the West Division title and the Henry Brabham Cup after posting the league's best record in the regular season. The following year the Storm won its first Jack Riley Cup, defeating the Wheeling Thunderbirds in six games. The Storm came back the following season and won its second Riley Cup, defeating the Raleigh Icecaps in five games, becoming only the second team in league history to win back-to-back league titles (the first being the Hampton Roads Admirals in 1991 and 1992). The Storm were dominant in its first few years, winning four division titles in their first five seasons and posting a winning record in thirteen of the sixteen seasons the team played. The Storm won its second Brabham Cup in 2003 and made the American Conference finals during the 2005–06 season, ultimately losing to the 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)

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See also: 2009–10 Toledo Walleye season
File:Toledo Walleye opening weekend.gif
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, Elmira Jackals, Johnstown Chiefs, Wheeling Nailers[5] and Kalamazoo Wings.[6] During the NHL's award ceremonies in Las Vegas, Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland stated that the Walleye would become Detroit's ECHL affiliate for the 2009–10 season and that the Wings would send one of their three goaltender prospects (either Jordan Pearce, 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]

File:Toledo Walleye alternate logo.jpg
Alternate logo

The Walleye opened their inaugural season on October 16, 2009, hosting the defending Brabham Cup champion Florida Everblades in the first of a three-game series. Prior to the Walleye's home opener, head coach Nick Vitucci named defenseman Ryan Stokes as the team's captain.[10] Despite a strong effort, the Walleye dropped their opener to Florida 1–2 in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,000, the largest crowd to ever watch a pro hockey game in Toledo at the time.[11] The Walleye would return the next night and rookie goaltender Jordan Pearce would stop 35 of 37 shots faced as the Walleye scored three goals in the final period to get past the Everblades for the team's first win, 5–2.[12] On December 31, defenseman J.C. Sawyer and forward Maxime Tanguay were selected to the American Conference All-Star team and played at the All-Star Game at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California on January 20.[13] Sawyer was named the captain of the American Conference All-Stars.[14] At the end of the regular season, defenseman J.C. Sawyer was named as a First Team selection to the All-ECHL team and won the Defenseman of the Year award,[15] while center Maxime Tanguay was named to the All-Rookie team.[16] The Walleye would finish the regular season in eighth place in the American Conference leading to a matchup with the American Conference regular season champions, the Charlotte Checkers.[17] Toledo, behind a hat trick from winger Adam Keefe, claimed a 7–2 victory over top-seeded Charlotte in game one of the series, the first playoff game win for the organization since game two of the 2006 American Conference Finals against the 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]

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 Fifth Third Field on Saturday, December 27, 2014.[20] The Walleye lost 2-1 to the visiting Kalamazoo Wings. On January 5, the Walleye fell to the Fort Wayne Komets 3-2 in a shootout. In addition to the Walleye games, the annual Battle of the Badges game between the Toledo Police Department and Toledo Fire Department occurred on December 31,[21] the U.S. National Under 18 Team defeated Adrian College 6-1 in an exhibition on January 1,[22] and Bowling Green played Robert Morris to a 2-2 draw on January 4.[23] 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.[24]

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 1198 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, 1–3, 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 —
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 W, 4-0, WHL W, 4-1, UTA

Players and personnel

Current roster

Updated April 16, 2022.[25]
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
14 United States John Albert (A) C L 35 2021 Cleveland, Ohio Walleye
19 United States Mathew Berry RW R 31 2021 Canton, Michigan Walleye
22 United States Brett Boeing C L 29 2021 Barrington, Illinois Walleye
1 United States Billy Christopoulos G L 32 2021 Raleigh, North Carolina Walleye
18 United States Cam Clarke D R 27 2022 Tecumseh, Michigan Walleye
9 United States Sam Craggs LW L 27 2022 Elmhurst, Illinois Walleye
8 United States Patrick Curry F L 28 2022 Schaumburg, Illinois Griffins
74 Canada Cole Fraser D R 24 2021 Ottawa, Ontario Walleye
24 Canada Randy Gazzola D R 30 2021 Thorold, Ontario Walleye
26 Canada Reece Harsch D R 25 2022 Grande Prairie, Alberta Walleye
16 United States Brandon Hawkins RW R 30 2021 Macomb Township, Michigan Walleye
13 Canada Mitchell Heard C L 32 2021 Bowmanville, Ontario Walleye
17 United States T. J. Hensick (C) F R 38 2018 Howell, Michigan Walleye
23 United States Conlan Keenan C L 28 2021 Webster, New York Walleye
55 United States Ryan Lowney D L 30 2021 Redford, Michigan Walleye
27 United States Chris Martenet D L 27 2021 Indianapolis, Indiana Walleye
30 United States Max Milosek G R 31 2021 Lapeer, Michigan Walleye
29 Canada Jesse Mychan LW L 31 2022 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Walleye
5 United States Gordi Myer D L 28 2021 Toledo, Ohio Walleye
11 Canada Brent Pedersen LW L 28 2022 Arthur, Ontario Walleye
34 United States Quinn Preston F R 26 2022 Trenton, Michigan Walleye
21 United States Brandon Schultz C L 27 2021 Estero, Florida Walleye

Team captains

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Head coaches

  • Nick Vitucci, 2009–2014
  • Derek Lalonde, 2014–2016
  • Dan Watson, 2014 (interim), 2016–present

Team records

Updated August 12, 2021[28]

Awards and honors

References

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External links

Preceded by Professional Hockey Team in
Toledo, Ohio
2009–present		 Succeeded by
Current team
Preceded by Brabham Cup
Champions
2014–15		 Succeeded by
Missouri Mavericks
Preceded by Brabham Cup
Champions
2016–17		 Succeeded by
Florida Everblades
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