Toledo Walleye
2011–12 Toledo Walleye season
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City	Toledo, Ohio
League	ECHL
Conference	Eastern Conference
Division	North Division
Founded	2007
Home arena	Huntington Center
Colors	Powder blue, navy blue, gold, white
Owner(s)	Toledo Arena Sports, Inc.
General manager	Joe Napoli
Head coach	Nick Vitucci
Media	Toledo Blade WCWA (1230 AM)
Affiliates	Detroit Red Wings (NHL) Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Franchise history
1991–2007	Toledo Storm
2009–present	Toledo Walleye

The Toledo Walleye are a professional hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL. The Walleye play their home games in downtown Toledo at the Huntington Center, which opened in 2009.

Since the beginning of the 2009-10 season the team has been dually affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League, and the Grand Rapids Griffins and Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League.^[1][2]

Franchise history[link]

Toledo Storm[link]

The Walleye were originally founded as the Toledo Storm in 1991, 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 ceased 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 would win their first Jack Riley Cup, defeating the Wheeling Thunderbirds in six games. The Storm would come back the following season and win their 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 their 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 would win their second Brabham Cup in 2003 and would make 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, 4–0 losing the series 3 games to 0. In their 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[link]

In 2007, the Toledo Storm were bought by Toledo Arena Sports, Inc., a subsidiary of the Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball club that 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 2003-2007 Nick Vitucci would return to coach the team when it returned to the ice in 2009.^[3] One week after announcing Vitucci as head coach, the club revealed that the team's new name would be the "Walleye," in reference to the popular game fish that is abundant in the area.^[4]

Inaugural season[link]

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 June 21, 2009, the Walleye announced the schedule for their inaugural season which opened on October 16 as the Walleye hosted the defending Brabham Cup champion Florida Everblades in the first of a three game series. The Walleye would play fifteen of their first twenty-one games at home.^[9] 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.^[2] On August 26, 2009, the Walleye signed their first player, centre Malcolm MacMillan. The six year veteran joined the Walleye from the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom and had previous stints in the ECHL with the Florence Pride, Peoria Rivermen, Cincinnati Cyclones (all in 2003-04) and Reading Royals (2005–08).^[10]

Prior to the Walleye's home opener against Florida, head coach Nick Vitucci named defenseman Ryan Stokes as the team's captain and named centers Malcolm MacMillan and Adam Hobson.^[11] Despite a strong effort, the Walleye dropped their opener to Florida 2–1 in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,000, the largest crowd to ever watch a pro hockey game in Toledo.^[12] 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.^[13] The initial home series with Florida would end the next night in entertaining fashion as Toledo defenseman J.C. Sawyer scored the game winning goal with 55 seconds left in overtime as the Walleye won two of three games of the weekend series, 4–3.^[14] On October 20, Toledo defenseman Jamie Milam was named the Sher-wood Player of the Week for his five point performance over the three game series with Florida.^[15]

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.^[16] On January 20, Sawyer was named the captain of the American Conference All-Stars.^[17]

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,^[18] while center Maxime Tanguay was named to the All-Rookie team.^[19]

The Walleye clinched their first playoff appearance on March 31, following a shootout loss to the Johnstown Chiefs, becoming the seventh of eight teams in the American Conference to clinch a berth in the Kelly Cup playoffs.^[20] The Walleye would finish the regular season in eighth place in the American Conference, guaranteeing the team a matchup with the American Conference regular season champions, the Charlotte Checkers, in the American Conference Quarterfinals. Toledo would host Charlotte in the first two games of the series, then the third game would be played at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, as well as games four and five if necessary.^[21] Toledo, behind a hat trick from winger Adam Keefe, claimed a 7–2 victory over top-seeded Charlotte in Game One of the series. Centre Tony Romano, defenceman J.C. Sawyer and wingers Akim Aliu and Derek Nesbitt would also contribute to the victory, the first for the organization since Game Two of the 2006 American Conference Finals against the Gwinnett Gladiators.^[22]

Mascot[link]

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.

Season-by-season record[link]

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

Players[link]

Current roster[link]

Updated December 30, 2011.^[23]

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace	Contract
29	United States !	Carlson, DustinDustin Carlson	1.0 !G	L	26	2011	Forest Lake, Minnesota	Walleye
5	Canada !	Danis-Pepin, SimonSimon Danis-Pepin	2.0 !D	R	24	2011	Montreal, Quebec	Blackhawks
25	United States !	Estoclet, AdamAdam Estoclet	4.0 !C	R	23	2011	Orono, Minnesota	Griffins
8	Canada !	Fournier, GleasonGleason Fournier	2.0 !D	L	20	2011	Saint-Fabien, Quebec	Red Wings
7	United States !	Krug, MattMatt Krug	2.0 !D	R	26	2011	Livonia, Michigan	Walleye
12	United States !	Lewicki, AaronAaron Lewicki	7.0 !RW	L	24	2011	Livonia, Michigan	Walleye
14	Canada !	Martin, JoeyJoey Martin	4.0 !C	L	23	2011	Thorold, Ontario	Walleye
42	Canada !	Matte, BrianBrian Matte	3.0 !F	L	24	2011	Prince George, British Columbia	Walleye
33	United States !	McCollum, ThomasThomas McCollum	1.0 !G	L	22	2010	Cambria, New York	Red Wings
11	Czech Republic !	Nestrasil, AndrejAndrej Nestrasil	7.0 !RW	L	21	2011	Prague, Czechoslovakia	Red Wings
22	United States !	Oslund, NickNick Oslund	7.0 !RW	R	24	2011	Burnsville, Minnesota	Walleye
4	United States !	Page, KyleKyle Page (A)	2.0 !D	L	24	2010	Wixom, Michigan	Walleye
20	United States !	Rauch, PhilPhil Rauch	2.0 !D	L	25	2011	Temperance, Michigan	Walleye
17	United States !	Rogers, KyleKyle Rogers (C)	7.0 !RW	R	27	2010	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Walleye
21	Canada !	Rufenach, BryanBryan Rufenach	2.0 !D	L	23	2011	Cameron, Ontario	Griffins
9	Canada !	Zanette, PaulPaul Zanette	6.0 !LW	L	24	2011	Nobleton, Ontario	IceHogs

Leaders[link]

Team captains[link]

• Ryan Stokes, 2009–10
• Adam Keefe, 2010–11
• Kyle Rogers, 2011-–present

Head coaches[link]

• Nick Vitucci, 2009–present

Awards and honors[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Toledo Walleye official website
• ECHL official website

v t e Sports teams based in Ohio Baseball NL: Cincinnati Reds - AL: Cleveland Indians - IL: Columbus Clippers • Toledo Mud Hens - EL: Akron Aeros - NYPL: Mahoning Valley Scrappers - MWL: Dayton Dragons • Lake County Captains - FL: Lake Erie Crushers - PL: Chillicothe Paints • Lorain County Ironmen - GLSCL: Cincinnati Steam • Columbus All-Americans • Delaware Cows • Grand Lake Mariners • Hamilton Joes • Lake Erie Monarchs • Licking County Settlers • Lima Locos • Southern Ohio Copperheads • Stark County Terriers • Xenia Athletes in Action Basketball NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers - D-League: Canton Charge - PBL: Dayton Air Strikers - ABA: Gem City Hall O' Famers • Lima Explosion Football NFL: Cincinnati Bengals • Cleveland Browns AFL: Cleveland Gladiators - UIFL: Cincinnati Commandos • Marion Blue Racers - CIFL: Dayton Silverbacks WFA: Cincinnati Sizzle • Cleveland Fusion • Columbus Comets • Dayton Diamonds • Toledo Reign - LFL: Cleveland Crush Horse Racing Raceway Park - Beulah Park Racetrack - Northfield Park - River Downs - Scioto Downs - Thistledown Racecourse Hockey NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets - AHL: Lake Erie Monsters - ECHL: Cincinnati Cyclones • Toledo Walleye - USHL: Youngstown Phantoms - NA3HL: Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks • Toledo Cherokee • Queen City Steam Lacrosse MLL: Ohio Machine Roller derby WFTDA: Burning River Roller Girls • Cincinnati Rollergirls • Glass City Rollers • NEO Roller Derby • Ohio Roller Girls Rugby union Dayton Area Rugby Club Soccer MLS: Columbus Crew - USL Pro: Dayton Dutch Lions - PDL: Cincinnati Kings PASL-Pro: Cincinnati Kings Indoor Team • Ohio Vortex Softball NPF: Akron Racers Australian rules football USAFL: Cincinnati Dockers College athletics (NCAA Division I) Akron • Bowling Green • Cincinnati • Cleveland State • Dayton • Kent State • Miami • Ohio • Ohio State • Toledo • Wright State • Xavier • Youngstown State

Nick Vitucci (born June 16, 1967 in Welland, Ontario) is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Currently, he is the head coach of the ECHL's Toledo Walleye.

In 2008, Vitucci was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame. Vitucci was joined by ECHL founder Henry Brabham, the league's first commissioner Patrick J. Kelly, and defenceman Chris Valicevic as members of the Hall of Fame's inaugural class.^[1]

Playing career[link]

During his playing career, Vitucci spent most of his time as a journeyman in the ECHL, but had numerous call ups including stints in the IHL with the Peoria Rivermen and in the AHL with the Maine Mariners, Hershey Bears, and Binghamton Rangers. Vitucci also spent several summers in the RHI, with the Buffalo Stampede, Empire State Cobras, Buffalo Wings, and the New Jersey Rockin Rollers. During his career in the ECHL, Vitucci won four Riley Cups in 1989, 1990, 1994 and 1996 and was named the Finals Most Valuable Player on two occasions (1989 and 1996), one of only two players in the league's history to do so, and Goaltender of the Year in 1998. Vitucci spent at least some time in all of his 13 years of professional hockey in the ECHL and when he retired in 2001 Vitucci left as the league's career record holder in games played, minutes played, wins, most 20 win seasons, most 30 win seasons, and most losses.^[2]

Vitucci is the only goaltender in the history of professional hockey to be credited with a goal against a guarded net. In the 1996 season, while playing for the Charlotte Checkers, Vitucci shot the puck up the ice toward opposing goaltender Alain Morissette of the Louisville River Frogs. Morissette stopped the puck outside the goal, but spun and shot it into his own net while attempting a pass. As the most recent Checkers player to touch the puck, Vitucci was awarded a point scored against an opposing goalie—a unique feat in hockey history for any goaltender.^[3]

Career statistics[link]

Coaching career[link]

Vitucci began his career as a coach during the 1994–95 season when he took up assistant coaching duties while playing for the Toledo Storm. Vitucci would have a second stint as a player/assistant coach during his final year as a player with the Greenville Grrrowl.

In 2002, Vitucci returned to Greenville to be their assistant coach and would leave to fill the assistant coach vacancy in Toledo after the season. Two months into the 2003–04 season, Toledo Storm head coach Steve Harrison was fired and Vitucci, who was his assistant at the time, was tabbed to be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. At the end of the season, the Storm signed Vitucci to be their permanent replacement for Harrison and has remained the team's coach through the team suspending operations in 2007 in order to construct the new arena.

In February 2008 it was announced he would be retained as the head coach for the Walleye, which will be his fifth season in Toledo. The Storm saw success under Vitucci's tenure as the team made the playoffs in all three years with Vitucci, including a division title in 2006 and reaching the American Conference Finals in the same year.^[4]

Coaching statistics[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Nick Vitucci's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Malcolm Kenneth Macmillan (21 August 1913 – 17 November 1978) was a Scottish Labour Party politician and journalist.

At the 1935 general election, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Western Isles. He was re-elected at the next seven general elections, serving as MP for 35 years before losing his seat at the 1970 general election to the Scottish National Party's Donald Stewart.

In 1972, Macmillan was expelled from the Labour Party after disagreement over the selection of his replacement as Labour candidate, Andrew Wilson. Macmillan stood as a United Labour Party candidate in the February 1974 general election, but came fourth, polling only 6.8% of the vote while the SNP substantially increased their majority.

References[link]

• Times Guide to the House of Commons February 1974
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs ^{[self-published source?][better source needed]}

External links[link]

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Malcolm Macmillan