2009–10 Toledo Walleye season

2009-10 Toledo Walleye
Division 3rd North
Conference 8th American
League 11th ECHL
2009-10 record 35-30-2-5
Home record 22-13-0-1
Road record 13-17-2-4
Goals for 254
Goals against 274
Team information
General Manager Joe Napoli
Coach Nick Vitucci
Captain Ryan Stokes
Alternate captains Chris Robertson
Scooter Smith
Arena Lucas County Arena
Average attendance Average: 6,294
Capacity: 83.9%
Total: 226,575[1]
Team leaders
Goals Evan Rankin (32)
Assists Maxime Tanguay (44)
Points Maxime Tanguay (69)
Penalties in minutes Malcolm MacMillan (155)
Wins Alec Richards (17)
Goals against average Alec Richards (3.35)

The 2009–10 Toledo Walleye season was the Toledo Walleye's inaugural season as the Walleye in the ECHL. It was the first time in two years for the team and professional ice hockey to return to Northwest Ohio. The team was founded in 1991 as the Toledo Storm. The team requested voluntary suspension from the ECHL at the end of the 2006–07 ECHL season.

Preseason

On February 13, 2008, former Toledo Storm player and head coach, Nick Vitucci was named the first head coach of the Walleye, 20 months before the team's inaugural season.[2] A week later the Storm was renamed "Walleye" in reference to the popular game fish that populates Lake Erie, on which Toledo is a port.[3][4]

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.[5] On June 21, 2009, the Walleye announced the schedule for their inaugural season which opens on October 16 as the Walleye host the defending Brabham Cup champion Florida Everblades in the first of a three-game series. The Walleye will play fifteen of their first twenty-one games at home.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

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).[9]

Regular season

The Walleye opened their inaugural season on October 16 with a home game against the defending Brabham Cup champion Florida Everblades. Prior to the game, head coach Nick Vitucci named defenseman Ryan Stokes as the team's captain and named centers Malcolm MacMillan and Adam Hobson. 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.[10] The Walleye would return the next night and rookie goaltender Jordan Pearce stopped 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.[11] The initial home series with Florida would end the next night in entertaining fashion as Toledo defenseman Jean-Claude 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.[12] 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.[13]

On December 31, defenseman J.C. Sawyer and forward Maxime Tanguay were selected to the American Conference All-Star team and will play at the All-Star Game at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California on January 20.[14] On January 20, Sawyer was named the captain of the American Conference All-Stars.[15]

At the end of the regular season, defenseman J.C. Sawyer was named as a First Team selection to the All-ECHL team[16] and won the Defenseman of the Year award,[17] while center Maxime Tanguay was named to the All-Rookie team.[18]

Toledo would finish the season with the second best average attendance (6,294/game) and would tie the Elmira Jackals with the most sellouts (12).

Playoffs

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.[19] 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.[20]

Behind a hat-trick from right winger Adam Keefe, Toledo took game one of the series, 7–2.[21] Charlotte would answer the following night, with a 6–1 win to tie the series at one game a piece.[22] The Checkers would gain an edge in the series when it shifted down to Charlotte, as Charlotte defeated the Walleye 3–1 in Game Three to take the 2–1 series lead.[23] Charlotte would end Toledo's inaugural season in heartbreaking fashion, as the Walleye were unable to hold a lead in the third period and would lose Game Four and the series to the Checkers, 5–4 in overtime.[24]

Standings

Division standings

North Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
x-Kalamazoo Wings (PHI/SJS) 71 41 20 6 4 270 241 92
x-Cincinnati Cyclones (MON/NSH) 71 44 24 1 2 234 196 91
x-Toledo Walleye (CHI/DET) 71 35 29 2 5 252 271 77
Wheeling Nailers (PIT) 71 32 32 2 5 236 248 71

Conference standings

American Conference GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS
x-Charlotte Checkers* 71 43 21 4 3 250 219 93
x-Kalamazoo Wings* 71 41 20 6 4 270 241 92
y-Elmira Jackals* 71 36 26 6 3 270 228 81
x-South Carolina Stingrays 71 40 19 6 6 245 216 92
x-Cincinnati Cyclones 71 44 24 1 2 234 196 91
x-Florida Everblades 71 37 25 4 5 230 218 83
x-Reading Royals 71 36 29 1 5 246 271 78
x-Toledo Walleye 71 35 29 2 5 252 271 77
e-Trenton Devils 71 33 29 4 5 240 244 75
e-Wheeling Nailers 71 32 32 2 5 236 248 71
e-Gwinnett Gladiators 71 31 32 5 3 243 274 70
e-Johnstown Chiefs 71 18 42 7 4 212 302 47

x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, z - clinched best conference record, e - eliminated from playoff contention

* – division leader

Schedule and results

Regular season

2009–10 Game Log

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Playoffs

2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs
American Conference Quarterfinals vs. #1 Charlotte Checkers
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series
1 April 6 Charlotte 2 - 7 Toledo Pearce 3,348 1-0
2 April 7 Charlotte 6 - 1 Toledo Pearce 4,297 1-1
3 April 9 Toledo 1 - 3 Charlotte Pearce 3,538 1-2
4 April 11 Toledo 4 - 5 Charlotte OT Pearce 3,126 1-3

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player stats

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Regular season
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Tanguay, MaximeMaxime Tanguay 66 25 44 69 -1 24
Sawyer, Jean-ClaudeJean-Claude Sawyer 67 21 38 59 -10 43
Rankin, EvanEvan Rankin 65 32 25 57 3 59
Robertson, ChrisChris Robertson 59 19 35 54 -9 66
Hobson, AdamAdam Hobson 39 18 26 44 3 59
Nesbitt, DerekDerek Nesbitt 37 11 22 33 -6 15
Hedden, MikeMike Hedden 66 18 14 32 -5 58
MacMillan, MalcolmMalcolm MacMillan ‡ 56 4 28 32 -1 155
Smith, ScooterScooter Smith 47 13 16 29 -9 40
Piche, SebastienSebastien Piche 46 5 23 28 6 67
Charlebois, JoeJoe Charlebois 67 5 20 25 -9 88
Osman, DominicDominic Osman ‡ 47 12 10 22 -3 39
Hodgman, JustinJustin Hodgman 33 9 12 21 -9 35
Ewing, BryanBryan Ewing ‡ 26 8 13 21 -1 41
Peralta, SalSal Peralta † 17 10 9 19 -4 10
Stokes, RyanRyan Stokes 32 6 12 18 13 61
Nebus, MarkMark Nebus 55 5 12 17 -6 141
Aliu, AkimAkim Aliu 13 5 9 14 -12 18
Romano, TonyTony Romano † 12 6 6 12 -1 19
Milam, JamieJamie Milam 16 3 9 12 -7 8
Wilson, BrockBrock Wilson ‡ 29 1 10 11 -3 55
Carlsson, JonathanJonathan Carlsson 27 4 6 10 -19 13
Danis-Pepin, SimonSimon Danis-Pepin 13 1 9 10 11 13
Temblay, LuisLuis Temblay ‡ 23 0 9 9 -1 65
Lange, TommyTommy Lange ‡ 10 4 4 8 0 15
Keefe, AdamAdam Keefe 24 2 4 6 -4 107
Suda, JustinJustin Suda ‡ 46 1 4 5 -14 56
Smyth, RyanRyan Smyth ‡ 14 0 4 4 -1 11
Page, KyleKyle Page 12 1 2 3 -1 2
Zarb, ChrisChris Zarb † 19 1 2 3 -6 47
Richards, AlecAlec Richards (G) ‡ 42 0 3 3 — 2
Ehrhardt, TravisTravis Ehrhardt ‡ 3 1 1 2 4 0
Phillips, DavidDavid Phillips ‡ 6 1 1 2 -5 2
Naurato, BrandonBrandon Naurato ‡ 5 0 2 2 1 2
Perdicaro, AnthonyAnthony Perdicaro 10 1 0 1 -2 9
Wilson, MikeMike Wilson ‡ 2 0 1 1 -2 2
Sauer, BillyBilly Sauer (G) ‡ 4 0 1 1 — 0
Grevious, JustinJustin Grevious (G) ‡ 1 0 0 0 — 0
Spratt, JimmyJimmy Spratt (G) 1 0 0 0 — 0
Yandle, BrianBrian Yandle ‡ 1 0 0 0 0 0
Tormey, DanDan Tormey (G) ‡ 2 0 0 0 — 0
Oleksy, SteveSteve Oleksy ‡ 3 0 0 0 1 2
Ferrara, NelloNello Ferrara ‡ 3 0 0 0 -2 0
May, JohnJohn May ‡ 5 0 0 0 0 4
McCollum, ThomasThomas McCollum (G) ‡ 6 0 0 0 — 0
Leitch, BryanBryan Leitch ‡ 8 0 0 0 -1 8
Sarno, AnthonyAnthony Sarno ‡ 12 0 0 0 -3 4
Pearce, JordanJordan Pearce (G) 52 0 0 0 — 0
  • †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Walleye. Stats reflect time with the Walleye only.
  • ‡Denotes player is no longer with the Walleye.
  • (G)Denotes goaltender.
Playoffs
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Keefe, AdamAdam Keefe 4 4 0 4 -5 19
Nesbitt, DerekDerek Nesbitt 4 3 1 4 1 0
Danis-Pepin, SimonSimon Danis-Pepin 4 1 3 4 -1 0
Sawyer, J.C.J.C. Sawyer 4 2 1 3 1 4
Hedden, MikeMike Hedden 4 0 3 3 -4 6
Robertson, ChrisChris Robertson 4 0 3 3 2 0
Aliu, AkimAkim Aliu 2 1 1 2 0 16
Smith, ScooterScooter Smith 3 1 1 2 -4 0
Charlebois, JoeJoe Charlebois 4 0 2 2 1 5
Piche, SebastienSebastien Piche 4 0 2 2 -1 4
Romano, TonyTony Romano 4 1 0 1 1 4
Pearce, JordanJordan Pearce (G) 3 0 1 1 — 0
Rankin, EvanEvan Rankin 4 0 1 1 1 2
Tanguay, MaximeMaxime Tanguay 4 0 1 1 0 2
Nebus, MarkMark Nebus 2 0 0 0 0 0
Zarb, ChrisChris Zarb 2 0 0 0 -3 2
Carlsson, JonathanJonathan Carlsson 3 0 0 0 -1 0
Page, KyleKyle Page 4 0 0 0 -3 0
Peralta, SalSal Peralta 4 0 0 0 0 2

Goaltenders

Note: GPI = Games Played In; MIN = Minutes played; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots Against; GA = Goals Against; SV% = Save Percentage

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO
Richards, AlecAlec Richards ‡ 34 2004 17 12 5 112 3.35 1086 974 .897 1
Pearce, JordanJordan Pearce 37 2047 15 16 2 124 3.63 1142 1018 .891 2
McCollum, ThomasThomas McCollum ‡ 4 188 2 1 0 14 4.48 103 89 .864 0
Sauer, BillyBilly Sauer ‡ 2 120 1 1 0 9 4.51 77 68 .883 0
Playoffs
Player GP Min W L GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO
Pearce, JordanJordan Pearce 4 247 1 3 16 3.88 135 119 .881 0

Awards and records

Awards

Regular Season
Player Award Awarded
Jamie Milam Sher-wood Hockey Player of the Week October 20, 2009[13]
J.C. Sawyer All-Star Game representative December 31, 2009[14]
Maxime Tanguay All-Star Game representative December 31, 2009[14]
Jordan Pearce Reebok Goaltender of the Week March 23, 2010
Maxime Tanguay All-ECHL Rookie Team selection March 31, 2010[18]
J.C. Sawyer All-ECHL First Team selection April 1, 2010[16]
J.C. Sawyer Defenseman of the Year April 7, 2010[17]

Transactions

The Walleye have been involved in the following transactions before and during the 2009–10 season.

Trades
November 27, 2009 To Wheeling Nailers:
Ryan Smyth		 To Toledo:
Future considerations
December 30, 2009 To Utah Grizzlies:
Brock Wilson		 To Toledo:
Future considerations
January 21, 2010 To Toronto Marlies (AHL):
Justin Hodgman		 To Toledo:
Future considerations
February 9, 2010 To Florida Everblades:
Dominic Osman		 To Toledo:
Chris Zarb (acquired from Johnstown)
February 20, 200 To Ontario Reign:
Future considerations		 To Toledo:
Sal Peralta
February 25, 2010 To Bakersfield Condors:
Luis Trembaly		 To Toledo:
Future considerations
March 4, 2010 To Johnstown Chiefs:
Anthony Sarno		 To Toledo:
Future considerations
March 9, 2010 To Utah Grizzlies:
Malcolm MacMillan
Justin Suda		 To Toledo:
Tony Romano
Free agents acquired
Player Former team
Malcolm MacMillan[9] Belfast Giants
Jamie Milam[25] AIK
Steve Oleksy[25] Lake Superior State Univ.
Brandon Nauroto[25] Univ. of Michigan
Dominic Osman[25] Kalamazoo Wings
Derek Patrosso[25] Port Huron Icehawks
Eric Giosa[25] Sacred Heart Univ.
Mark Nebus[25] Kalamazoo Wings
Chris Robertson[26] New Mexico Scorpions
Milan Maslonka[26] Dayton Bombers
Ryan Smyth[26] Dayton Bombers
Brock Wilson[26] Dayton Bombers
Scooter Smith Louisiana IceGators
Luis Tremblay Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Adam Keefe San Antonio Rampage
Anthony Sarno Chi-Town Shooters
Anthony Perdicaro Port Huron Icehawks
Kyle Page Bowling Green State Univ.
Mitch O'Keefe Utah Grizzlies
Player movement

Personnel

Final Roster

Updated April 7, 2010.
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
7 Nigeria Aliu, AkimAkim Aliu RW R 27 2010 Okene, Nigeria
4 Sweden Carlsson, JonathanJonathan Carlsson D R 28 2009 Uppsala, Sweden
15 United States Charlebois, JoeJoe Charlebois D R 30 2009 Potsdam, New York
79 Canada Danis-Pepin, SimonSimon Danis-Pepin D R 28 2010 Montreal, Quebec
28 Canada Hedden, MikeMike Hedden LW L 31 2009 St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Canada Hobson, AdamAdam Hobson C L 29 2009 Mission, British Columbia
24 Canada Keefe, AdamAdam Keefe RW R 32 2009 Brampton, Ontario
17 United States Nebus, MarkMark Nebus RW R 34 2009 South Lyon, Michigan
16 Canada Nesbitt, DerekDerek Nesbitt RW L 34 2009 Egmondville, Ontario
31 Canada O'Keefe, MitchMitch O'Keefe G R 32 2010 Almonte, Ontario
6 United States Page, KyleKyle Page D L 29 2010 Wixom, Michigan
35 United States Pearce, JordanJordan Pearce G L 30 2009 Anchorage, Alaska
19 Canada Peralta, SalSal Peralta LW R 33 2010 Leamington, Ontario
39 United States Perdicaro, AnthonyAnthony Perdicaro C L 27 2010 East Rockaway, New York
25 Canada Piche, SebastienSebastien Piche D L 28 2009 La Sarre, Quebec
86 United States Rankin, EvanEvan Rankin RW R 30 2009 Portage, Michigan
72 Canada Robertson, ChrisChris Robertson (A) C L 32 2009 Owen Sound, Ontario
10 United States Romano, TonyTony Romano C R 28 2010 Smithtown, New York
12 Canada Sawyer, Jean-ClaudeJean-Claude Sawyer D L 30 2009 Saint John, New Brunswick
22 Canada Smith, ScooterScooter Smith (A) C L 36 2009 Calgary, Alberta
5 Canada Stokes, RyanRyan Stokes D L 33 2009 Corruna, Ontario
61 Canada Tanguay, MaximeMaxime Tanguay C L 28 2009 Lac-Etchemin, Quebec
21 United States Zarb, ChrisChris Zarb D R 31 2010 Waterford, Michigan

Affiliates

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Attendance Report". ECHL.com. 2010-04-07. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  2. ↑ Vardon, Joe (February 13, 2008). "Ex-Storm coach Vitucci is first hire of next hockey team". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  3. ↑ Vardon, Joe (February 20, 2008). "Mud Hens snag catchy "Walleye" as moniker for hockey franchise". Toledo Blade. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  4. ↑ Press release (February 20, 2009). "New Arena Hockey Team to Be Called the "Toledo Walleye"". ToledoWalleye.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  5. ↑ Sipple, George (June 19, 2009). "Alex Ovechkin has fun beating Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 22 June 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  6. ↑ Monroe, Mark (June 21, 2009). "Walleye season starts Oct. 16". Toledo Blade. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  7. ↑ Monroe, Mark (August 5, 2009). "Blackhawks, Walleye join forces". Toledo Blade. Retrieved August 7, 2009.
  8. ↑ Monroe, Mark (July 27, 2009). "Toledo hockey team puts spotlight on "Spike"". Toledo Blade. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Monroe, Mark (August 27, 2009). "MacMillan is Walleye's first player". Toledo Blade. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  10. ↑ Monroe, Mark (October 17, 2009). "Walleye iced in debut". Toledo Blade. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  11. ↑ Monroe, Mark (October 18, 2009). "Pearce shines in first win for Walleye". Toledo Blade. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  12. ↑ Monroe, Mark (October 19, 2009). "Sawyer's goal lifts Walleye in overtime". Toledo Blade. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  13. 1 2 Press release (October 20, 2009). "Toledo's Milam Named Sher-wood ECHL Player Of The Week". ECHL. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  14. 1 2 3 Staff (January 1, 2010). "2 from Walleye named ECHL all-stars". Toledo Blade. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  15. ↑ Staff (January 20, 2010). "Walleye's Sawyer all-star captain". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  16. 1 2 Press release (April 1, 2010). "All-ECHL First Team Announced". ECHL. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  17. 1 2 Press release (April 7, 2010). "Toledo's Sawyer named Defenseman of the Year". ECHL. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  18. 1 2 Press release (March 31, 2010). "ECHL All-Rookie Team Announced". ECHL. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  19. ↑ Staff (April 1, 2010). "Walleye lose, but qualify for playoffs". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  20. ↑ Monroe, Mark (April 4, 2010). "Walleye get Charlotte in first round of playoffs". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  21. ↑ Monroe, Mark (April 7, 2010). "Keefe ignites Walleye". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  22. ↑ Monroe, Mark (April 10, 2010). "Walleye fall behind in series". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  23. ↑ Hawkins, Jeff (April 10, 2010). "Walleye fall behind in series". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  24. ↑ Hawkins, Jeff (April 12, 2010). "Walleye's season comes to an end". Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Monroe, Mark (September 3, 2009). "7 from Michigan sign with Walleye". Toledo Blade. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  26. 1 2 3 4 Staff (September 10, 2009). "Walleye sign 4 players". Toledo Blade. Retrieved September 11, 2009.

External links

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