Fish Tales - April 2010
Nesbitt and Danis-Pepin Return To Rockford
4/14/2010 9:21 AM
Jason Griffin(Toledo, OH) – The Toledo Walleye and Head Coach Nick Vitucci have announced today that defenseman Simon Danis-Pepin has been reassigned by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. In addition, forward Derek Nesbitt has been recalled by the Rockford IceHogs.
Danis-Pepin, 22, has appeared in 38 games with the IceHogs in 2009-10, notching a goal and seven assists during his first stint in the AHL. With Toledo, the Montreal, Quebec native skated in 13 contests contributing a goal and nine assists. The defenseman also played in all four of Toledo’s Kelly Cup Playoff games and scored a goal while adding three assists.
Nesbitt returns to Rockford after playing in 23 games with the IceHogs in the regular season. The 28-year-old winger recorded four goals with Rockford while chipping in an assist. In 37 games with the Walleye, the Egmondville, Ontario native had 11 goals and assisted on 22 others. Nesbitt also had four points in the playoffs with Toledo, including three goals.
**2010-11 Ticket Packages are on sale now at the Lucas County Arena box office, online at www.toledowalleye.com, or by phone at (419) 725-WALL.
Game Four Notes Against Charlotte
4/11/2010 10:00 AM
Matt MelzakKelly Cup Playoffs Round 1: #1 Seed Charlotte Checkers vs. #8 Seed Toledo Walleye
(All Times Eastern)
Tuesday April 6 vs. Charlotte Checkers (Toledo 7-2)
WednesdayApril 7 vs. Charlotte Checkers (Charlotte 6-1)
Friday April 9 @ Charlotte Checkers (Charlotte 3-1)
Sunday April 11 @ Charlotte Checkers (2:00pm) (1:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Monday April 12 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary)(7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Toledo Walleye 2010 Playoff Notes
Game 3 to Charlotte: The Checkers used a two goal second period in which Charlotte outshot Toledo 13-3 to pull away for a 3-1 win. Charlotte leads the best of five series two games to one.
Game 4 Sunday at Two: The Walleye have their backs against the wall Sunday as it’s win or go home time. Should Toledo win, they can force a game five Monday night in Charlotte.
Facing Adversity: All-Time in the ECHL playoffs, Toledo has faced elimination 14 times. In those games, Toledo teams have won 3 games and lost 11.
Nesbitt ready to break Out: Walleye forward Derek Nesbitt was the lone player to score Friday night. For Derek it was his second postseason goal.
Offensive Drought: Toledo has scored just two goals in the last 120 minutes against Charlotte goaltender Ryan Munce. This offensive ineptitude comes after Toledo struck for seven goals in Game One. The Walleye averaged over four goals a game against Charlotte in five regular season meetings.
Playoff Notes for Tonight in Charlotte
4/9/2010 11:59 AM
Matt MelzakKelly Cup Playoffs Round 1: #1 Seed Charlotte Checkers vs. #8 Seed Toledo Walleye (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday April 6 vs. Charlotte Checkers (Toledo 7-2)
WednesdayApril 7 vs. Charlotte Checkers (Charlotte 6-1)
Friday April 9 @ Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Sunday April 11 @ Charlotte Checkers (2:00pm) (1:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Monday April 12 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary) (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Toledo Walleye 2010 Playoff Notes
Game 2 Goes to the Checkers: Charlotte used a four goal third period to push past the Walleye 6-1 in game number two. Mike Taylor scored twice to pace Charlotte.
Game 3 Tonight: With the best of five series tied at a game apiece, tonight’s game three becomes critical for a series win. Toledo won one game in Charlotte (February 18th 7-0) and lost one game (February 8th 5-1) in the meetings in Charlotte.
Keefe Again: Forward Adam Keefe scored the lone goal for the Walleye Wednesday night. Adam has scored four of Toledo’s eight goals in the series.
Going Offensive: In five regular season games played this year, Toledo and Charlotte combined for 36 goals scored for an average of 7.2 goals scored per game. The two teams have combined for sixteen goals in two contests.
Playoff Notes for tonight against Charlotte
4/7/2010 2:36 PM
Matt MelzakKelly Cup Playoffs Round 1: #1 Seed Charlotte Checkers vs. #8 Seed Toledo Walleye (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday April 6 vs. Charlotte Checkers (Toledo 7-2)
Wednesday April 7 vs. Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Friday April 9 @ Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Sunday April 11 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary) (2:00pm) (1:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Monday April 12 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary) (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Winning Game One: Toledo defeated Charlotte 7-2 to open the best of series five series with a win. The win came in the first playoff game ever played in the Lucas County Arena.
Lighting the Lamp: Toledo exploded for seven goals in game one of the best of series with Charlotte. The most goals Toledo has scored in a playoff are nine (April 2, 2003, 9-1 over Lexington and April 6, 1993, 9-5 over Nashville).
Keefe Does the Trick: Forward Adam Keefe collected his first professional three goal game last night. Adam scored just two goals in the 24 games he played in the regular season.
Powering the PP: Toledo’s power play went two for five last night against Charlotte. This comes after Toledo went 8 for 30 (26.6%) on the man advantage against the Checkers in the regular season.
Going Offensive: In five regular season games played this year, Toledo and Charlotte combined for 36 goals scored for an average of 7.2 goals scored per game. Last night lived up to that hype with nine total goals scored.
Walleye Announce Playoff Roster
4/6/2010 2:16 PM
Matt MelzakThe Toledo Walleye and Head Coach Nick Vitucci have announced the 2009-10 Toledo Walleye Playoff Roster. The Roster is made up of twenty active players and three reserve players.
The forwards on the roster are: Akim Aliu, Tony Romano, Derek Nesbitt, Mark Nebus, Sal Peralta, Scooter Smith, Adam Keefe, Mike Hedden, Maxime Tanguay, Chris Robertson, and Evan Rankin.
The defensemen listed on the roster are: Jonathan Carlsson, Kyle Page, JC Sawyer, Joe Charlebois, Chris Zarb, Sebastien Piche, and Simon Danis-Pepin.
Jordan Pearce and Mitch O’Keefe are the two goaltenders, with the three reserve players being: Adam Hobson, Ryan Stokes, and Anthony Perdicaro.
**2010 Kelly Cup Playoff tickets are on sale now at the Lucas County Arena box office, online at www.toledowalleye.com, or by phone at (419) 725-WALL.
American Conference Quarterfinals vs. Charlotte
4/5/2010 4:17 PM
Matt MelzakKelly Cup Playoffs Round 1: #1 Seed Charlotte Checkers vs. #8 Seed Toledo Walleye (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday April 6 vs. Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Wednesday April 7 vs. Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Friday April 9 @ Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Sunday April 11 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary) (2:00pm) (1:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Monday April 12 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary) (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Toledo Walleye 2010 Playoff Notes
Making it in: Toledo qualified for the post-season in the first year of Walleye hockey. In All-Time ECHL play, Toledo has missed the playoffs just three times.
There is Always a First Time: This is the first ever playoff meeting between Toledo and Charlotte. In regular season play, the two franchises have met 17 times with Toledo holding an 8-6-3 record against the Checkers.
The Last Time: The last time the city of Toledo experienced the playoffs was at the end of the 2006-07 season. The Toledo Storm fell to Cincinnati in the first round, three games to none.
Going Offensive: In five games played this year, Toledo and Charlotte have combined for 36 goals scored for an average of 7.2 goals scored per game.
Toledo vs. Charlotte 2009-10 A Look Back
January 10, 2010 in Toledo: The Toledo Walleye power play scored four times to defeat Charlotte 6-3. Walleye forward Evan Rankin scored twice for Toledo, and defenseman JC Sawyer scored once and collected two helpers.
February 8, 2010 in Charlotte: The Checkers outshot Toledo 50-27 and defeated Toledo 5-1. Goaltender Jordan Pearce made 45 saves in a losing effort. Charlotte scored three times with the man advantage.
February 19, 2010 in Charlotte: In a game that started at 11:59pm, Toledo was the only team awake as the Walleye dominated the Checkers 7-0. Jordan Pearce made 33 saves for his second professional shutout. Evan Rankin scored five of the seven goals.
March 6, 2010 in Toledo: Forward Akim Aliu scored two goals in regulation time, and Chris Robertson scored with just six seconds left in overtime to collect a 6-5 win. The Walleye outshot Charlotte 51-28 in the game, which was the season high in shots for Toledo.
March 7, 2010 in Toledo: Evan Rankin collected Toledo’s lone goal as Ryan Munce made 32 saves as Charlotte won 2-1. Toledo was 0-5 on the power play.
Walleye Weekly Release
4/5/2010 12:27 PM
Matt MelzakToledo Walleye Weekly Release No. 25: April 5, 2010
Overall Record: 35-30-2-5 (3rd North Division) (Week Record 0-2-0-1) (Streak Winless 3)
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Wednesday March 31 @ Johnstown Chiefs (5-4 Shootout Loss)
Friday April 2 @ Kalamazoo Wings (6-2 Loss)
Saturday April 3 @ Kalamazoo Wings (3-2 Loss)
** End of Regular Season**
Kelly Cup Playoffs Round 1: #1 Seed Charlotte Checkers vs. #8 Seed Toledo Walleye (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday April 6 vs. Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Wednesday April 7 vs. Charlotte Checkers (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2) (BCSN)
Friday April 9 @ Charlotte Checkers (7:30pm) (7:00pm, 1230am, B2)
Sunday April 11 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary) (2:00pm) (1:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Monday April 12 @ Charlotte Checkers (If Necessary) (7:00pm) (6:30pm, 1230am, B2)
Walleye Regular Season Notes
 A Fantastic Season in the Lucas County Arena! Toledo finished the season with 226,575 fans passing through the turnstiles at the Lucas County Arena. The Walleye finished with an average attendance of 6,294 per contest (84.6% capacity). Only Ontario (6,451) finished with a higher per game average than Toledo. The Walleye finished the year with 12 sellouts, including eight crowds of 8,000 or more.
 Walleye Firsts! The first season of Walleye closes with 35 wins on the board for Toledo. Maxime Tanguay scored the first goal ever for the Walleye at 5:37 of the third period on October 16th (Adam Hobson and Brock Wilson collected the assists). On October 17th, Goaltender Jordan Pearce made 35 saves to post the first win for Toledo (5-2 over Florida). On October 24th, defenseman JC Sawyer scored at 4:05 of overtime to push Toledo past Florida 4-3; it was the first of 9 overtime wins this year for the Walleye. Alec Richards made 26 saves to collect the first Walleye shutout on October 24th (1-0 over Trenton). In Kalamazoo on October 31st, the Walleye scored 5 power play goals in a 7-5 win. December 13th, Jordan Pearce stopped all four Elmira shooters for Toledo’s first shootout win. Evan Rankin collected the first Toledo hat trick on January 17th against Johnstown, and he also put together a five goal performance February 19th in Charlotte.
 Mad Max Beyond the Numbers! Maxime Tanguay finished the season as Toledo’s leading scorer as he netted 69 points (25g, 44a) in 66 games this year. Tanguay also led Toledo with 44 assists. Maxime finished third among all first year players in points.
 Ranking in the Goals! Evan Rankin led Toledo with 32 goals on the season. Nine of those goals came on the power play. Evan finished the year with goals in three of the last four games.
 Sawyering to the Top! Defenseman JC Sawyer finished leading all ECHL defensemen with 21 goals and 59 points.
 Goaltending Duo! Alec Richards led Toledo in wins (17), goals against average (3.35), and save percentage (.897). Jordan Pearce finished the year with a team high two shutouts.
 Plus/Minus! Team Captain Ryan Stokes finished the year with a team best plus 13. Simon Danis-Pepin finished the year with a plus 11.
Walleye Player of the Week: Evan Rankin (3 goals – 0 assists = 3 points)
Walleye Goaltender of the Week: Jordan Pearce (0-2-0-0, 4.54 gaa, .855 save %)
Derek Nesbitt Returns To Toledo From Rockford
4/1/2010 3:00 PM
Jason GriffinDEREK NESBITT LOANED TO TOLEDO FROM ROCKFORD
Rockford, Ill.- Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced on Thursday that the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League have reassigned right wing Derek Nesbitt to the Toledo Walleye (ECHL).
Nesbitt has skated in 23 games for the IceHogs, recording four goals and one assist. In 36 games with Toledo this season, Nesbitt has notched 11 goals and 22 assists.
The Egmondville, Ontario native has tallied 291 points (105g-176a) in 322 career professional games between the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators (2005-06, 2007-08), Idaho Steelheads (2006-07) and Toledo (2009-10) as well as the AHL’s IceHogs (2007-08, 2009-10), Manitoba Moose (2008-09) and San Antonio Rampage (2008-09).
J.C. Sawyer Named To The All-ECHL First Team
4/1/2010 3:00 PM
Jason GriffinToledo’s J.C. Sawyer Named To All-ECHL First Team
Defenseman has 58 points for Toledo in 65 games…
(TOLEDO, OH) - The Toledo Walleye are pleased to announce that J.C. Sawyer has been named to the All-ECHL First Team for the 2009-10 season.
The team was determined in a vote of ECHL coaches, who were asked to select a goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards.
Sawyer commented on making the team, “I am excited to receive such an honor. It means a lot to me to have the respect of my peers for having an outstanding season. It also says a lot about the season that we have had here in Toledo, where the fan support has been fabulous since day one.â€
2009-10 All-ECHL First Team
F - Mark Derlago, Idaho Steelheads (59 gp, 41g, 50a, 91 pts, +33)
F - Tyler Donati, Elmira Jackals (65 gp, 38g, 72a, 110 pts, +20)
F - Ryan Kinasewich, Utah Grizzlies (57 gp, 46g, 53a, 99 pts, -12)
D - Eric Regan, Bakersfield Condors (58 gp, 16g, 33a, 49 pts, +6)
D - J.C. Sawyer, Toledo Walleye (65 gp, 21g, 37a, 58 pts, -8)
G - Todd Ford, South Carolina Stingrays (28 gp, 18-7-2, 2.79 GAA, .910 Save Pct.)
J.C. Sawyer of the Toledo Walleye leads all defensemen with 21 goals, 58 points and seven game-winning goals while ranking second with 37 assists. He is tied for third among defensemen with 24 power-play points and sits tied for fourth with 18 power-play assists. He was chosen as a starter for the 2010 ECHL All-Star Game and served as captain for the American Conference and also appeared in the 2008 All-Star Game while with Pensacola. Sawyer, who is under contract to Chicago of the National Hockey League, has suited up for Rockford of the AHL in four games this season where he has one assist.
Toledo clinched a berth in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs last night in Johnstown. It is still yet to be determined who the Walleye will play in the first round. Toledo may host playoff games on April 6-7 or April 9-10 depending on the match-up. Toledo plays at Kalamazoo on Friday and Saturday.
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Walleye Clinch Playoff Berth
4/1/2010 10:14 AM
Jason GriffinToledo Walleye Clinch Playoff Berth –
Potential Home Dates Announced
(TOLEDO, OH) - The Toledo Walleye have clinched a spot in the 2010 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. The team has completed their home schedule and have two (2) road games this week to conclude their inaugural season.
Remaining Walleye Regular Season Games
Friday, April 2 at Kalamazoo (7:30 pm)
Saturday, April 3 at Kalamazoo (7:30 pm)
Toledo is currently the 7th seed in the American Conference but could finish as the #7 or #8 seed. There are four possible opponents for the Walleye in the best-of-five first round.
The schedule below breaks down each of the possible playoff match-ups:
If Toledo plays Cincinnati:
HOME GAME A: In Toledo on Tuesday, April 6th at 7:00pm
HOME GAME B: In Toledo on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00pm
Game 3: In Cincinnati on Friday, April 9th at 7:30pm
Game 4: In Cincinnati on Saturday, April 10th at 7:30pm (if necessary)
Game 5: In Cincinnati on Monday, April 12th at 7:30pm (if necessary)
If Toledo plays South Carolina:
HOME GAME A: In Toledo on Tuesday, April 6th at 7:00pm
HOME GAME B: In Toledo on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00pm
Game 3: In South Carolina on Friday, April 9th at 7:05pm
Game 4: In South Carolina on Saturday, April 10th at 7:05pm (if necessary)
Game 5: In South Carolina on Sunday, April 11th at 7:05pm (if necessary)
If Toledo plays Charlotte:
HOME GAME A: In Toledo on Tuesday, April 6th at 7:00pm
HOME GAME B: In Toledo on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00pm
Game 3: In Charlotte on Friday, April 9th at 7:00pm
Game 4: In Charlotte on Sunday, April 11th at 2:00pm (if necessary)
Game 5: In Charlotte on Monday, April 12th at 7:00pm (if necessary)
If Toledo plays Kalamazoo:
Game 1: In Kalamazoo on Tuesday, April 6th at 7:00pm
Game 2: In Kalamazoo on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00pm
HOME GAME A: In Toledo on Friday, April 9th at 7:30pm
HOME GAME B: In Toledo on Saturday, April 10th at 7:30pm (if necessary)
Game 5: In Kalamazoo on Monday, April 12th at 7:00pm (if necessary)
**2010 Kelly Cup Playoff tickets are on sale now at the Lucas County Arena box office, online at www.toledowalleye.com, or by phone at (419) 725-WALL.
