Fish Tales - August 2010
Future Walleye?
8/23/2010 1:26 PM
Jason Griffin(TOLEDO, OH) - The Toledo Walleye are pleased to announce that Head Coach Nick Vitucci will be attending NHL prospect tournaments in Toronto and Traverse City, MI from September 11-15.
Vitucci said, “These tournaments offer a nice opportunity to evaluate and get a good idea of the type of players that will be sent down to Toledo. It is a nice chance to spend time with these players and get to know them.â€
Vitucci added, “I will be able to evaluate other players and potential free agents that are on other teams in these tournaments as well as spend time with these organizations and the people who run them.â€
Chicago Blackhawks Rookie Tournament (Toronto, Ontario)
The Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks will send a team to compete in the 2010 Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament, beginning on Saturday, Sept. 11 at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. Blackhawks prospects will compete in three games against rookie teams from the Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Blackhawks roster will be highlighted by 2008 first-round selection Kyle Beach, who led the Western Hockey League with 52 goals last season, and defenseman Shawn Lalonde, who paced the Ontario Hockey League’s Belleville Bulls with a career-high 56 points in 2009-10. They will be joined by Jeremy Morin, who potted 47 goals for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers and won a Gold Medal with Team USA at the World Junior Championships during the 2009-10 campaign, as well Chris DiDomenico and Phillipe Paradis, who were acquired from Toronto this summer by Chicago.
Detroit Red Wings Rookie Tournament (Traverse City, MI)
The Detroit Red Wings have announced their team roster for the upcoming 2010 NHL Prospects Tournament at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, MI. The tournament runs Saturday, Sept. 11, through Wednesday, Sept. 15 and includes the best prospects from Detroit, Dallas, Columbus, Tampa Bay, Carolina, St. Louis, Minnesota and the NY Rangers.
The Red Wings’ roster includes the club’s first round draft picks from both the 2007 and 2008 NHL Entry Drafts (defenseman Brendan Smith and goaltender Thomas McCollum), along with the Wings’ first two picks in the 2009 draft (center Landon Ferraro and left wing Tomas Tatar).
The Toledo Walleye will begin the regular season on Friday, October 15 at 7:00 PM in Wheeling. The home opener will be Saturday, October 16th at 7:00 pm when the Walleye host Wheeling at the Huntington Center. Ticket packages are on sale now and group outings are being reserved. Fans can call (419) 725-WALL for more information.
**The Toledo Walleye play all of their home games at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. The Walleye are the proud ECHL affiliate of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.
Support Staff Returns
8/11/2010 9:36 AM
Jason Griffin(TOLEDO, OH) - The Toledo Walleye are pleased to announce the supporting staff for Head Coach Nick Vitucci for the 2010-11 season.
Joining Vitucci for a second straight season will be Dan Watson (Assistant Coach), Dave Aleo (Equipment Manager), and Brad Fredrick (Athletic Trainer).
Vitucci said, “We are thrilled to announce that Dan Watson will be returning to the Walleye coaching staff. Dan made great strides in his first season behind the bench. He brings a wealth of experience from his playing days and is greatly respected by all the players and staff. I am very excited to be going into this season with Dan by my side once again.â€
Dan Watson (Assistant Coach)
Watson (31) is a native of Glencoe, Ontario and most recently worked at Puckmasters in Cleveland, OH as Head Coach. Watson played three seasons with the Sarnia Sting (OHL) and appeared in 202 consecutive games. He was named the 1998-99 Scholastic Player of the Year at Sarnia and the 1999-00 Defensive Player of the Year (Sarnia). Watson also played in the 1998-99 OHL All-Star Game.
Watson signed as free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets (May of 2000) and played seven professional seasons in the AHL, UHL, and ECHL. His career statistics include 447 games played, 23 goals, 66 assists, and 394 penalty minutes. Watson was named the 2004-05 Defensive Player of the Year (Long Beach Ice Dogs, ECHL) and was Captain in Long Beach for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
Vitucci added, “Dave and Brad are both true professionals and people that I consider at the top of their profession. Having both of them on my staff is a pleasure and to be able to work with people that I know and trust will only enhance the experience of our players.â€
Dave Aleo (Equipment Manager)
Aleo (45) spent three seasons as Equipment Manager with the Toledo Storm (2003-2006), before joining the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL (2006-2008). Dave started as an Assistant Equipment Manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL (1994-2001) and also the New York Islanders (2001).
Dave was a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs team that won the 2007 Calder Cup Championship. Was selected to work the 2008 AHL All-Star Game and the 2000 NHL All-Star Game. Also participated in the World Under-18 Championship as Equipment Manager for Team Canada that went on to win the Gold Medal.
Brad Fredrick (Athletic Trainer)
Fredrick (38) begins his second season with the Toledo Walleye after serving the same role with the Toledo Storm for three seasons. Brad handles the daily treatment and evaluation of all Toledo Walleye players. He also manages player injury rehabilitation and workouts.
Prior to joining the Toledo Storm, the Bowling Green State University graduate spent nine years covering high school athletics through Sports Care in the Toledo area. Brad graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1995 with a degree in athletic training.
The Toledo Walleye will begin the regular season on Friday, October 15 at 7:00 PM in Wheeling. The home opener will be Saturday, October 16th at 7:00 pm when the Walleye host Wheeling at the Huntington Center. Ticket packages are on sale now and group outings are being reserved. Fans can call (419) 725-WALL for more information.
**The Toledo Walleye play all of their home games at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. The Walleye are the proud ECHL affiliate of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.
Tough Guy Keefe Returns!!!
8/5/2010 11:10 AM
Jason GriffinGreat news....what a game he had in the playoffs, netting the hat trick....
(Toledo, OH) – The Toledo Walleye and Head Coach Nick Vitucci have announced today that they have agreed to terms with forward Adam Keefe for the 2010-11 season. Terms are based on Keefe making the team to begin the 2010-11 season.
Keefe, the native of Brampton, Ontario, returns to the Walleye after appearing in 24 regular season games a year ago. Adam collected two goals, four assists, and 107 penalty minutes with Toledo. He did collect his first career hat trick (three goal game) on April 6th against Charlotte in the playoffs. This past season, Adam went over 1,000 penalty minutes for his career (1,084).
Prior to joining the Walleye, Adam skated in 176 games in the American Hockey League between Manitoba, Grand Rapids, and San Antonio. Keefe also appeared in 28 games with Toledo back in the 2005-06 season collecting 11 goals, 10 assists, and 174 penalty minutes.
Adam Keefe
Position: Right Wing Height: 5’10â€
Birthdate: April 26, 1984 Weight: 200
Brampton, Ontario Shoots: Right
**2010 Season tickets are on sale now online at www.toledowalleye.com, or by phone at (419) 725-WALL. **
The Toledo Walleye will begin the regular season on Friday, October 15 at 7:00 PM in Wheeling. The home opener will be Saturday, October 16th at 7:00 pm when the Walleye host Wheeling at the Huntington Center. Ticket packages are on sale now and group outings are being reserved. Fans can call (419) 725-WALL for more information.
**The Toledo Walleye play all of their home games at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. The Walleye are the proud ECHL affiliate of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.
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Walleye Hook Another...Hedden Returns
8/4/2010 9:51 AM
Jason Griffin(Toledo, OH) – The Toledo Walleye and Head Coach Nick Vitucci have announced today that they have signed forward Mike Hedden to a contract for the 2010-11 season.
Hedden finished his first professional season with 18 goals and 14 assists. Mike scored his first professional goal last October 23rd against the Reading Royals, and he collected the game-winning tally 1:05 into overtime on January 31st in Elmira. Hedden did collect three assists in four playoff games.
While at Neumann College, Mike was named to the ECAC West All-Rookie Team as a Freshman, ECAC West All-Conference Team as a Sophomore, ECAC West Second Team as a Junior and First Team as a Senior. He helped Neumann College collect the National Championship his senior season.
** 2010 Season tickets are on sale now online at www.toledowalleye.com, or by phone at (419) 725-WALL. **
The Toledo Walleye will begin the regular season on Friday, October 15 at 7:00 PM in Wheeling. The home opener will be Saturday, October 16th at 7:00 pm when the Walleye host Wheeling at the Huntington Center. Ticket packages are on sale now and group outings are being reserved. Fans can call (419) 725-WALL for more information.
**The Toledo Walleye play all of their home games at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. The Walleye are the proud ECHL affiliate of the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.
