Spike

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  • Species: Yellow Walleye
  • Gender: Male
  • Height: Taller than most
  • Weight: Big around the belly
  • Birth date: July 27, 2009
  • Birth place: The Maumee River
  • Residence: The Fish Pond, Lucas County Arena
  • Favorite Movies: Finding Nemo & The Mighty Ducks
  • Favorite Songs: 'The Hockey Song' by Stompin' Tom Connors, 'Take On Me' by Reel Big Fish, and 'What I like About You' by the Romantics
  • Favorite Food: Worms
  • Hobbies: Cheering on the Walleye Hockey Team, playing hockey, dancing, writing poetry, and reading
  • Favorite Books: 'One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish' by Dr. Suess and 'Z is for Zamboni' by Matt Napier
  • Favorite Quote: "You miss 100% of the shots you never take." - Wayne Gretzky

Q & A With Spike
Q: Do you have any special skills?
A: I've got some pretty wild dance moves.

Q; How did you become the Walleye mascot?
A: It's only natural for the #1 fan to become the mascot.

Q: What will you do when you're not at the games?
A: I'll flop around town visiting businesses, fans, parades, festivals, and parties. Who doesn't love a party?

Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: Fishing Poles

Q: What do you think the new arena will be like?
A: I hope it's cold, crazy, and loud! Hockey fans know how to cheer.

Q: What would your fortune cookie say?
A: "Big things are headed your way."

Q: What's your favorite joke?
A: What day of the week do fish hate? Frydays!

I'm Spike (my first published poem)
Born in the Maumee River
Fun is what I deliver
I found a home at the arena downtown
Where there's lots of people all around
I'm the Walleye's #1 fan
I'm too cute for the frying pan
I can skate with the best
I won't settle for less
Hockey is the game
Spike is the name!

How Spike Got His Name

  • The term "spike walleye" has been used to describe walleye that are about the diameter of a railroad spike (though perhaps a bit longer). These younger fish are below the 15" minimum size for a "keeper" walleye, but they are scrappy enough to take on fishing lures meant for the larger walleye. In a year or two, they will grow to adult size.
  • Using suggestions from a 'Name the Mascot' contest, Walleye staff members narrowed the list down to three choices. Those choices were presented at four local schools. The children had a chance to view photos of the mascots and vote for their favorite name. Spike was, by far, the most popular choice among the kids, garnering about 75% of the votes!
  • Comments from the children included: "He has a spikey fin on the top of his head"; "He looks like his name would be Spike"; "Spike is a cool name"

CatTrick

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  • Species: Feline
  • Gender: Male
  • Weight: Big around the belly
  • Birth date: October 18, 2009
  • Residence: The Alley, Lucas County Arena
  • Favorite Movies: Cats: The Musical, The Aristocats
  • Favorite Food: Fish! I especially like Walleye!
  • Hobbies: Fishing, heckling the opponents of the Toledo Walleye, pulling pranks, and napping
  • Favorite Books: 'The Cat in the Hat' by Dr. Suess, 'Just Fishing with Grandma' by Mercer and Gina Mayer
  • Favorite Quote: "Fishing is fun, but only when the cat has won!" - CatTrick

Q & A with CatTrick
Q: What made you come to T-Town?
A: I heard this place was overflowing with Walleye. I love Walleye and I can't wait to get my hands on one.

Q: You're the new cat in town, have you made any friends yet?
A: I met Kitty Holmes from Fifth Third Field, we're becoming good friends.

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Q: Do you have any special skills?
A: I've got nine lives. That's a pretty special skill!

Q: You say you like pulling pranks, have any favorites?
A: I'm a fan of whoopee cushions, rubber chickens, and sneaking up on people.

Q: What is one thing you don't like so well?
A: Water isn't really my thing, even the frozen kind. Cats don't like to get wet you know!

Q: What's your favorite joke?
A: When are the two best times to go fishing? When it's raining and when it's not!

Q: Since you love to eat Walleye, how do you get along with Spike the Toledo Walleye mascot?
A: No comment.

Q: Anything else you want the people of Toledo to know?
A: Even though I'm a little mischievous, I'm not "fishicious". I do love people (all cats do) and I can't wait to meet everyone who comes to see the Walleye play.

Wally the Walleye

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The official mascot of the Toledo Walleye Hockey Club is Wally The Walleye™.

Wally makes his home at the Lake Erie Exhibit in the Toledo Zoo's Aquarium and fans are encouraged to visit him year round. The easiest way to spot Wally is the white spot located on his caudal fin. More information on the Toledo Zoo can be found at www.toledozoo.org.

Wally is excited and slightly overwhelmed with ideas to help motivate and entertain his new fans. His problem is that he really would be "a fish out of water" if he tried the things he was hoping to do. Therefore, in the months to come, Wally will be doing his own recruiting for other team representatives that he can send over to the arena to execute his cheer tactics.

Wally's journey certainly has been an interesting one. It all started on February 20, 2008 when the official word came that Toledo's ECHL team would be known as the Toledo Walleye. Head Coach, Nick Vitucci found himself looking for some inspiration.

After checking out the construction progress of the new arena, Vitucci was taking a stroll along the Maumee River, eyeing some of the local fish when, lo and behold, one in particular literally jumped to get his attention. Vitucci took the bait - hook, line and sinker! Nick looked at his feet and there was Wally.

Impressed with his moves, Nick knew this fish would have the talent & heart to be the official team mascot but where would he live? Nick knew he needed a good home with lots of water and people who could take good care of him. That's when it hit him like a ton of fish food... the Toledo Zoo.

* Wally The Walleye's™ name was picked based on suggestions from a "Name The Mascot" contest in conjunction with the Toledo Blade & The Andersons.

Other famous live mascots include Uga (University of Georgia Bulldogs), Bevo (University of Texas Longhorns), Ralphie (University of Colorado Buffalos)

Walleye Fun Facts

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  • As spring approaches, and the Great Lakes begin to thaw, warming waters send the signal to tens of thousands of walleye to start their annual migration to where their life began, The Maumee River.
  • During Spring Run time on the Maumee River, up to 50,000 people or more will arrive to participate in a seasonal ritual unparalleled on the Great Lakes.
  • The Maumee River offers the largest population of migrating walleye east of the Mississippi River.
  • Between late March and mid-April, the Maumee River swells from melting snow and rain, opening the way for a half-million walleye to swim upriver to spread their eggs among the protective gravel and cobblestone just below the Fallen Timbers Rapids.
  • Anglers will begin to wade in the river in late February or early March depending on river conditions.
  • Spawn usually takes place around the second week of April.
  • Pre-spawn and during spawn is a good time to get a trophy fish (10-14 lbs).
  • Post-spawn takes place usually the third week of April thru May and into June. This time of the run is when fish are hungry (after spawn).
  • Most of the fish will be males (jacks) because once spawn is over, the vast majority of females go back to the lakes they came from. Males will stay behind in the river and feed for weeks before going back to the lakes.