Walleye drop regular season finale, 3-2




3/31/2012 - (Toledo, OH)-Steve Miller and Bryan Rufenach each scored for Toledo as the Walleye dropped the season finale to the Kalamazoo Wings 3-2 in front of a sellout crowd of 7,471 at the Huntington Center on Saturday night. The Walleye finished the season with an overall record of 28-38-2-4 and 14-19-0-3 on home ice.

Toledo and Kalamazoo skated to a 0-0 tie in the first period. Walleye goaltender Dustin Carlson stopped all seven shots that were sent his way and Toledo fired nine shots at the Kalamazoo goal.

The Walleye would strike first after defenseman Steve Miller fired a shot from the point past Kalamazoo goaltender Maxime Clermont at 3:57 of the second period. Derek Brochu and Kris Belan assisted on Miller’s first professional goal. Trent Daavettila then scored for Kalamazoo, tying the game up at 1-1 at the 12:15 mark of the period.

Elgin Reid gave the Wings their first lead of the game at 5:49 of the third period, getting a power play goal behind Carlson.

Bryan Rufenach brought the sold out Huntington Center to its feet, scoring a power play goal 15:05 into the final period, tying the game up at 2-2. David Gilbert and Mike Thomas picked up the assists on Rufenach’s 13th goal of the year.

Kalamazoo regained a 3-2 lead after Joe Charlebois rifled a shot behind Carlson from the point with 1:51 left in the game.

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Walleye Wrap-Up:
-Walleye goaltender Dustin Carlson stopped 29 shots and finished with a record of 4-9-0-1.
-Forward Joey Martin led the Walleye in points this season with 49 (22g, 27a).
-Forward Riley Emmerson was voted by the fans as this season’s Toledo Blade favorite Walleye player.
- The players, coaches and front office staff of the Toledo Walleye would like to extend a sincere thank you to all who attended a Walleye game this past season! 225,060 fans enjoyed fast action T-Town Hockey in 2011-12! The Walleye have attracted 665,946 fans, including 30 sellouts in their first three seasons at the Huntington Center! The fourth season of T-Town Hockey begins in October.

Game Story By: Samantha Hoot