Team Info

The Toledo Walleye began their first season in October of 2009 at the brand new Huntington Center.

About the Team

The Toledo Walleye are a member of the ECHL. The team's Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operation is Nick Vitucci.

A native of Welland, Ontario, Vitucci has won a record five ECHL championships - four as a player and one as an assistant coach - and has been involved with the league as a player and coach every season since the league's inception. Named the post-season Most Valuable Player twice, he played 14 seasons and is the career leader among goaltenders in games (479), minutes (27,291) and wins (265) for both the regular season and the postseason. Vitucci played in two ECHL All-Star Games and was named First Team All-ECHL in 1991-92 and 1997-98. He was officially inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame on January 23, 2008 in Stockton, CA in conjunction with the ECHL All-Star Game.

Vitucci was head coach of the Toledo Storm from 2003-07 and was named ECHL Coach of the Year in 2004-05. His overall record as head coach of the Toledo Storm was 140-104-18.

About the ECHL

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league, behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the Premier ‘AA' Hockey League has grown from five teams in four states in 1988-89 into a coast-to-coast league with 25 teams playing in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. More information on the ECHL can be found online at www.echl.com.

About the Team Name

Many criteria went into the decision making process of naming the team the Toledo Walleye, including but not limited to the following:

  • Will appeal to all age groups (men, women & children)
  • Unique name – one of a kind
  • There is a historical connection between the name and the region
  • Logos can be easily embroidered and screen-printed for merchandise
  • Not already trademarked or registered with the federal government
  • Can be easily spelled and understood when spoken
  • Name should include city name (Toledo) for regional and national identification
  • Mascot names and characters can be developed from name
  • Team colors are different from regional professional and major collegiate teams