Coaching Staff
NICK VITUCCI
Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations
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 (1989 & 1996), he played 14 seasons and is the ECHL career leader among goaltenders in games (479), minutes (27,291), wins (265), 20-win seasons (7), consecutive 30-win seasons (2), and consecutive 20-win seasons (4). Nick is also the ECHL post-season record holder in games among goaltenders (80), minutes (4,841), and wins (43).
Vitucci was named to the ECHL 15th Anniversary Team in 2003. Vitucci played in two ECHL All-Star Games and was named First Team All-ECHL in 1991-92 and 1997-98. Vitucci was named ECHL Goaltender of the Year in 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. It was the Hall-of-Fame's inaugural class.
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. Prior to his work with the Storm, Vitucci was an Assistant Coach with the Greenville Grrrowl in the ECHL from 2000-2003.
DAN WATSON
Assistant Coach
Watson 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.
CRAIG FURSTENAU
Assistant Coach
Furstenau played for Oakland University as team captain until 2001. He joined the Oakland coaching staff as an assistant in 2002 and then was named Head Coach of the Grizzlies halfway through the 2002-2003 season.
In three years at Oakland, his team went 77-15-6. He won two regular season titles, two playoff titles, one national title, and one national runner up. He currently has multiple school records for wins in a season (30), wins in a row (20), games without a loss (23), best single season record (30-3-3) and overall best win percentage (.875). In 2004, he was Central Region coach of the Year and a Team USA coaching candidate for the World University games.
He left Oakland University to join the Little Caesars organization where he coached from 2006-09. In the three years under his leadership, Little Caesars won eight tournaments, were back-to-back-to-back state finalists (winning two of the three), a national quarter finalists, and national champions at the Midget level in 2008.
BRAD FREDRICK
Athletic Trainer
Fredrick begins his first 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.
DAVE ALEO
Equipment Manager
Aleo 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 spent time with the New York Islanders (2001).
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.
ED BURKHOLDER
Head Scout/Assistant Director of Player Personnel
2010-11 will be Ed Burkholder's eighth season with the Toledo Hockey Operations Department.
Burkholder is a former Scout with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. He currently provides the color commentary for the Niagara Icedogs on the OHL Tonight package with TVCogeco.
Prior to being hired by the Red Wings, Burkholder spent three seasons as the Head Scout for the Toledo Storm of the ECHL. Burkholder started his scouting career in 2000 bird-dogging for the San Angelo Outlaws of the WPHL. In 2001, Burkholder was hired by the Greenville Grrrowl of the ECHL. He would spend two seasons with the Grrrowl which included an ECHL Kelly Cup Championship in 2002.
After playing three seasons (1986-89) with the Thorold Jr. B Blackhawks, Burkholder started coaching hockey. He has coached numerous teams, including three seasons as the Head Coach of the Welland Midget AAA hockey club. He also runs numerous hockey skills clinics in the Niagara area.
Burkholder has more than 50 appearances on TSN's hit show 'Off The Record" with Michael Landsberg and is also a regular guest on Sun TV's The Grill Room.
Burkholder resides in Welland, Ontario, with his wife of 20 years, Lina, and their children Murray (17) and Emily (8).
MIKE BUKATOR
Associate Head Scout
Mike's main scouting territories include leagues in the N.C.A.A., C.I.S., and O.H.L. Mike is the Goaltending Program Director as well as a Minor Midget AAA coach within the Welland Minor Hockey Organization. He also works throughout the year as a goalie coach for CAN/AM Hockey Camps at their various locations throughout North America.
Mike has previously held scouting positions within the Cobourg Cougars (OJHL), Greenville Grrrowl (ECHL), Toledo Storm (ECHL), and most recently with the Bakersfield Condors (ECHL) organizations.
Mike lives with his wife, Vicki, and two children, Brianna (20) and Brodie (16) in Welland, Ontario.
Other Toledo Walleye Scouts: Justin Antoine, Dave Cadelli, Andrew Degroot, Brian Drumm, Greg Simpson
