TOLEDO, OH — The Toledo Walleye, proud affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, today announced a three-year extension of their affiliation agreement. The 2021-22 season will mark the 12th year of partnership between the clubs and extends the affiliation through at least the 2023-24 season.
The Walleye have served as the ECHL’s affiliate to the Red Wings since 2009 when Toledo re-entered the league. From that time, the Walleye have played in one Kelly Cup Finals (2019), captured four division championships and two regular season titles (2014-15, 2016-17), and have qualified for ECHL’s postseason in seven seasons. Detroit was previously affiliated with the ECHL's Toledo Storm from 1991-99 and 2000-07. The Storm won ECHL Championships in 1993 and 1994 and captured six division titles over their 16-season history.
Under the current affiliation, the Red Wings provide several NHL-contract players to the Walleye, as well as signing players to AHL/ECHL contracts who can play for either Grand Rapids or Toledo. Since 2009-10, 19 players and one coach from Toledo have gone on to the NHL, including ten for the Red Wings: Jake Chelios, Jared Coreau, Martin Frk, Kaden Fulcher, Luke Glendening, Nick Jensen, Brian Lashoff, Tom McCollum, Petr Mrazek, and Andrej Nestrasil.
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