Walleye News and Notes

Comeback highlights two-win week: Toledo opened the week with a Wednesday morning game at Kalamazoo. Toledo shut down the Wings that day in a 3-0 win. Friday night, The Walleye sent 44 shots on goal in Quad City but the Mallards walked away with a 4-2 win. Toledo fell behind early, 3-0, in Cincinnati on Saturday night before scoring four unanswered goals including Evan Rankin’s game-winner in overtime for a 4-3 victory. Overtime is Walleye time: Toledo has played four games that have gone past regulation so far this season, second-most in the ECHL (Brampton has played six games). With the overtime win Saturday at Kalamazoo, the Walleye are now a perfect 4-0 in overtime and shootout games played this season. Only South Carolina (3-1) has as many overtime wins as Toledo does, so far this year. Pavement dominance: Toledo has played more road games to this point than any other team in the ECHL winning eight of its first 10 road contests. The Walleye also lead the ECHL in road wins with eight. The 2014-15 team also started 8-2-0 over its first ten road games. The furnace is fully Heeted: Goaltender Cal Heeter is the first Walleye goaltender to start a season by winning each of his first six games. His six victories tie him for second-most in the ECHL (Jamie Phillips of Tulsa has won 11 games). Wednesday in Kalamazoo, Heeter stopped all 23 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season and the fifth one in his professional career. Home sweet home for seven: This week starts a run of seven straight Walleye games at the Huntington Center. Wednesday morning the Atlanta Gladiators will be in Toledo for the third and final meeting of the season. Toledo and Atlanta split a pair of games to open the season October 14 and 15 in Atlanta. Friday and Saturday, the Kalamazoo Wings will be in Toledo for back to back games at the Huntington Center. The Walleye took the first game between the two 3-0 this past Wednesday. Bradford traded to Utah: Forward Erik Bradford has been traded to the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for future considerations.Bradford appeared in five games this year with the Walleye, scoring one goal with one assist. He was a plus one in those games played. Bradford appeared in 65 games last year for Orlando with 10 goals and 22 assists. Promotions: Wednesday is a school celebration day featuring an early start time (10:35 a.m.), Imagination Station and a school folder giveaway on exit. Friday night is Veterans Appreciation night presented by Owens Community College and following the game is a post-game party with the players. Saturday is 16-Bit night at the Huntington Center with both Toledo and Kalamazoo wearing retro gaming jerseys. The Walleye jerseys will be auctioned off to the fans following the game.

Walleye Player of the Week: Evan Rankin (2 goals – 1 assist = 3 points)

Walleye Goaltender of the Week: Cal Heeter (2-0-0, 1.46 GAA, .944 save %)