Walleye News and Notes

Winning week for the Walleye: After a 5-2 road loss to Wheeling on Wednesday, the Walleye responded with strong performances in the final three games before the All-Star Break. A two goal effort from Tyson Spink Friday night led Toledo to a 4-3 win over Wheeling. Jake Paterson shut down Brampton Saturday night with 23 saves and Zach Nastasiuk scored twice in a 6-0 victory. Sunday, the Walleye fell behind 3-0 in first 6:10 before rallying to best Brampton 6-4. Road kings: Toledo leads the ECHL this year with 16 road victories which is four more than the next closest teams (Allen and South Carolina). Pack that barn: Friday’s standing room only crowd of 8,065 was the tenth sellout of the season for the Walleye in the first 15 home games. The single season record for sellouts was set last year when the Huntington Center was full for 18 contests. The Walleye are second in the league averaging 7,266 per contest. Paterson dominates: For the second time in a week Jake Paterson held the Beast scoreless throughout a game stopping all 23 shots he faced Saturday night. The fourth time this season Paterson has held a team without a goal, second most in the ECHL. The four shutouts ties a Walleye single season record for a goaltender (Jeff Lerg had 4 in 2014-15). Mr. 99: Forward Evan Rankin, the Walleye all-time leader in goals, scored his 99th goal in a Toledo uniform in Sunday’s 6-4 comeback win. A new face this week: Toledo has just two games this week starting Friday in Indy, the first meeting of the season. Toledo plays against the Fuel five total times this year. Sunday afternoon the Walleye will head to Kalamazoo to take on the Wings. Toledo is 4-0-1 vs. their Michigan rivals this year.