Walleye News and Notes

A Sunday breakthrough to end slide: Toledo picked an amazing way to end a five-game winless skid but thrashing the Cincinnati Cyclones 9-1. Tylor Spink led the way for Toledo with a four-point night (1G, 3A) while Tyson Spink scored twice and defenseman Chris Leone posted his first Walleye goal plus a pair of assists. The nine goals scored was a season high and came up three short of the Toledo ECHL record of 12 last reached in 2015 on February 22 vs. Gwinnett (12-0 Win), also on a Sunday. The best fans in the ECHL: What a weekend at the Huntington Center as in back to back games Saturday (8,109) and Sunday (7,511) the Walleye saw two standing room only crowds. That brings the total to 15 sellout crowds this season in just 22 home dates and the Walleye are averaging 7,239 per contest (second most in ECHL). A sellout is 7,431 at the Huntington Center so Toledo is at 97.4% capacity for the season. A new Walleye record: Sunday saw a new Walleye record achieved as Toledo held the Cincinnati Cyclones to just one shot on goal. The previous best was 2 allowed in a period which happened multiple times the last being December 19, 2015, vs. Manchester. For the season, the Walleye rank third best in ECHL in shots allowed at 28.8 per game. Load up those hats: Saturday night in downtown Toledo the hats were flying for Simon Denis as the Walleye defenseman picked up his first career hat trick. The first year defenseman also had an assist for a four-point night. It was the 7th three or more goal game by a Walleye player this season. Denis joins Tyson Spink (twice), Evan Rankin (twice), Matt Caito and Kyle Bonis. Sikura back to the AHL: Forward Tyler Sikura has been loaned to the Iowa Wild of the AHL. Sikura has already played eight games this season for the Wild and former Walleye head coach Derek Lalonde with no points. In 37 games played this year for the Walleye, the second-year forward has collected 29 points (13G, 16A) and is a plus 15. Iowa is in San Diego tomorrow followed by a Wednesday game in Ontario. Into a new frontier: Toledo will head to a pair of cities they have yet to visit starting Friday and Saturday night when they travel to Wichita, Kansas. The road trip ends Sunday afternoon after the Walleye head to Missouri to take on the Mavericks. These games are the only meetings this season for the Walleye against the Thunder and Mavericks.

Walleye Player of the Week: Simon Denis (4 goals – 3 assists = 7 points)

Walleye Goaltender of the Week: Jake Paterson (1-1-0, 1.51 GAA, .929 save %)