This is what it’s all about.
@ToledoWalleye
defenseman Simon Denis is the last one off the ice with his young son Griffin. This is why he wanted to come back to Toledo. For these memories and moments.
@skdenis9
Touching moment here during the third period intermission. Moment of remembrance. Steve Pisanti, who passed away from pancreatic cancer this week, was recognized. Husband of Marcia Pisanti, who works with the
@ToledoWalleye
players with strength coach Dan Jones
@djonestraining
Hey
@ToledoWalleye
supporters please keep longtime fan Dennis Seymour in your thoughts today. He underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer. He's been a staunch Walleye supporter since their inaugural season. He personally set up a fundraiser for the players during the COVID year.
Rookie Zach Gallant with his team high 4th goal of the playoffs for the
@ToledoWalleye
.
Absolute laser. Bright future for the
@DetroitRedWings
prosect.
Cincinnati coach Jason Payne: “Toledo's known for having a great fan base and in the playoffs they were out in droves, supporting their team. It brings more life, another energy to your team when you have that type of fan support.”
@ToledoWalleye
The silence here now is deafening as the season comes to a close. A remarkable year, great playoff run. I truly appreciate all the special people that make this a really rewarding job. Players, coaches, support staff, fans, fellow media, off ice officials. So many good people.
“You don't get this anywhere else. They are the best fans and it’s the best atmosphere in minor league sports. It's phenomenal. To have 8,300 fans screaming behind us is so awesome.” -
@ToledoWalleye
G John Lethemon
Forward Brandon Hawkins said unless he receives a significant financial offer to play at a higher level, he plans to return to the
@ToledoWalleye
.
“I love this place. These are the best fans in the world. I'd put a good percentage on you seeing me here next year.”
F Shane Berschbach, who was on both
@ToledoWalleye
teams that reached the conference finals in 2015 and 2017: "Jenksy and I are roommates. We've spent half a decade here and we haven't been to that final. We're really driving to get this team there.”
Shane Berschbach : "I love all these guys.
I've played all of my professional career here. I wouldn't choose any place else to go. I love this city and the fans are second to none. I can't thank them enough.”
@ToledoWalleye
via
@toledonews
The Mattin wrestling family of Delta have laid claimed to 6 state titles. The patriarch, Dr. Michael Mattin, was the school's 1st state champ and is now an ER physician and hero to his 4 sons (also high-level wrestlers). “He's saving people's lives.”
With a vocal throng of 8,300 fans offering roof-rattling support on Friday night, the
@ToledoWalleye
swept Cincinnati from the Kelly Cup playoffs. “We basically play for an NHL organization. The fans. The way we're treated. It's a blast.” — Brandon Hawkins
Jim Welling, the highly successful Owens men's basketball coach will be inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. In 20 years (1986 to 2006), he compiled a 550-127 record, led the Express to national championships in 92 and 93. He then coached
@centralcatholic
(110-31 in 6 seasons).
Only in the ECHL. Walleye F Kirill Tyutyayev was issued a 10-minute game misconduct in the second period for flipping a chicken nugget back into the crowd. One of the kids had tossed it on to the ice. Toots decided to take care of it himself.😀
Findlay junior QB Ryan Montgomery completed 32 of 37 passes for a school record 491 yards and six touchdowns as he led the Trojans to a dominating 49-14 win at Southview. He broke the school record for passing yards set by Ben Roethlisberger.
Caught up with former
@ToledoWalleye
goalie Jordan Pearce, who is in residency to become an orthopedic surgeon. "No regrets. I'm very happy with where I'm at in my career. I'm happy to be helping out patients now during this major crisis."
Story will be up on our website soon.
Want proof that Toledo is a great sports town?:
There will be more than 8,000 here tonight at the Huntington Center for Walleye hockey.
There will be 7,300 at Savage Arena for the basketball game between UT and BG.
Not too mention the thousands who will be at high school events.
How about this unselfish play by Tyler Spezia (
@BGFalconHockey
) on the Dylan Sadowy empty netter that capped his hat trick. "A hat trick in the playoffs is pretty cool. It's all about being a part of a team. Any time you can help a guy out like that it's awesome.”
@ToledoWalleye
Great to see longtime
@ToledoWalleye
fan back at the Huntington Center tonight. He has missed the last month battling pancreatic cancer. He plans to be back for the playoff games as well.
There are no bigger
@ToledoWalleye
fans than Jim Fuire and Patti Thayer. Made the trip all the way up to Newfoundland. Also traveled to Tulsa and Jim has been to Alaska with the team.
This may be Lori Williams’ most impressive coaching job. The AW coach lost 8 all-league players, including 4 first-teamers and NLL player of the year Brynn Gardner. Williams had no starters back after losing 14 seniors to graduation from a team that reached the state semifinals.
The
@ToledoWalleye
organization elevated its game-day production to match the historic nature of the Kelly Cup Finals. Dan Watson: They've done everything they can to make this special. There are a lot of behind-the-scenes people that should be very proud.
Former Anthony Wayne soccer player Taylor Leach continues to impress on the pitch. Played four years of pro soccer in Sweden and has now signed to play with the Utah Royals FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
@AWGenerals1
@NLL_Sports
G Zach Driscoll is making his pro debut tonight for the
@ToledoWalleye
.
Driscoll had a 21-11-1 record with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage this season as a senior for North Dakota.
@UNDmhockey
@toledosports
Former
@ToledoWalleye
goalie Pat Nagle picked to represent U.S. at Olympics.
“He’s put in a ton of work and is getting rewarded for it. He’s a great mentor for young goalies and he’s also showing that he can perform at a really high level.” — Dan Watson
You will not find a nicer guy, one that has given so much time to high school athletes than
@SFSAthletics
hockey manager Mike Marciniak. Living legend in 79 and in his 40th year with the program that has gone from fledgling to a state powerhouse.
“I'm dedicated to the cause.”
What the
@ToledoWalleye
are doing right now is truly extraordinary, historic. 18 consecutive wins, the 2nd-longest winning streak behind South Carolina's 23-game streak (2014-15). Road record of 26-6-3 is tied for the
@ECHL
all-time best road record.
The Anthony Wayne girls soccer team will play for a state title on Saturday after the Generals defeated powerhouse Medina 1-0 in a Division I state semifinal
True, full team effort to advance to the state championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m. at a site TBD.
@AWGenerals1
Really cool event that they had after the game at Anthony Wayne tonight. An autograph session with the players for the young kids in the community.
@AWGenerals1
@toledosports
@NLL_Sports
Kyle Bonis on his return to the
@ToledoWalleye
organization:
“I feel like I am coming home. This city and this organization are unlike anything else I have experienced. I am so excited to be back.” via
@toledonews
When G Max Milosek signed with the Walleye on Dec. 29 out of the SPHL, he expected to start 1, maybe 2 games. He has run with his chance. Won ECHL goalie of the week honors. Played 3 games in 3 days twice this month. He has a 7-3-0 record with a 2.89 GAA and .906 save percentage.
How about the absolute domination of the Anthony Wayne boys and girls soccer programs? Both went undefeated (7-0-0) to win Northern Lakes League titles.
General boys outscored foes 45-1. The girls outscored foes 39-3.
@NLL_Sports
@AWGenerals1
The attendance of 8,472 for Game 3 on Wednesday at the Huntington Center
ranks as the fifth-largest crowd in the Kelly Cup Playoffs since 2000. Largest in Toledo history.
So loud you couldn't hear yourself think.
@ToledoWalleye
Vs
@NLGrowlers
A recap:
Bryan Moore:
“I still can't believe I did that celebration. I didn't have anything planned. I heard the crowd screaming and that got me going. I just kind of blacked out and went for it. Once the crowd got on their feet, I wanted to get them going even more.”
@ToledoWalleye
G Billy Christopoulos was greeted by Conlan Keenan as he came off the ice perhaps for the last time in his career. “You spend your whole life playing this game and it was great to me. It was a fun team to be a part of. It’s hard but it’s special.”
@ToledoWalleye
The
@ToledoWalleye
have outscored their opponents 66-15 and recorded 6 shutouts during their franchise record 16-game winning streak. G Sebastian Cossa and John Lethemon are tied for the
@ECHL
lead with 4 shutouts. The team also has won 9 consecutive road games.
Anthony Wayne coach Lori Williams on the impact of her 11 seniors: "We have to say goodbye, but man did they leave a legacy for others. There's younger players that want to be here because of them.”
What a run for the
@AWGenerals1
via
@toledonews
Kacee Baumhower became Northview’s all time career leading scorer tonight passing Megan Baier and finishing her career with 1,378 points. She is the leading scorer for both boys and girls in
@NviewAthletics
🏀 history. Here are her final points in a Wildcat uniform.
In a very touching moment at the Huntington Center on Sunday, World War II veteran Kenneth Campbell was honored. An infantryman, he earned 2 Bronze Stars. At 95, the Toledoan stood up to acknowledge the standing O. He went from embarrassed to emotional. And it was great.
Nice recognition of a World War II hero between the second and third periods here at the Huntington Center. Gentleman was clearly moved by the standing ovation.
The
@ToledoWalleye
players saluted the large group of Toledo supporters here tonight. “We've got the best fans in the world. We heard the Walleye chants, overpowering the Cincy fans. It helps big time, knowing that we've got everyone behind us.”
Final:
Anthony Wayne 38, Springfield 14
Generals complete the first undefeated regular season in school history and clinched the Northern Lakes League title outright with a 38-14 statement win over rival Springfield.
AW outscored NLL foes 286-40 with 3 shutouts.
@AWGenerals1
Big, big addition here: Jalen Smereck led all
@ECHL
defensemen in scoring with 70 points in 71 games. Smereck also had the second most assists (57) among all ECHL players. Earned a spot on the ECHL All-Star team and was named to the All-ECHL first team.
Kyle Bonis: “Stunned. Honestly, it's unprecedented. I don't know if it's something we will fully grasp for a long time. I think it hits so hard because of what we had in that room. To not even get a chance at it is tough.”
@ToledoWalleye
room has been cleared out. Bags packed.
Cool,
@ToledoWalleye
related story regarding St. Francis junior goalie Riley Kilburn. He wears the No. 1 jersey that former Walleye goalie Jeff Lerg wore here. He also attends Lerg's hockey clinics. Teammates call him Lergie. (He's 5-5, 140).
Post-game,
@ToledoWalleye
G Jeff Lerg was overcome with emotion: “Honestly, I loved it. I still love playing. I felt good. It's tough going into a game knowing it's your last one. I'm just happy I made some of my signature saves. I'm happy I played for this crowd one more time."
It’s truly stunning that Walleye equipment manager Dave Aleo has never won the ECHL’s equipment manager of the year award. Players over the years have raved about the job Dave does. “treated like NHL players.” Check out the special Goaldiggers gear he set them up with.
How cool is this? The principal at Highland Elementary in Sylvania held a “signing day” for the incoming kindergartners. All 5 star prospects!😀Mr. Swaggerty also puts each of the kid's names on the sign out in front of the school. Well done.👏👏
Highland Elementary is proud to announce our 2021 signing class! These 93 youngsters, all rated as ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ prospects by local preschool talent scouts, have signed a 6 year commitment. The new
#NIL
rules have allowed our kids to sign an endorsement deal w/
@Crayola
Every time
@NVHS_Hockey
takes the ice for games, the players skate out carrying Aiden Carter's No. 13 jersey. The 17-year-old took his own life in August. He's still listed on the roster of 15 seniors. “We’ve got a little extra to play for this year.”
Extremely happy for Derek Lalonde. Great guy. Always open, honest when I covered his teams in Toledo. A proven winner and a true players coach. First coach I can remember that consistently talked about “a culture of success.” He's a winner.
UPDATE: Detroit
#RedWings
executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman today announced that the team has named Derek Lalonde the 28th head coach in franchise history.
📝:
“It’s a tradition that few understand. There's a commitment to excellence. The tradition of Anthony Wayne baseball is bigger than any one of us. It's bigger than myself. We just respect that and we respect the game.” -
@AWGenerals1
⚾️ coach Ryan Donley
"This is an extremely unique event that no other ECHL city has offered to their fans and surrounding communities. Memories are made during events like this." — Walleye coach Dan Watson
The
@ToledoWalleye
have advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals for the 2nd time in team history with a series-clinching 5-1 victory over the Utah Grizzlies. Toledo took the Western Conference Finals 4 games to 1, will face Florida in the championship finals. Game 1 is Friday in Toledo.
I've spoken to several players who competed for
@DetroitRedWings
coach Derek Lalonde when he led the
@ToledoWalleye
. He left a lasting impact. “He always wanted us to play confident, not arrogant, but quiet confidence. He gave us that by allowing us to be ourselves." — Kyle Bonis
Very happy to report that former
@ToledoWalleye
forward Josh Kestner has successfully made it out of Russia and back to the U.S. Kestner had been playing for the Admiral Vladivostok, a Russian based team that plays in the KHL.
@toledosports
HUGE
@ToledoWalleye
news. Veteran forward T.J. Hensick has re-signed with the team. Hensick ranks 3rd in scoring in team history (192 points). The former NHLer, who has played 3 seasons in Toledo, had contemplated retirement but re-joins the team with 15 games left.
The Anthony Wayne girls soccer team shutsout Bowling Green 8-0 to win the Northern Lakes League title outright. 4 of the 6 seniors scored on Senior Night. Back-to-back titles for the Generals.
@AWGenerals1
@NLL_Sports
Really, really neat moment here. Watch until the end. Whitmer junior Savannah Isaac wins her third state title. By fall in the second period. And then she “celebrates” with her coach.
@WhitmerAthletic
@toledosports
The undefeated
@AWGenerals1
(9-0) have yet to surrender a single point in Northern Lakes League play. AW, which is ranked No. 5 in the latest Division II state poll, has outscored the opposition 347-34 — including 255-0 in NLL play.
🏈👀 via
@toledonews
How about the year
@AWGenerals1
senior forward Parker Schofield put together? He was named the
@NLL_Sports
player of the year in both soccer and basketball. Schofield also earned All-Ohio first-team honors in Division I in soccer.
What was thought to be a bruised shin turned into a gruesome calf injury that required 3 surgeries for determined
@PburgAthletics
junior Ryan Musgrove.
“I almost had my leg amputated.”
200 days later, Musgrove stood triumphantly on top of the podium as an
@NLL_Sports
champ.
Despite 18 straight road games to begin the season, BGSU baseball is off to strong start in MAC.
“We're playing winning baseball right now,” first-year coach Kyle Hallock said. “It's a fun dugout to be in."
@BGSU_Baseball
@BGathletics
via
@toledonews
Really cool moment here. The first to greet Brandon Hawkins after he scored to set the
@ToledoWalleye
single-season goal scoring record was close friend and linemate T.J. Hensick.
Sellout crowd of 8,017 here today at the Huntington Center have seen the
@ToledoWalleye
score three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead over the Wichita Thunder. It's the 18th sellout of the season.
Former
@BGFalconHockey
and
@ToledoWalleye
rookie Tyler Spezia was Absolutely flying in the fastest skater competition. I could barely keep up. (13.1 seconds).