What a long strange trip it is! or (not your normal schedule)

  At first glance the new Toledo Walleye schedule seems to be normal.  A total of 72 games, 36 at home and 36 away, your standard schedule.  But it’s the opponents and the imbalance of division and conference games that may surprise people.  In years past the schedule tended to be heavy on divisional play, usually 10-12 games with a handful of games against other divisions and conferences.  This season is heavy in non divisional play.  Of the 72 games, only 29 are with North Division opponents, with newcomer Kalamazoo facing the Walleye 13 times.  Fellow North Division rivals Cincinnati and Wheeling are facing Toledo 10 and 6 times respectively.  The remaining 43 games are a split between the East Division (22 games) and the South Division (21 games).  Remarkably, Toledo will face the Florida Everblades 8 times this season, all by the first week of December.  That’s more times than the Walleye will face Trenton (6), Elmira (5), and Reading (3).  Also of note are 7 games versus the Charlotte Checkers, 4 games with the South Carolina Stingrays, and 2 in Gwinnett.  The remaining 8 games are against ECHL pioneers the Johnstown Chiefs.  Toledo will be doing a home and home with the Chiefs in mid December, first game in J-Town then the next night back in Toledo.

  This schedule may be a reflection of a new direction in the ECHL.  As the league begins to shrink, teams are forced to expand the schedule to prevent an overload of divisional games.  While tight divisional races are exciting, it is still necessary to expand into new areas to let fans see more teams and players.  A pair of standalone games against a non-division or non-conference opponent break the monotony of a long winter stretch of hockey. 

  The new expanded schedule should make for an exciting opening season for the Walleye and their fans.  An early season run of divisional wins should put the team on track for the long road stretch at the mid-season mark.

Hey Teeeeeeee-Town

Hey Teeeeeeee-Town…Bobb Vergiels To Serve as Public Address Announcer! – News – Toledo Walleye.

This will make the old fans happy and will be a treat to a whole new generation of fans.

Get it right America, please..

I will confess, I do sometimes call it a jersey.

Hockey players wear sweaters, not jerseys – Peterborough Examiner – Ontario, CA

NHL, Hockey jerseys, hockey sweaters

They are goalies after all….

  From the great neighbors to the north comes this gem on those flaky netminders.

Wretched goalie mask art

Hockey, NHL, Goalie Mask Art

Not the usual North Division

  Its been a long two years since the Toledo Storm folded into history, the old Sports Arena was leveled, and ground was broken on a new downtown arena.  In those years the ECHL North Division expanded into New York state, adding the Elmira Jackals.  The  Cincinnati Cyclones, resurrected from suspended operations, won the ‘08 Kelly Cup.  The rest of the North kept on plugging.  The weekend battles were waged in Johnstown, Wheeling, Dayton, Trenton and Reading.  But as the years have progressed, change has followed as well.  Gone from the North are Reading, Trenton, and Johnstown they have become part of the new East Division, joining Elmira.  

  Downstate rival, the Dayton Bombers, have ceased operations, leaving Cinci as Toledo’s instate rival.  Joining the North, are IHL refugees Kalamazoo Wings.  This could be the rebirth of an old IHL rivalry between these old hockey foes.  The  Wheeling Nailers are still around, keeping a close state line rival to the North Division.

  What has remained in the North is a shell of the old days (2003) when the North had 8 teams battling for the top spot.  The battle between rival Peoria are nothing but memories.  Gone are the purple bulldog wearing Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies.  However from contraction comes a positive.  Close geographic rivals tend to make for great hockey battles.  When the faces become familiar and the stakes get higher, the physical nature of a rivalry will show itself.  Expect tight, hard hitting hockey.  Games where every goal matters, where an ill-timed penalty can cost the team points in the standings.  These games are what real hockey fans crave.  Of course the casual fan will enjoy the action and pageantry of a close game.  The hardcore fan will notice the subtle changes in the game.  The shuffling of lines, the change in tactics late in the game, or the attempts to change the momentum of the final minutes of the game. 

  This is a new dawn for hockey in Toledo.  Despite the backroom deals, questionable conduct, and general disdain for the the local ownership group, fans should look past this.  Hockey has returned to Toledo.  Of course it won’t be like how it used to be at the old Riverdome.  No more old Zamboni, no more leaky roof, patchy ice or general rowdiness that used to be trademarks at the arena.  Yes there are going to be luxury boxes and corporate sponsors, these are what comes with a new enterprise.  The casual fan will like it of course, I personally have no need for seat side bar and food service. (But it would be nice to try)  I will be there for the hockey.  So should you.

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