Walleye add 3 players for start of camp
10/3/2009The Toledo Walleye's preseason roster grew to 41 with the addition of three more players Friday.
The Walleye opened their inaugural training camp yesterday at the Team Toledo Ice House in West Toledo.
The team will skate for the first time at the Lucas County Arena tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. The practice, which will include a scrimmage at 2 p.m., is free and open to the public.
There are now seven centers, 14 wingers, 17 defensemen, and three goalies in camp.
Toledo's American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, sent the team defensemen Joe Charlebois and JC Sawyer and center Justin Hodgman yesterday.
Charlebois played for the University of New Hampshire and for Rockford last year. Sawyer played last season for Fresno and Gwinnett of the ECHL. Hodgman has four years of pro experience, playing in the Ontario Hockey League and the International Hockey League.
The Walleye will hold their second practice today beginning at 10 a.m. at the Ice House. A scrimmage will take place at 2 p.m.
Training camp will continue through Oct. 15. Toledo's first preseason game will be Oct. 8 at Dayton. The Walleye will then play at Cincinnati on Oct. 9.
On Oct. 10, Toledo will play its first home preseason game against Cincinnati at 7 p.m. at Tam O'Shanter in Sylvania. On Oct. 11, the Walleye hosts Port Huron at 4 p.m. at the Ice House in their last preseason contest.
The season opener will be Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. versus Florida at the Lucas County Arena. Tickets for both preseason and regular season games are on sale now.
Walleye coach Nick Vitucci said it was important that the first game played at the arena is an official contest.
"It has to be a memorable experience for everyone," he said. "I think that first night has to mean something."
Tickets for opening night will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. today. Individual tickets are $15, and there is a limit of four tickets per person.
Tickets can be purchased at the Lucas County Arena box office, by phone at 419-725-9255, or at www.toledowalleye.com.
-Mark Monroe