Walleye's Hedden is ECHL player of week

2/9/2011
BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

Toledo Walleye forward Mike Hedden was named the ECHL Player of the Week Tuesday after scoring the winning goals in two games from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6.

Hedden scored four goals and had one assist in helping Toledo defeat Gwinnett last Friday and Saturday.

The left winger was plus-4 in the two games in Georgia.

Hedden, 26, opened the week with two goals and an assist in a 6-3 win. He scored two more goals in a 5-2 victory on Saturday. It was the third consecutive game in which he scored two goals. A native of Dunnville, Ont., Hedden has 18 points (13 G, 5 A) in 30 games with the Walleye this season. He also appeared in one American Hockey League game with Grand Rapids.

Last season as a rookie, Hedden collected 32 points (18 G, 14 A) in 66 regular-season games with Toledo. He added three assists in four Kelly Cup Playoff games.

On behalf of Hedden, a case of pucks will be donated to a Toledo youth hockey organization by Sher-Wood Hockey.

With the two wins last weekend, Toledo moved above the 0.500 mark (21-20-3) and is just one point out of second place in the North Division.

The Walleye will be back at home on Friday against Greenville at 7 p.m. at the Huntington Center. Tickets are on sale for that contest and all remaining home games. For more info call 419-725-WALL or visit toledowalleye.com.

Defensemen Sebastien Piche and Jason Lepine have been called up to Grand Rapids of the AHL.

Piche was reassigned Monday to Grand Rapids, the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Lepine signed a player tryout agreement with the Griffins on Tuesday.

Piche, 22, has played in 25 games for the Walleye this season, ranking second among defensemen with 15 points (4 G, 11 A). He has one assist in 10 games for the Griffins.

Lepine was acquired by Toledo on Dec. 10 from Bakersfield of the ECHL. In 20 games with the Walleye, Lepine has accumulated 16 points (4 G, 12 A). Lepine is second among all ECHL defensemen in scoring this season with 28 points (6 G, 22 A).