4 promotions cut into Walleye ranks
12/18/2012The only things that seemed likely to stop the Walleye's recent hot streak were injuries or call-ups.
On Monday, Toledo was hit hard by four promotions to the American Hockey League. The Walleye have won three straight overall and a franchise-high five in a row at home. But they lost their second and third leading scorers in the roster shuffle with their American Hockey League affiliates.
Rookie forward Luke Glendening and forward Andrej Nestrasil were called up by Grand Rapids.
Glendening stands third on the team with 21 points (14 goals and 7 assists) in 27 games. The Grand Rapids native will be the first player from Grand Rapids to play for the team when he makes his debut on Wednesday.
Nestrasil, a native of the Czech Republic, ranks second on the team in scoring with 24 points (7 G, 17 A) in 27 contests. The 21-year-old right wing has been one of the hottest players in the ECHL, logging points in eight consecutive games.
Grand Rapids also re-called defenseman Gleason Fournier, while the Walleye's affiliate in Rockford has re-called forward Philippe Paradis.
Toledo coach Nick Vitucci said the players will be gone at least through Christmas. Both AHL teams have had a few players suffer injuries.
Vitucci said while it's tough to lose Glendening and Nestrasil, it's rewarding to see the players advance.
Vitucci said his team's depth makes the call ups less painful.
Center Adam Hobson and left winger Doug Clarkson will be activated off the injured reserve list on Tuesday.
Defensemen Dale Warkentin and Joey Ryan will also be activated for the team's weekend trip to Greenville.
The Walleye (16-10-1), in first place in the ECHL North Division, play the Road Warriors on Friday and Saturday night.
Vitucci said Fournier and Paradis came down to Toledo to get more ice time, while Rockford may send a player in exchange for Paradis.
Fournier has played in nine games for the Walleye and has no points and four penalty minutes.
In 55 games with the Walleye last year, Fournier scored two goals with 16 assists. He has also skated in three games this year with the Griffins without a point.
Paradis appeared in five straight games with Toledo and had no points while racking up nine penalty minutes.
Hockeyfest set
The Walleye will host the fourth annual Holiday Hockeyfest Dec. 28-29 at the Huntington Center.
Eight local high school hockey teams and two college club teams are slated to participate in the two-day event to raise money for a charitable trust for Kyle Cannon, a local hockey player who was paralyzed in December of 2008 while playing in a game for Clay High School.
The Holiday Hockeyfest begins at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 28 with a youth hockey game, followed by Whitmer-Fremont Ross at 1 p.m. and Clay-Anthony Wayne at 3 p.m.
A youth hockey game will open the event at 11 a.m. Dec. 29, followed by Lake-Springfield at 12:10 p.m. and Eastwood-Perrysburg at 1:40 p.m., and the University of Toledo’s club team against Eastern Michigan at 3 p.m.
The Walleye will host Cincinnati on Dec. 28 and Kalamazoo on Dec. 29. Each game will begin at 7:05 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased through individual teams that are selling ticket vouchers for $15 each. The vouchers are good for admission to the Holiday Hockeyfest events and can be redeemed for any Walleye home game. Tickets can also be purchased at toledowalleye.com/hockeyfest or by calling the box office at 419-725-WALL.
Season ticket holders or fans holding tickets to Walleye games Dec. 28-29 will be admitted to the high school games at no charge.