Top Walleye scorer, No. 1 goalie promoted to AHL

2/15/2013
BLADE NEWS SERVICES
  • Andrej-Nestrasil-mug

    Andrej Nestrasil.

  • Andrej Nestrasil.
    Andrej Nestrasil.

    The Toledo Walleye lost their leading scorer and No. 1 goalie to promotions today.

    Forward Andrej Nestrasil, who has averaged nearly a point per game this season, was called up to Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.

    Rookie goalie Kent Simpson, who has won seven of his last 10 starts, was called up to Rockford of the AHL.

    Simpson, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, has posted a 14-10-3 record this year with the Walleye. Simpson has a 2.42 goals-against average, which is seventh best in the ECHL. He also has a .906 save percentage.

    Simpson, 20, was the ECHL goaltender of the week from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3. That week Simpson went 3-0-0 with a 0.67 GAA and a .975 save percentage.

    Nestrasil leads the team with 41 points. He has scored 11 goals and has a team-high 30 assists in 40 games.

    This is the second time Nestrasil earned a promotion. He was called up to Grand Rapids in early January.

    The Prague, Czech Republic native has one assist in six games with Grand Rapids. The 22-year-old started his professional career with Toledo last season, posting 29 points (7 G, 22 A) in 51 games.

    The Walleye, who defeated Evansville 2-1 on the road on Wednesday, play at Kalamazoo Friday night. Toledo (28-18-4) is in second place in the North Division, four points behind Cincinnati.

    The team, which is in the midst of playing four games in five nights, returns home for games on Saturday and Sunday.

    The organization is celebrating “Hockey Heritage Weekend ” with an inaugural alumni game on Sunday.

    The exhibition game will feature players from the Toledo Blades, Goaldiggers, and Storm. The group of retired players will face former players from the Fort Wayne Komets organization.

    The alumni game will be held prior to the Walleye's regular-season game against Fort Wayne at 5:05 p.m.

    The Toledo players expected to attend include Derek Booth, Dave Falkenberg, Jim Hunter, Bill Joyce, Jim McCabe, Nick Parillo, Andy Suhy, Doug Teskey, Ted Tucker, Mike Whitton, Gordy Hunt, Andre Vanopdenbosch, Rick Piche, Bruce MacDonald, and Taylor Raszka.

    Walleye head coach Nick Vitucci, a former Storm goaltender, also will play along with his assistant Dan Watson, a former Storm defenseman.

    Other alumni players attending but will not play include Jerry Badiuk, Greg Jablonski, Brian Kinsella, Doug Mahood, and Bill Mitchell.

    A ticket to Sunday’s Walleye game includes admittance to the alumni game. For tickets call 419-725-WALL, or go to toledowalleye.com.