Thorne will be back with Walleye

Walleye forward Stephon Thorne prepares to shoot past Icemen defender Jake Obermeyer in a Jan. 27 game at the Huntington Center.

The Toledo Walleye have re-signed Stephon Thorne, a forward who was acquired near the midpoint of the 2012-13 season.

Thorne skated in 37 games with Toledo after being claimed off waivers from ECHL North Division opponent Fort Wayne on Jan. 3.

Thorne scored five goals and added six assists along with 58 penalty minutes for the Walleye.

The native of Mississauga, Ont., had two goals, one assist, and 37 penalty minutes in 26 games last year with the Komets.

The self-described blue collar, defensive forward said he will go into the corners and will drop the gloves.

Thorne, 23, was waived by Fort Wayne in early January.

He had 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 64 games in his first pro season with the Komets in 2011-12.

Thorne helped lead Fort Wayne to a Central Hockey League title that season.

“We loved the energy and spark to the team that Stephon gave us night in and night out last year,” Walleye coach Nick Vitucci said.

“He is also a strong penalty killer and has that knack to do something on the ice right when we need it.”

The 6-foot, 180-pound Thorne appeared in 189 games in the Ontario Hockey League before turning pro.

He had 32 goals, 25 assists, and 236 penalty minutes in four seasons.

He helped lead Brampton of the OHL to the Memorial Cup finals in his first season of junior hockey.