Walleye announce preseason games
9/5/2013The Walleye will play two preseason games in October, including one at home.
Toledo will play Oct. 9 at Kalamazoo to open the preseason, then host Kalamazoo on Oct. 12.
The Walleye open their fifth regular season on the road Oct. 19 at Fort Wayne.
Toledo's home opener is slated for Oct. 26 when it hosts Wheeling at the Huntington Center.
The game times for home games on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays have been moved from 7:05 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., including the preseason. Sunday games will begin at 5:15 p.m.
Ticket information available by calling 419-725-WALL or at toledowalleye.com.
NOVAK BACK: The Walleye have re-signed forward Travis Novak, who finished fifth on the team in scoring last season.
Novak, 25, played his first full pro season with the Walleye last year and tallied 34 points. He appeared in 65 games with Toledo, scoring 11 goals to go along with 23 assists. He also collected two shorthanded goals. He had two goals plus an assist in six playoff games.
“Travis has a terrific motor and is one of the fastest skaters in the league,” Walleye coach Nick Vitucci said of the 5-foot-11, 185 pound forward. “His skating alone changes how teams play against us on a nightly basis. He brings a scoring punch that we witnessed last year.”
Novak made his pro debut at the end of the 2011-12 season, playing in eight games in the American Hockey League with Hamilton. He had three points.
Novak was born in Midland, Mich. and lived there for a year before moving to Lethbridge, Alberta. His mother Tina (Mack) is a Toledo native.
— Mark Monroe