Walleye victorious in front of sold out crowd

Story and photos by Kyle Brown

TOLEDO – Skates hitting the ice is a sound to be heard and celebrated. Add cowbells, loud chants and a goal horn, and you’ll find yourself in the makings of a good night.

That’s exactly what fans got when they attended the season opener for the Toledo Walleye hockey club this past weekend. “Let’s go Walleye!” chants flooded the streets and inside the Huntington Center as fans arrived for the game against the Wheeling Nailers. The Walleye won Friday night’s game 3-2.

Fans were able to get the party started Friday night at Hensville, where a free pre-party kicked off at 4 p.m. Fleetwood’s Tap Room had pregame food and drinks, an inflatable Spike Tunnel and an outdoor hockey rink.

I came across a group of rabid fans many Walleye fans have come to appreciate. The Walleye Mania is a group of men who’ve been going to games dressed as characters since 2019. One of the characters stated, “It’s a lot of fun. When you are a normal person, you stand out and get a little shy. Put a mask on, and it takes away your embarrassment.

“We’ve been fans since the Storm days,” one of them said. When asked about the expectations Toledo may have getting into the playoffs, the group replied in unison, “The Kelly Cup! We want that cup! We are always the bride’s maid, never the bride.”

If you see these characters roaming the streets before or at a game, go say hi. They are just as much a part of the fan experience as everything else. The group even donates their time in the summer for the Andrew Gulch Memorial Golf Outing, an event to raise money and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy. Walleye players, past and present, help out and play in the outing.

When 6 p.m. rolled around Friday, fans began making their way to the entrance gates of the Huntington Center.

Upon walking around, I found my way to the Voorhees family, out of Republic, Ohio. Melissa and Jason Voorhees explained how they became fans, stating, “We became fans right before covid, so four or five years … just to get out of the house and try new experiences … and we got hooked.”

One of the things the Walleye do very well is their promotions. The staff finds ways each year to make it bigger and better. Melissa Voorhees commented that she’d “really like to catch a teddy bear during toss night.”

I turned my attention to two kids sitting with them, Jensen Voorhees and Colt Stockmaster. When asked who their favorite players were, they admitted that “they are all gone now, except for Hawk (Brandon Hawkins).”

Fans had to watch opponent Wheeling score two goals before the Walleye struck back and scored on the power play. In response to the power play goal, fans received a free promotion of a Wendy’s Chili.

During an email interview, Troy Hammersmith, director of Events & Fan Entertainment for the Toledo Walleye, said he and his staff start thinking about promotions, like the chili giveaway, ahead of each season.

“The planning process for a new season really begins before the current season ends. We start reviewing how certain themed promotions performed, and begin putting a survey together for fans in spring,” he explained.

When asked how Toledo fans support the team and how the success of fan turnout is for each game, Hammersmith stated, “Toledo has the best fanbase of the ECHL and much of minor league sports. That is something we do not take for granted,” Hammersmith said.

“We are always looking for ways to engage with our fans. Last season, we introduced new in-game elements, like our large cowbell and our large Our Fish, Our Fight banners that fans hold up in the goal zones. This season we are introducing some new technology that allows fans to use their phones to share selfies on the video board and be a part of a pregame light show.”

Staying relevant and researching themes can be an uphill battle. What may be popular today may be obsolete tomorrow.

“Our team follows what other teams in hockey and other sports are doing, as well as with other entertainment venues,” Hammersmith said. “We visit other venues when we can and attend industry conferences. Research is an important part of our decision-making process. We survey fans regularly to gauge their interest and satisfaction in various game elements. We also invest in third-party market research tools to help guide us.”

The Walleye can rest assured they are doing a great job on that, as Friday night was the 35th consecutive home sellout. Fans are coming out to support the hockey club, not only for the team playing, but for the entire fan experience that the Huntington Center provides.

Fans are encouraged to reach out to the Walleye to help voice your opinion on what can be made better. Surveys are sent out throughout the season, as well as the option to talk in person to Walleye staff around the venue during game days.

To view the Walleye's Season schedule.