The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe covered the first two days of Toledo Walleye camp, and the ECHL team is getting back to what is a new normal:
Coach Dan Watson conducted the first day of training camp on Friday as a team filled with new faces got to know each other.
“It’s nice to walk out here and see some fresh ice and see that Walleye logo back in the middle of the ice again,” Watson said. “To hear the puck snapping against the glass, hitting the net … all those sounds you actually miss when you are not around it. To see these guys out here having fun and with jump in their step, those are the things I really enjoy being back out on to the ice.”
On Saturday, the fresh faces got a taste of what to expect as the organization held a meet-the-team event for season-ticket holders. Nearly 400 season-ticket holders attended the event Saturday. The goal horn blasted for the first time in 19 months to kick off the event.
Walleye executive vice president and general manager Neil Neukam addressed the crowd, urging fans to be supportive and patient. Neukam said there will be no events where fans will have direct access to the players.
“We’re all happy to be back here for hockey. It will be different,” he said. “We will do the best we can to keep it as normal as possible. It’s been a challenge for everyone. Please be patient.”
