The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe caught up with Toledo Walleye fan favorite and offensively-inclined defenseman Simon Denis, 30, who’s returning to the Walleye after several seasons spent abroad:
Denis, who appeared in 119 regular-season games for Toledo in 2016-17 and 2017-18, had played the last four seasons in Asia. He kept a close eye on the Walleye when he was in South Korea and Japan, knowing in his heart that he would return someday.
“As soon as I knew was coming back to North America, I knew I wanted to come back to Toledo,” Denis said. “It’s playing in front of that crowd and the first time you get to hear that horn, there is nothing like it in the ECHL and minor league sports in general. I get chills thinking about that atmosphere.”
Denis’ first season in Toledo also was his first as a pro and the first season Watson took over as head coach. The team reached the Western Conference finals, falling in five games to the Colorado Eagles.
Alden Hirschfeld, who is now an assistant coach, was the captain of that team.
“He’s a great person and hard worker on and off the ice,” Hirschfeld said. “He cares about the team and his family more than himself. He will bring great leadership to the team. It’s great to have him back in Toledo.”
Denis was the team’s top-scoring defenseman as a rookie, finishing with 55 points in 70 games. The following season Denis again led all defensemen in scoring with 35 points in 49 games. That Walleye team lost in the Central Division finals.
