The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe wrote a lovely Saturday morning read today. He’s written an article which discusses the surprising ways in which a bit of a coaching pipeline goes through the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, and it’s just a charming article which gives due praise do Derek Lalonde, Dan Watson and Nick Vitucci:
Some call it research and development, while others jokingly call it straight-up thievery, but several former Walleye hockey players continue to use what they learned in Toledo as head coaches.
Toledo has produced a handful of Walleye players who are now at the helm of their own teams.
Former Walleye forward Troy Schwab, who played for the team in 2014-15, now coaches the Charlotte Rush of the United States Premier Hockey League.
Schwab said he learned about the importance of instilling a winning culture from Walleye coaches Derek Lalonde and Dan Watson.
“When I came to Toledo there was a huge emphasis on culture and the way you treat people,” Schwab said. “The way I run video sessions, team meetings, and practices are very similar to the way [Lalonde] and Watty ran things when I was in Toledo. I call it research and development when you steal other coaches’ practice drills. I have stolen a lot from [Lalonde] and Watty.”
