Former Toledo Walleye defenseman Gordi Myer and Walleye forward Trenton Bliss (who recently signed a 2-way contract with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins) happen to have played for the relatively-unknown new Walleye head coach, Pat Mikesch, in the USHL with Green Bay, and both Myer and Bliss tell the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe that the Walleye have made a sound hire in their former bench boss:
“He’s super competitive. He wants to win,” said Myer, the Sylvania native who recently announced his retirement after playing the past two seasons for the Walleye. “He wants his team to score a lot of goals. We played a similar style in Green Bay like we do here in Toledo. Walleye fans should be excited.”
Myer played two seasons under Mikesch (2014-15 and 2015-16), who was officially announced as the fourth coach in Walleye history last week.
Bliss, who played in 51 games for the Walleye last season, started his junior career under Mikesch. Bliss played in 86 games with Green Bay during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.
“We played fast-paced. We wanted to get out in transition and create odd-man rushes,” Bliss said. “That all started with being sound defensively, and he was really trying to emphasize the importance of taking care of our D-zone. He was able to trust a lot of us in Green Bay to be sound defensively and not cheat the game, play 200 feet. That’s just kind of an expectation and everyone bought into that culture. I think it’s a great hire for the Walleye.”
Myer said he appreciated playing in the attack mentality as an offensive defenseman.
“Of course, you take care of the defensive side first,” he said. “But he lets guys play their game and be creative. The forwards are going to appreciate that. Hopefully, they get some defensemen that can move the puck and get up in the rush.”
Continued (at length)
