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ECHL Toledo Walleye

The Storm And The Red Wings Continue On

July 12, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release


(Toledo, Ohio) The Toledo Storm of the ECHL and the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League announced that the two organizations have extended their affiliation agreement through the 2004-05 season. Under terms of the agreement, Detroit will continue to assign contracted players to the Storm. Toledo will continue to work with the Red Wings in placing several players in Detroit's pre-season camps. The 2004-05 season will be the fourteenth season for the Toledo Storm, and this will mark the thirteenth with the Red Wings as an affiliate.

Mike Miller, the Storm's Vice President and General Manager, discussed the accord "we are truly excited about our continuing relationship with the Detroit Red Wings. Not only have the Red Wings shown a commitment to win at the NHL level, but have also sustained a commitment to developing talent. This is evident in their commitment to the Storm throughout its history. Here in Toledo we have seen Detroit professionals Darryl Bootland, Nathan Robinson, Paul Ballantyne, and Joey MacDonald." Miller also stated that the strong relationship with Detroit's Senior Vice President Jim Devellano, along with Head Coach Nick Vitucci's association with Assistant General Manager Jim Nill, were deciding factors in continuing the agreement.

Detroit's Assistant General Manager Jim Nill expressed his thoughts, " We are pleased to extend our relationship with the Toledo Storm. This has been a great relationship for both parties in the past, and one that will continue to be profitable in the future. Toledo is a terrific hockey city as evident by it's great fan support, and rich hockey history."

Storm Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Nick Vitucci echoed Miller 's statement, "Detroit is a first-class organization who I have enjoyed working with over the past year. We look forward to having the opportunity to develop more of the Red Wing's young talent over the course of this coming year."

As previously noted, Toledo has been an affiliate of Detroit in all but one of the Storm's thirteen prior seasons. That year, 1999-00, Toledo was partnered with Tampa Bay and it proved to be the least successful campaign in franchise history. Perhaps the most notable of the Red Wing's draft picks who was assigned to Toledo directly from Detroit would be defenseman Bob Boughner. A second round pick in 1989, Boughner was a member of the 1991-92 Storm appearing in 28 games. Although he never made it to the Red Wings, Bob has enjoyed success in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Colorado Avalanche.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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