ECHL Toledo Walleye

Toledo vs. Detroit

January 4, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release


(Toledo, Ohio) Toledo Storm Vice President and General Manager Mike Miller announced today the first ever Toledo against Detroit Alumni game scheduled for Saturday, January 22nd. This game coincides with a celebration and a tribute of the 1974-75 Turner Cup Champion Toledo Goaldiggers. The two teams will play at 5:00pm in the Toledo Sports Arena prior to the Toledo Storm contest against the Dayton Bombers.

Miller discussed what he feels will be one of the best days in Toledo Hockey History, "This will be a great day for the City of Toledo, and the Hockey that has been played here. The 1974-75 team was arguably the most admired hockey team and one of the most popular sports teams ever to play in Toledo. This will also be a terrific opportunity for Toledo fans to see some of the great Alumni of the Detroit Red Wings."

The 1974-75 Goaldiggers, nicknamed "The Miracle On Main Street", finished the regular season with a record of 34 wins and 38 losses. The team won just 14 of the 38 road games played that season. Despite that, the Goaldiggers defeated three clubs with a combined 131-87 records and won 7 of 11 road contests to hoist the Turner Cup. Toledo defeated the Columbus Owls 4 games to 1 in round one, and in the semi-finals defeated the Dayton Gems in seven games. The finals pitted Toledo against the Saginaw Gears, with Toledo winning game seven 6-5 to win the cup.

The following is a list of players that are scheduled to play for the Toledo Alumni team. From the colorful 1974-75 Turner Cup Champions: Goaltender Ted Tucker, Forward Jim "Tinman" McCabe, Defenseman Michel Laurendeau, Defenseman Craig Stamp, Defenseman Don Craig, Center Juri Kudrasovs (Team Captain and Scored the Cup-Winning Goal), Forward Doug MaHood (Member of the famous "Murder Inc." line), Forward Don Westbrooke (playoff points leader), Forward Moe Brunell (Toledo top goal scorer with 40), and Forward Darwin Mott. Former Toledo Goaldiggers also scheduled to play: Defenseman Mike Greeder (1981-82,83-84,84-85), Forward Dave Falkenberg (1979-86), and Forward Joe Nathe (1976-81). Toledo native and current Ottawa Senator Bryan Smolinski will also be in uniform along with current Toledo Storm head coach Nick Vitucci. Also scheduled to attend, but will not play from the powerful 1974-75 Goaldiggers are: Defenseman Jerry Badiuk, Defenseman Kent Douglas, Forward Paul Tantardini (Member of the famous "Murder Inc." line), Forward Ian Macfee, and Forward Brian Kinsella. The Referee for the contest between Toledo and Detroit will be former IHL great Sam Sisco.

Members of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni team include: Forward John Ogrodnick (Scored 55 goals in the 1984-85 season), Forward Paul Ysebaert (3 seasons with the Wings and 11 total NHL years), Forward Mike Krushelynski (Member of 4 Stanley Cup Championships), Forward Brent Fedyk (Five Seasons with the Wings), Forward Nick Libett (11 seasons with Detroit), Center Dennis Hextall (4 years with Detroit), and Defenseman Lee Norwood (5 seasons with the Wings, and 12 years in the NHL), Forward Shawn Burr (11 seasons as a Wing), and Goaltender Eddie Mio (7 NHL seasons with Detroit, Edmonton, and NY. Rangers). The Detroit Alumni has yet to finalize a roster for the game.

The Toledo Storm are home this Wednesday against the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and Saturday night against the Dayton Bombers. Toledo Hockey...A History of Champions!

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