ECHL Toledo Walleye

Walleye's Lalonde Named Coach of the Year

April 14, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Toledo Walleye News Release


Toledo, OH - He led the Walleye to the greatest turnaround in the history of the ECHL and today Head Coach Derek Lalonde was honored by the league as the winner of the John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year.

In just his first season behind the bench, Lalonde took a Walleye team that finished with just 49 points in 2013-14 and led them to a 58 point turnaround, the greatest in ECHL history, finishing the year with a record of 50-15-7. Toledo finished the year with 107 points, the eighth most in ECHL history, and captured the Brabham Cup given to the team that finishes the year with the most points. The 50 wins and 107 points are both new Toledo ECHL records.

"This is a great honor especially with the quality of coaches in this league," said Head Coach Derek Lalonde. "This is all about the team and what we accomplished this year. I have to point to my staff and especially Dan Watson, this was truly a co-coaching scenario and he deserves a lot of credit."

Under his leadership, the Walleye set a new Toledo ECHL records with 24 road wins, the fewest road losses (9), the fewest goals allowed at 182 and the best single season penalty kill percentage (87.7%). The team also finished the year with second fewest losses in Toledo ECHL history (14 by 1995-96 team) and third most home wins (26). Lalonde's group also set a new ECHL records with just 785 penalty minutes and the lowest average penalty minutes per game at 10.9. The team finished with over forty new Toledo Walleye records.

"Derek has accomplished what he came to Toledo to do -- build a great team and a culture of success, says Joe Napoli, Toledo Walleye president and general manager. "Under his leadership, he has put together a team with depth both on and off the ice. The Walleye organization could not be more proud of the job Derek has done; it is a true testament to his character as a coach and as a man."

Prior to coming to Toledo, Lalonde compiled a record of 111-54-14 with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, guiding the team to both regular season and playoff championships in 2011-12. He was USHL Coach of the Year in 2012 while leading Green Bay to a 47-9-4 record. He was also Head Coach of Team USA's U19 National Team which captured a Gold Medal at the World Junior "A" Challenge in November of 2013.

Lalonde spent five years as Assistant Coach at the University of Denver (2006-2011), where the pioneers won two WCHA Championships (2008 and 2010) and went to the NCAA Tournament four consecutive years. He was also an assistant at Ferris State University (2002-2006) where he helped lead the Bulldogs to their first ever CCHA Championship and NCAA appearance with a 30-10-1 in the 2002-03 season.

The John Brophy Award is named for John Brophy, who won a record three ECHL Titles with Hampton Roads in 1991, 1992 and 1998. He was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009. Lalonde joins Nick Vitucci (2004-05) and Claude Noel (2002-03) as the only coaches in ECHL history to win the award.

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ECHL Stories from April 14, 2015


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