Walleye take opener against Eagles
Two goals in the first 83 seconds of the second period helped the Toledo Walleye open its Best of Seven East Coast Hockey League Western Conference Championship series with a 4-2 win at the Huntington Center in Toledo against the visiting Colorado Eagles on Friday (May 12, 2017).
It was the Eagles on the board first as Darryl Bootland found an opening 1:57 from the end of the opening period but the Walleye responded with one from Alden Hirschfeld 20 seconds from the buzzer setting the stage for the quick second period markers from Dane Walter and A.J. Jenks.
Alex Belzile pulled one back for the Eagles late in the middle period but the visitors would get no closer, Shane Berschbach clinching the win with an empty netter 53 seconds from the end of the contest.
Jeff Lerg turned in another solid effort between the pipes for the Walleye, stopping 30 shots and Kent Simpson made 24 saves in goal for the Eagles.
Game 2 of this series will take place on Saturday (May 13) at the Huntington Center. Winner of this series will advance to the Kelly Cup League championship series against either the South Carolina Stingray or the Manchester Monarchs.
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jimmerdenhollander@gmail.com
Born and raised in Ontario, Canada and moved to the state of Wisconsin in my late 30's. I worked at various newspapers and magazines in various sports positions for 25 years before changing careers five years ago. Now I am streamlining my focus on hockey only and in particular, all levels of hockey in the American Midwest.