View source for Toledo Storm

{{More citations needed|date=November 2007}}
{{Pro hockey team
| text_color  = white
| bg_color    = #EA3942
| team        = Toledo Storm
| logo        = Toledo_Storm.gif
| logosize    = 300px
| city        = [[Toledo, Ohio]]
| league      = [[ECHL]]
| arena       = [[Toledo Sports Arena]]
| colors      = Red, White and Blue <br> {{color box|#EA3942}} {{color box|white}} {{color box|blue}}
| media       = [[Toledo Blade]]
| affiliates  = [[Detroit Red Wings]] (1991-1999, 2000-07)<br>[[Nashville Predators]] (2002–04)<br>[[San Jose Sharks]] (2005-07)
<!---Franchise history--->
| name1       = '''Toledo Storm'''
| dates1      = 1991–2007
| name2       = [[Toledo Walleye]]
| dates2      = 2009–present
<!---Championships--->
|reg_season_titles = '''2''' ([[1991–92 ECHL season|1991–92]], [[2002–03 ECHL season|2002–03]])
|division_titles = '''6''' ([[1991–92 ECHL season|1991–92]], [[1992–93 ECHL season|1992–93]], [[1993–94 ECHL season|1993–94]], [[1995–96 ECHL season|1995–96]], [[2002–03 ECHL season|2002–03]], [[2005–06 ECHL season|2005–06]])
|kelly_cups = '''2''' ([[1992–93 ECHL season|1992–93]], [[1993–94 ECHL season|1993–94]])
}}

The '''Toledo Storm''' were a [[minor league]] professional [[ice hockey]] team in the [[ECHL]] from [[1991&ndash;92 ECHL season|1991]] to [[2006&ndash;07 ECHL season|2007]]. The Storm played their home games at the venerable [[Toledo Sports Arena]] along the eastern banks of the [[Maumee River]] in [[Toledo, Ohio]]. The team colors were red and white, similar to the [[Detroit Red Wings]], their [[National Hockey League|NHL]] affiliate for fourteen of their sixteen seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Detroit Red Wings Minor League Affiliate History at hockeydb.com|url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_affiliations_parent.php?tmi=5492|website=HockeyDB}}</ref>  The Storm would win six division titles, two [[Brabham Cup|Henry Brabham Cups]] and two [[Kelly Cup|Jack Riley Cups]] as champion of the East Coast Hockey League.  The franchise suspended operations following the [[2006&ndash;07 ECHL season|2006&ndash;07 season]] after they were sold to Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. The Storm returned to the ECHL for the [[2009&ndash;10 ECHL season|2009&ndash;10 season]] as the [[Toledo Walleye]].

The Storm's logo was notorious for poor appearance, and was voted "Worst Logo" in ''[[The Hockey News]]'' annual survey of minor league hockey logos several times.<ref>{{cite news|author=|date=January 31, 1996|title=Who's The Worst? We Are! We Are!|newspaper=[[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|The Blade]]|location=Toledo, OH|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19960131&id=sE4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cAMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1776,8081513|access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2011}}

=== McSorley era (1991&ndash;94) ===
The Toledo Storm were founded in 1991, joining the [[East Coast Hockey League]] for the [[1991&ndash;92 ECHL season|1991&ndash;92 season]] as an expansion franchise with two other Ohio franchises, the [[Columbus Chill]] and [[Dayton Bombers]], and the [[Raleigh IceCaps]] of [[Raleigh, North Carolina]].  The Storm's first head coach was Chris McSorley, older brother of NHLer [[Marty McSorley]], Chris McSorley had previously played for the [[Toledo Goaldiggers]] of the [[International Hockey League (1945&ndash;2001)|International Hockey League]] from 1984&ndash;86.  One of McSorley's first actions as head coach would be to procure an affiliation agreement with the NHL's [[Detroit Red Wings]], a team that was heavily supported by Toledo hockey fans as Detroit was within an hour drive of Toledo.  In the first year under McSorley, the Storm would play to an impressive record of 46&ndash;15&ndash;3, winning the West Division title and the [[Brabham Cup]] as the team with the best overall record during the ECHL's regular season.  Despite the regular season success, the Storm would fall in the first round of the ECHL playoffs, being upset by the [[Louisville Icehawks]] four games to one.

The [[1992&ndash;93 ECHL season|following season]], McSorley would once again ice a very competitive team, posting a regular season record of 36&ndash;17&ndash;11 and a second consecutive West Division title for the Storm and [[defenceman]] [[Derek Booth]] would become the first member of the team to win an ECHL award, as he was named the Defenseman of the Year for the 1992&ndash;93 season.  The Storm's finish in the top three of the West Division granted them a bye to the West Division semifinals of the 1993 Riley Cup playoffs.  The Storm would be matched with the West Division's fourth place team, the [[Erie Panthers]], who had defeated the [[Greensboro Monarchs]] in the second round of the playoffs.  The Storm took the first two games of the series at the Toledo Sports Arena 6&ndash;3 and 5&ndash;2, before Erie won Game Three 9&ndash;6 at [[Louis J. Tullio Arena]] in the highest scoring game of the 1992&ndash;93 Riley Cup playoffs.  The Storm would close out the series in Game Four, defeating Erie 6&ndash;2 to move to the West Division Finals against the West Division's third place team the [[Nashville Knights]] who had swept the West Division's second seed the [[Dayton Bombers]].

Toledo would once again take the first two games of the series defeating Nashville 3&ndash;1 in Game One and 7&ndash;4 in Game Two.  When the series moved back to Nashville, the Knights would take Game Three with a 4&ndash;3 overtime victory and tie the series with a 3&ndash;2 victory in Game Four.  Toledo would take Game Five in Toledo 8&ndash;2 and finish the series off with a 9&ndash;5 victory in Game Six in Nashville, to earn the first trip to the Riley Cup Finals in club history where they would play the Brabham Cup titleholder [[Wheeling Nailers|Wheeling Thunderbirds]].  Wheeling would take the first two games of the series 5&ndash;3 and 7&ndash;3, but the Storm would tie the series when it moved to Toledo, winning Game Three 4&ndash;3 and Game Four 7&ndash;5.  Toledo would take control of the series with a 4&ndash;2 victory in Wheeling in Game Five and would clinch their first Riley Cup championship with a 7&ndash;6 overtime win in Game Six.  Forward Rick Judson was named the Riley Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player in Toledo's first league championship since the Toledo Goaldiggers won the IHL's Turner Cup during the 1982&ndash;83 season.

=== Later years ===
{{Expand section|date=June 2011}}
The Storm celebrated their 15th-anniversary during the [[2005&ndash;06 ECHL season|2005&ndash;06 season]], adopting a new logo marking the occasion. The Storm's last season of operation was 2006–2007. The final game was played April 19, 2007, at [[U.S. Bank Arena]] against the [[Cincinnati Cyclones]] in the North Division Semifinals. The Cyclones won 3–0, sweeping the series in three games.

=== Women's hockey firsts ===
The Toledo Storm once featured a female goaltender, [[Erin Whitten]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tribute to Erin Whitten|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210084403/http://www.titans101.com/whitten.htm|url=http://www.titans101.com/whitten.htm|archive-date=February 10, 2007|access-date=November 1, 2021|website=Titans 101}}</ref> who on March 7, 1996 became the first woman ever to appear in a professional hockey game in a position other than [[goaltender]]; she played at forward for 18 seconds in a game against the Madison Monsters. She was the first U.S.-born woman to play professional hockey when she appeared for the East Coast Hockey League's Toledo Storm, and on October 30, 1993, became the first woman goaltender to record a professional victory.

=== List of NHL affiliates ===
*[[Detroit Red Wings]] (1991–99, 2000–07)
*[[Nashville Predators]] (2002–04)<ref>{{cite web |title=Nashville Predators announce affiliation with the Toledo Storm of the East Coast Hockey League |url=http://www.nashvillepredators.com/pressbox/press_releases/20020823.html |website=Nashville Predators |access-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021025203512/http://www.nashvillepredators.com/pressbox/press_releases/20020823.html |archive-date=October 25, 2002 |date=August 23, 2002}}</ref>
*[[San Jose Sharks]] (2005–07)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Toledo Storm Parent Teams affiliate history at hockeydb.com|url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_affiliations_child.php?tmi=8469|website=HockeyDB}}</ref>

==Season-by-season record==

{| class="wikitable"
|bgcolor="#d0e7ff"|'''[[Riley Cup|Riley Cup Champions]]''' †
|bgcolor="#ffbbbb"|'''[[Brabham Cup|League Leader in points]] *'''
|bgcolor="#ddffdd"|'''Conference Champions''' ^
|bgcolor="#ffeeaa"|'''Division Champions ¤'''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 95%"
|-
!rowspan="2"|[[List of ECHL seasons|ECHL Season]]
!rowspan="2"|Conference
!rowspan="2"|Division
! colspan="10" |Regular Season
!colspan="7"|Post Season
|-
!Finish
!{{tooltip|2=Games Played|GP}}
!{{tooltip|2=Wins|W}}
!{{tooltip|2=Losses in Regulation|L}}
!{{tooltip|2=Overtime Losses|OTL}}
!{{tooltip|2=Shootout Losses|SOL}}
!{{tooltip|2=Points|Pts}}
!{{abbr|2=Goals For|GF}}
!{{abbr|2=Goals Against|GA}}
!{{tooltip|2=Penalties in Minutes|PIM}}
!{{tooltip|2=Games Played|GP}}
!{{tooltip|2=Wins|W}}
!{{tooltip|2=Losses|L}}
!{{abbr|2=Goals For|GF}}
!{{abbr|2=Goals Against|GA}}
!Result
|-
![[1991-92 ECHL season|1991-92]]
|&mdash;
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''West ¤'''
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''1st'''
|64
|46
|15
|3
|0
|style="background: #ffbbbb;"|'''95*'''
|367
|274
|1984
|5
|1
|4
|16
|23
|align="left"|Lost in First Round, 1-4 ([[Louisville Icehawks|Louisville]])
|-
![[1992-93 ECHL season|1992-93]]
|&mdash;
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''West ¤'''
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''1st'''
|64
|36
|17
|1
|10
|83
|316
|238
|2211
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|16
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|11
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|5
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|83
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|63
|style="background: #d0e7ff;" align="left"|Won in Quarterfinals, 3-1 ([[Erie Panthers|Erie]])<br>Won in Semifinals, 4-2 ([[Nashville Knights|Nashville]])<br>'''Won in Riley Cup Finals, 4-2''' ([[Wheeling Thunderbirds|Wheeling]]) †
|-
![[1993-94 ECHL season|1993-94]]
|&mdash;
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''North ¤'''
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''1st'''
|68
|44
|20
|1
|3
|92
|338
|289
|2277
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|14
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|12
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|2
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|75
|style="background: #d0e7ff;"|41
|style="background: #d0e7ff;" align="left"|Won in First Round, 2-1 ([[Dayton Bombers|Dayton]])<br>Won in Quarterfinals, 3-0 ([[Columbus Chill|Columbus]])<br>Won in Semifinals, 3-0 (Wheeling)<br>'''Won in Riley Cup Finals, 4-1''' ([[Raleigh Icecaps|Raleigh]]) †
|-
![[1994-95 ECHL season|1994-95]]
|&mdash;
|North
|3rd
|68
|41
|22
|5
|0
|87
|287
|230
|2301
|4
|1
|3
|10
|12
|align="left"|Lost in First Round, 1-3 (Nashville)
|-
![[1995-96 ECHL season|1995-96]]
|&mdash;
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''North ¤'''
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''1st'''
|70
|48
|14
|0
|8
|104
|301
|240
|2353
|11
|8
|3
|39
|33
|align="left"|Won in First Round, 3-0 (Dayton)<br>Won in Quarterfinals, 3-0 ([[Knoxville Cherokees|Knoxville]])<br>Lost in Semifinals, 2-3 ([[Jacksonville Lizard Kings|Jacksonville]])
|-
![[1996-97 ECHL season|1996-97]]
|&mdash;
|North
|5th
|70
|32
|28
|0
|10
|74
|258
|248
|1940
|5
|2
|3
|12
|17
|align="left"|Lost in First Round, 2-3 (Columbus)
|-
![[1997-98 ECHL season|1997-98]]
|Northern
|Northwest
|2nd
|70
|41
|21
|0
|8
|90
|251
|210
|1548
|7
|4
|3
|19
|19
|align="left"|Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 3-0 ([[Chesapeake Icebreakers|Chesapeake]])<br>Lost in Conference Semifinals, 1-3 (Wheeling)
|-
![[1998-99 ECHL season|1998-99]]
|Northern
|Northwest
|3rd
|70
|39
|26
|0
|5
|83
|256
|246
|1915
|7
|3
|4
|24
|26
|align="left"|Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 3-1 ([[Peoria Rivermen (ECHL)|Peoria]])<br>Lost in Conference Semifinals, 0-3 ([[Richmond Renegades|Richmond]])
|-
![[1999-00 ECHL season|1999-00]]
|Northern
|Northwest
|6th
|70
|22
|41
|0
|7
|51
|214
|306
|2405
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|Did not qualify
|-
![[2000-01 ECHL season|2000-01]]
|Northern
|Northwest
|3rd
|72
|37
|27
|0
|8
|82
|262
|259
|2273
|8
|3
|5
|19
|26
|align="left"|Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 3-2 ([[Roanoke Express|Roanoke]])<br>Lost in Conference Semifinals, 0-3 ([[Trenton Titans|Trenton]])
|-
![[2001-02 ECHL season|2001-02]]
|Northern
|Northwest
|6th
|72
|28
|34
|0
|10
|66
|225
|265
|1944
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|Did not qualify
|-
![[2002-03 ECHL season|2002-03]]
|Northern
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''Northwest ¤'''
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''1st'''
|72
|47
|15
|0
|10
|style="background: #ffbbbb;"|'''104*'''
|247
|196
|2224
|7
|4
|3
|22
|12
|align="left"|Won in Divisional Semifinals, 3-0 ([[Lexington Men O' War|Lexington]])<br>Lost in Divisional Finals, 1-3 ([[Cincinnati Cyclones|Cincinnati]])
|-
![[2003-04 ECHL season|2003-04]]
|Eastern
|Northern
|7th
|72
|23
|38
|0
|11
|57
|183
|258
|1508
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|Did not qualify
|-
![[2004-05 ECHL season|2004-05]]
|National
|North
|4th
|72
|41
|26
|0
|5
|87
|203
|194
|1289
|4
|1
|3
|3
|8
|align="left"|Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-3 ([[Reading Royals|Reading]])
|-
![[2005-06 ECHL season|2005-06]]
|American
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''North ¤'''
|style="background: #ffeeaa;"|'''1st'''
|72
|46
|21
|0
|5
|97
|244
|189
|1627
|13
|7
|6
|39
|36
|align="left"|Won in Division Semifinals, 3-0 ([[Johnstown Chiefs|Johnstown]])<br>Won in Division Finals, 3-2 (Wheeling)<br>Lost in Conference Finals, 1-4 ([[Gwinnett Gladiators|Gwinnett]])
|-
![[2006-07 ECHL season|2006-07]]
|American
|North
|2nd
|72
|39
|30
|0
|3
|81
|211
|220
|1489
|3
|0
|3
|4
|14
|align="left"|Lost in Divisional Semifinals, 0-3 (Cincinnati)
|-
! colspan="2" |16 Seasons<ref>{{Cite web|title=Toledo Storm hockey team statistics and history at hockeydb.com|url=https://www.hockeydb.com/stte/toledo-storm-8469.html|website=HockeyDB}}</ref>
| colspan="2" |'''6 Division Titles<br>2 Brabham Cups'''
|'''1,118'''
|'''610'''
|'''395'''
|'''16'''
|'''97'''
|'''1,313<br>(.587)'''
|'''4,163'''
|'''3,828'''
|'''31,288'''
|'''104'''
|'''57'''
|'''47'''
|'''365'''
|'''330'''
|'''13 Playoff Appearances<br>2 Riley Cup Championships'''
|}

== Franchise records ==

=== All-time leaders ===

{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=3 | Goals<ref>http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_players.php?tmi=8460 Toledo Storm all-time player roster</ref>
|-
| 1 || Rick Judson || 197
|-
| 2 || Andrew Williamson || 190
|-
| 3 || Robert Thorpe || 183
|-
| 4 || Mark Deazeley || 93
|-
| 5 || Alexandre Jacques || 85


|6|| Ron Badgley || 84
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=3 | Assists
|-
| 1 || Rick Judson || 244
|-
| 2 || Greg Puhalski || 155
|-
| 3 || Jason Gladney || 153
|-
| 4 || Robert Thorpe || 145
|-
| 5 || Rick Corriveau || 144

|6|| Ron Badgley || 140
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=3 | Points
|-
| 1 || Rick Judson || 441
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2 || Andrew Williamson || rowspan=2 | 328
|-
| Robert Thorpe
|-
| 4 || Greg Puhalski || 225
|-
| 5 || Rick Corriveau || 207

| 6|| Ron Badgley || 224
|}
{{col-end}}

== Head coaches ==
*Chris McSorley, 1991&ndash;94
*Greg Puhalski, 1994&ndash;98
*[[Murray Eaves]], 1998&ndash;99
*Todd Gordon, 1999&ndash;00
*Dennis Holland, 2000&ndash;02
*[[Claude Noel]], 2002&ndash;03
*Steve Harrison, 2003&ndash;04
*[[Nick Vitucci]], 2003&ndash;07

== Awards and honors ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''[[Kelly Cup|Jack Riley Cup]]'''
<br>''ECHL playoff champion''
*[[1992&ndash;93 ECHL season|1992&ndash;93]], [[1993&ndash;94 ECHL season|1993&ndash;94]]

'''[[Brabham Cup|Henry Brabham Cup]]'''
<br>''ECHL regular season champion''
*[[1991&ndash;92 ECHL season|1991&ndash;92]], [[2002&ndash;03 ECHL season|2002&ndash;03]]

'''Riley Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player'''
*Rick Judson: [[1992&ndash;93 ECHL season|1993]]
*[[Dave Gagnon]]: [[1993&ndash;94 ECHL season|1994]]

'''ECHL Most Valuable Player'''
*Andrew Williamson: [[1999&ndash;2000 ECHL season|1999&ndash;00]]

{{col-2}}

'''John Brophy Award'''
<br>''ECHL Coach of the year''
*[[Claude Noel]]: [[2002&ndash;03 ECHL season|2002&ndash;03]]
*[[Nick Vitucci]]: [[2004&ndash;05 ECHL season|2004&ndash;05]]

'''ECHL Defenseman of the Year'''
*[[Derek Booth]]: [[1992&ndash;93 ECHL season|1992&ndash;93]]

'''ECHL Goaltender of the Year'''
*Nick Vitucci: [[1997&ndash;98 ECHL season|1997&ndash;98]]

'''ECHL Rookie of the Year'''
*Sean Venedam: [[1997&ndash;98 ECHL season|1997&ndash;98]]

{{col-end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.toledowalleye.com/ Toledo Walleye Official Site]
* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_players.php?tmi=8469 Toledo Storm All-Time Roster]

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
 |before = [[Toledo Goaldiggers]]
 |title = Professional Hockey Team in<br>[[Toledo, Ohio]]
 |years = 1991&ndash;2007
 |after =  [[Toledo Walleye]]
}}
{{Succession box
 |before = [[Knoxville Cherokees]]
 |title = [[Brabham Cup]]<br>Champions
 |years = 1991&ndash;92
 |after =  [[Wheeling Nailers|Wheeling Thunderbirds]]
}}
{{succession box
 | before = [[Hampton Roads Admirals]]
 | title = [[Kelly Cup|Riley Cup]]<br>Champions
 | years = 1992&ndash;93, 1993&ndash;94
 | after = [[Richmond Renegades (ECHL)|Richmond Renegades]]
}}
{{Succession box
 |before = [[Louisiana IceGators (ECHL)|Louisiana IceGators]]
 |title = [[Brabham Cup]]<br>Champions
 |years = 2002&ndash;03
 |after =  [[San Diego Gulls (1995–2006)|San Diego Gulls]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{ECHLdefunct}}
{{Toledo Walleye}}

[[Category:Defunct ECHL teams]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Toledo, Ohio]]
[[Category:Detroit Red Wings minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Nashville Predators minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:San Jose Sharks minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Lightning minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1991]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Ohio]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in Ohio]]