It’s been over a week since the Toledo Walleye fell to the Trois-Rivieres Lions in the Kelly Cup Final.
While the bitter taste of a loss like that will never fade, Toledo has built a consistent winner over the years, even before the Walleye joined the ECHL.
This year’s trip to the Final was the Walleye’s third, having lost to Newfoundland in 2019 and Florida in 2022. Prior to the inception of the Walleye, the Toledo Storm played in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. They played in the Toledo Sports Arena and won back-to-back Riley Cup championships in 1993 and 1994.
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. Each Sunday, we’ll dig into the magazine’s archives to look back on a key moment, player or other important figure in the ECHL.
This week, we relive the first Riley cup title won by the Storm in 1993.
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(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors; we have left the article in its original digitized form).
Judson weathers Storm, leads Toledo to crown
BY Nick Gates
May 7, 1993/vol. 46, issue 33
Toledo Storm left winger Rick Judson overcame a lackluster training camp and November illness to become a hometown hero.
Judson, a graduate of Toledo’s Bedford High School, scored seven goals and collected 23 points to spark the Storm to its first East Coast League championship.
Toledo defeated the Wheeling Thunderbirds 4-2 in the best-of-seven final to win the Riley Cup. Judson, 23, was chosen the most valuable player of the playoffs.
“I’ve always believed in hard work,” Judson said. “In the playoffs, I’ve had some good bounces. Things just started coming together.”
That wasn’t always the case for the University of Illinois-Chicago product.
He contacted mononucleosis, which sapped his strength and stamina early in the season. He also sustained a broken nose.
But he kept playing and developed into one of the Storm’s best players.
“There is no doubt he was our most-improved player,” said Storm coach Chris Mc-Sorley. “He killed penalties and played the power play. He really doesn’t have a position. Anywhere on the ice where he’s needed.”
NOTEBOOK: Toledo rode its power play to the Riley Cup. The Storm converted 31 of 88 manpower advantages for 35.2 per-cent success rate…Wheeling, whose special teams were among the league’s best during the regular season, suffered a post-season slump. The T-Birds killed a league-worst 70.5 per cent of penalties, allowing 23 goals in 78 tries.
Photo Courtesy of the Toledo Walleye