Duffer’s Dabbles: Red Wings Farm Club Walleye Taking It Outdoors

The Toledo Walleye are the ECHL farm club of the Detroit Red Wings. They are celebrating the New Year by taking it outdoors. If you’re itching to watch some outdoor pro hockey this weekend, there are options.

You could sit on the couch and watch the January 1 NHL Winter Classic. That’s being played between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues at Target Field.

Or, you could hop in the car, cross the state line from Michigan into Ohio and head to Fifth Third Field, where the Walleye are playing host to the Indy Fuel.

Ring in 2022 at Fifth Third Field with 11,000 of your closest friends.

See you Friday, @ToledoWalleye fans.

🎟️: https://t.co/IUciRlx1qg pic.twitter.com/uKzuJ3xJdT

— Toledo Mud Hens (@MudHens) December 30, 2021

Part of Winterfest, it’s the second outdoor game of the week from the Walleye. On Sunday, Toledo dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Kalamazoo Wings.

They will be looking to avenge that outcome when they ring in the New Year by tangling with the Fuel. As well, they’ll be seeking to shatter the Toledo hockey record crowd of 11,231 set at the Kalamazoo game.

Red Wings Returning To Action

Detroit will hit the ice for the first time since Dec. 18. They they play host to the Washington Capitals in the traditional New Year’s Eve home game at Little Caesars Arena. And the best news of all for the Red Wings is that rookie sensation Lucas Raymond is out of COVID-19 protocol and will be in the lineup.

Around The NHL

Detroit: One of the reasons why the Red Wings made the decision of signing Robby Fabbri to a contract extension was the forward’s versatility.

Washington: The Capitals will be coming to Detroit after ending the seven-game winning streak of the Nashville Predators with a 5-3 victory on Dec. 29.

Pittsburgh: The Penguins need to work out a contract with former Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin. Might Malkin pull a Pavel Datsyuk and opt to return to the KHL to finish his career in his Russian homeland?

Boston: The Bruins are battling with the Red Wings for an Eastern Conference Wild Card playoff spot and they made soon be adding Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Tuukka Rask to aid in their quest.