Toledo Walleye Open 2026–27 Season With Battle Against Fort Wayne

The Toledo Walleye kicked off their 2026–27 ECHL campaign Saturday, October 17, on the road against division rival Fort Wayne Komets. Despite a three-goal second-period surge that brought Toledo back into the game, the Walleye fell 6–3 in their season opener.

Toledo came out defensively sharp, killing off Fort Wayne’s first power play and holding the Komets without a shot on goal through the opening 10 minutes. However, Fort Wayne found its scoring touch late in the first period, taking a 2–0 lead into the intermission.

The Walleye responded in the second period with an offensive push that briefly shifted the momentum. Sam Craggs opened Toledo’s scoring at 4:39, putting the team on the board with assists from Mitch Lewandowski and Cooper Zech.

Tanner Dickinson followed with two goals of his own, bringing Toledo within one before converting on a five-on-three power play to even the score at 3–3 with 10:04 remaining in the period.

The comeback, however, was short-lived. Fort Wayne’s Hunter Johannes scored his second goal of the night, and Drake Rymsha added another just 41 seconds later to give the Komets a 4–3 advantage heading into the third.

Fort Wayne maintained control in the final frame, with Rymsha scoring again before Jack Gorniak added a late goal to secure the 6–3 result.

Although the Walleye left Fort Wayne without a win, their second-period response showcased their offensive potential and ability to battle back from an early deficit. Maintaining that momentum across a full 60 minutes will be a key focus as the team continues its opening stretch.