Outdoor Hockey Coming To Fifth Third Field

ProMedica Principle Sponsor for Toledo Walleye Winterfest 2014

TOLEDO, Ohio, Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For 10 days ending 2014 and beginning 2015, downtown Toledo will be transformed into a winter wonderland culminating with the first ever outdoor professional hockey game at Fifth Third Field as ProMedica Toledo Hospital presents the Toledo Walleye Winterfest 2014. There will be a news conference this afternoon at 1 p.m. ET. The announcement may be viewed live at: http://aeoned.org/promedica/item.asp?item_id=9279.

"The Toledo Walleye are thrilled to host this unprecedented outdoor event. Our fans have been clamoring for an outdoor hockey game and the Toledo Walleye Winterfest is the perfect way to showcase old-school hockey while also featuring other winter sports and events," says Joe Napoli, president and general manager, Toledo Mud Hens and Toledo Walleye.

The focal point for the Toledo Walleye Winterfest 2014 will be the special outdoor ice skating rink to be assembled at Fifth Third Field, with the marquee event to be the professional outdoor hockey game featuring the Toledo Walleye. But there will be plenty of family-oriented events at both Fifth Third Field and the Huntington Center from December 26, 2014 through January 4, 2015 including youth, high school and adult hockey at the outdoor rink. Kids and adults alike can enjoy a Rockefeller Center-like experience at Fifth Third Field or an open-skate at Huntington Center. Other activities will include broomball, curling, live music events, ice sculpture demonstrations and fireworks - and of course, lots of good food and hot chocolate.

"This event is all about our community and our region. We are extremely proud to be able to present a week of family-oriented holiday activities that will showcase our city and its finest attributes as well as generating a significant positive economic impact for our community," says Randy Oostra, president and chief executive officer, ProMedica. 

"We look forward to working with other local organizations and cultural venues, such as The Toledo Museum of Art, Imagination Station, The Toledo Zoo, the Toledo Symphony and our Metroparks, to make this a fun and memorable way to enjoy the holidays," says Kevin Webb, president, ProMedica Toledo Hospital. "The community can expect this to be one of the best events that downtown Toledo has seen in years."

"The Walleye have done a terrific job in entertaining their fans since the return of ECHL hockey to Toledo in 2009. We are thrilled to work with the Walleye to present the first-ever ECHL outdoor game and participate in what will an outstanding community event," said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna.

For more information about the Toledo Walleye Winterfest, please contact Andi Roman, 419-725-9252, [email protected].

ProMedica Toledo Hospital is a member of Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica, a mission-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization formed in 1986. ProMedica has more than 14,300 employees and nearly 1,700 physicians - with more than 400 healthcare providers employed by ProMedica Physicians. Its 11 hospitals and more than 306 facilities offer comprehensive diagnostic, medical and surgical specialties in heart and vascular, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and women and pediatric services. ProMedica's mission is to improve health and well-being, with a strong focus on wellness and clinical excellence, as well as innovative, community advocacy programs that address health-related issues such as hunger and obesity. For more information, please visit www.promedica.org.

The Toledo Walleye organization is dedicated to providing world-class family sports entertainment in a premier setting.  The Toledo Walleye play all of their home games at the Huntington Center in downtown Toledo. The Walleye are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.  For more information, please visit www.toledowalleye.com.  

Premier 'AA' Hockey League Fast Facts

• The ECHL celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2012-13 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
• ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league with 23 teams in 16 states 2012-13.
• The league officially changed its name from East Coast Hockey League to ECHL on May 19, 2003. For more information, visit www.echl.com.

There will be a news conference today at 1 p.m. ET. You may watch it live at the following link: http://aeoned.org/promedica/item.asp?item_id=9279

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE ProMedica