Former Toledo Walleye forward Jason Willms will head overseas to Austria to play for the Vienna Capitals for the 2024-25 season. Willms made his pro debut last season for the Walleye, scoring one goal and five assists for six points in seven games.
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The third player, and second forward Toledo has lost over the past few days. Forward Brady Gilmour and John Lethemon will also play overseas next season after successful stays in Toledo. Willms was a solid forward in his short stay with the Walleye, demonstrating a bit of toughness to go with his offensive style of play.
WIllms heads to the Vienna Capitals of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). Vienna finished 9-25-7-7 for 48 points, 54 points behind first place. Willms will try to bring the same scoring touch and physical play to the Capitals next season.
Willms came to the Walleye from the University of New Brunswick, where he played 84 games, totaling 35 goals and 41 assists for 76 points, and was a +39. He caught the eye of Walleye management and signed for the last few weeks of the regular season.
Not a massive loss for the Walleye, but a loss in terms of toughness and secondary scoring. With the losses of Gilmour, Lethemon, and Willms, Toledo might have a busy off-season trying to replace those players.
Willms has the potential to be a key player for Vienna. He was productive with the Walleye in a handful of games. However, if he can produce those offensive stats in few games, think about what he can do over a season. The 6-foot-0 and 187-pound center from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, will bring new energy to the Capitals lineup, one that has had 11 players move on from the start of 2024, and are looking like a new team for the new season.