ECHL: Toledo Walleye Forward Heads Overseas

The Toledo Walleye have had a tremendous 2024–25 season, securing accolades as the Central Division Champion and the Western Conference Champion, bringing joy to Toledo with their season wins. However, the disappointment of their loss in the Kelly Cup Final is palpable. Adding to that emotion, the team is also feeling the loss of two key players. Thursday, June 12, saw Tyler Spezia sign with the DEL. Friday, June 13, brought the news of Trenton Bliss’s departure to Norway—he joins the Stavanger Oilers on a one-year contract, leaving a void in the Walleye lineup.

History

Bliss, a 27-year-old Wisconsin native, played in local leagues until 2018, when he enrolled at Michigan Tech. Over four seasons at Tech, he wore the alternate captain’s “A” for two years. He twice received the Gary Crosby Memorial Award as the team’s leading scorer and was named team MVP in his final season, earning the Merv Youngs Award. In 138 games, Bliss scored 42 goals, added 65 assists, and compiled 107 career points. He would finish his NCAA career in the spring of 2022. Signing with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, Bliss would see 33 games before being assigned on November 22 to their affiliate, the Toledo Walleye. 

Trenton Bliss returned to the AHL three more times during his tenure with the Walleye, playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins and joining the Chicago Wolves on loan. He appeared in 39 AHL games, scoring two goals and adding four assists for six points. With the Walleye, he played 158 games, tallying 58 goals and 96 assists for 154 points. Bliss has been an integral part of the team, consistently reaching double-digit goal totals each season. His best campaign came in 2023–24, when he recorded 27 goals, 45 assists, and 72 points—placing him alongside two-time league MVP Brandon Hawkins

The ECHL has set a 3 p.m. ET deadline this Friday for completing all future considerations trades, so more changes to the Walleye roster are imminent. Season‐ending rosters are due Sunday, June 15, and anticipation is building as teams finalize their lineups. Fans can look forward to an exciting new campaign with a refreshed roster.