Toledo, Ohio – Defenseman Steven Oleksy has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2019-20 season.
The Walleye are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings and the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins.
The native of Chesterfield, Michigan appeared in three games with the Walleye during the 2009-10 season, including the team's first-ever game at the Huntington Center on October 16, 2009 against the Florida Everblades. By 2012-13, he was patrolling the blue line for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, skating in 28 games that year with nine points (1g-8a), 33 penalty minutes and a +9. The 33-year-old dressed in 33 games for the Capitals the next season with 10 points (2g-8a), 53 penalty minutes and a +7. In total, Oleksy has 84 games of NHL experience with Washington and Pittsburgh with 20 points (3g-17a) and 110 penalty minutes on his resume.
Over his career, Oleksy has appeared in 411 career AHL games with 114 points (22g-92a) and 784 penalty minutes. Last season, he spent time with San Diego and Toronto. He scored a career best seven goals in the 2017-18 season over 54 games for San Diego. He has totaled 107 career ECHL games with 38 points (9g-29a) with Las Vegas, Toledo and Idaho.
Prior to becoming a professional, Oleksy spent three seasons at Lake Superior State University from 2006-09, finishing his colligate career with 20 points (3g-17a) and 110 penalty minutes in 113 games.