Hawkins returns for sixth season with Walleye

Action photo of Brandon Hawkins of the Toledo Walleye

TOLEDO, Ohio – Forward and team captain Brandon Hawkins has agreed to terms for the 2026-27 season, marking his sixth season as a member of the Toledo Walleye.

The 31-year-old led the ECHL in power-play goals (14) and shots (300), ranked second in points (78), goals (35), and tied for second in power play points (32) in the 2025-26 season. He earned several leaguewide recognitions, earning his fourth-consecutive All-ECHL First Team selection, in addition to taking home the Warrior Hockey ECHL Player of the Month for December 2025, and the Inglasco ECHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 21, 2025. He posted 43 assists, 20 penalty minutes, and a +6 in 69 games in addition to his goal and points totals.

Over the course of the year, Hawkins hit 400 professional and ECHL games, 300 Walleye games, 400 Walleye points, the team records for both points and power play points, 400 ECHL points, 200 pro and ECHL goals, and 200 Walleye assists.

Hawkins has totaled 474 points (225g-252a) in 412 career ECHL games with Toledo, Fort Wayne and Wheeling while adding seven points (3g-4a) in 30 career American Hockey League games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester, Cleveland, Chicago and Grand Rapids.

In addition, he is a Kelly Cup champion (2021, Fort Wayne), a four-time ECHL All-Star selection, as well as becoming the second-ever back-to-back ECHL Most Valuable Player, joining Allen’s Chad Costello (2015-16, 2016-17). He is also tied for the most ECHL Player of the Month selections in league history with four. Hawkins also has sliced through the Toledo record books since joining the team for the 2021-22 season. Hawkins passed former Walleye forward Shane Berschbach (393) for the most points in Toledo Walleye history on April 3, 2026, in Kalamazoo. Hawkins leads the team in points (405), goals (186), power play goals (67), power play points (156), game-winning goals (30), first goals (28), insurance goals (25), overtime goals (4), unassisted goals (14), and shots (1,577). The last of Berschbach's records left to chase down are games played (376; needs 49), assists (277, needs 49), and power-play assists (99, needs 11).

Prior to turning pro, Hawkins tallied 108 points (46g-62a) in 141 career collegiate games with Bowling Green State University and Northeastern University. Hawkins highlighted his amateur career with a Hockey East championship and being named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team with Northeastern during the 2018-19 season. Hawkins also made the WCHA All-Rookie Team with Bowling Green during the 2014-15 season.