Derek Lalonde, 43 (8/18/72), spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. In two seasons with Lalonde at the helm, the Walleye posted a 97-35-7-5 record (.715) with back-to-back playoff appearances. The Walleye went 47-20-2-3 in 2015-16, finishing with the ECHL’s Eastern Conference regular season title. The team fell in the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs in seven games to Reading.
As a rookie head coach in the ECHL, Lalonde made an immediate impact by leading Toledo to a 50-15-5-2 record. The Walleye lost in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals after claiming the Brabham Cup (ECHL regular season champions).