A Return to Familiar Waters
Jason Willms has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2026‑27 ECHL season, marking his return to the organization after a year spent primarily in Europe.
The 27‑year‑old forward last appeared in North American professional hockey during the 2023‑24 campaign, when he posted six points in seven regular‑season games and added four more in 14 playoff appearances for the Walleye.
After that debut, Willms departed for Europe, suiting up for the Vienna Capitals in Austria and later the Herlev Eagles in Denmark, where he continued to develop his two‑way game.
Willms’ collegiate roots run deep at the University of New Brunswick, where he served as team captain in his senior year and compiled 76 points in 84 games over three seasons.
Prior to his university stint, the Kitchener, Ontario native spent four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, tallying 181 points in 264 games while alternating between the Barrie Colts and the London Knights, the latter of which he captained for a season and a half beginning in 2018‑19.
The forward’s European adventure was not without interruption; he did not see any North American ice time during the 2024‑25 season, a hiatus that made his re‑engagement with Toledo all the more anticipated.
Coach and management expressed confidence that Willms’ blend of experience, leadership, and offensive versatility will bolster the Walleye’s push for a deeper playoff run in the upcoming campaign.
What This Means for the Walleye
His return adds depth to the forward lines and brings a proven playoff performer whose familiarity with the team’s system could accelerate chemistry early in the season.
Fans can expect to see the same energetic presence that helped the Walleye reach the postseason in 2023‑24, now infused with the added confidence of having tested himself against European competition.