The Toledo Walleye made a big splash and signed defenseman Jalen Smereck for the 2024-25 season. The former Cincinnati Cyclone comes to Toledo as one of the premier offensive defensemen in the league. This is the first defensive player signed by Toledo this off-season.
Smereck comes to the Walleye with experience in the ECHL, American Hockey League (AHL), and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), playing over 300 professional games. IN 305 pro games, he has 47 goals and 172 assists for 219 points and 327 penalty minutes. In the ECHL, he has played 182 games with the Fort Wayne Komets, Norfolk Admirals, Cincinnati Cyclones, and Rapid City Rush. His totals include 33 goals and 136 assists for 169 points and 228 penalty minutes.
In the AHL, he has suited up for the Tucson Roadrunners and San Jose Barracuda, totaling four goals and 12 assists for 16 points and 41 penalty minutes in 77 games.
Last season was a breakout year for Smereck. He led the league among defensemen, scoring with 71 points on 14 goals and 57 assists. He also had 84 penalty minutes in 70 games. He was named to the 2024 ECHL All-Star Team and the All-ECHL First- Team. He would lead the ECHL defensemen in points, assists, and power-play points (32).
Smereck and Toledo go well together. Smeereck is an all-around defenseman who can score and play the physical game. He is one of the more talented players, not just defensemen, in the entire league, and Toledo scored a massive player to add to the 2024-25 roster. While this is a loss to the Cyclones, the Walleye adds a player who could be the difference in the playoffs. This is a huge signing for Toledo.
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