The Toledo Walleye signed rugged defenseman Matt Krug Thursday.

Krug, a native of Livonia, Mich., has appeared in 139 games and has racked up 320 penalty minutes since turning pro at the start of the 2009-10 season.

Krug, 26, split time between Gwinnett and Elmira in the ECHL last season and had 103 penalty minutes in 60 games. He finished the year with Fort Wayne of the Central Hockey League.

"The fans in Toledo are going to love Matt Krug," Walleye coach Nick Vitucci said. "He is an old throwback type defenseman who throws heavy hits and is not afraid to drop his gloves."

Krug played college hockey at Wayne State and Robert Morris. In 2005-06, he collected 106 penalty minutes in just 33 games for Wayne State.

First Published July 15, 2011, 5:47 a.m.