Sylvania native Gordi Myer vividly remembers the crazy, smoky atmosphere at the old Toledo Sports Arena with the folding chairs and frequent fights.
The feisty 4-year-old screamed at the top of lungs, jeering the despised foes of the Toledo Storm while dreaming one day of playing pro hockey himself. Fast-forward 20 years and the fast-skating defenseman saw it all come to fruition when he signed with his hometown ECHL team, the Toledo Walleye.
“I'm really excited. It's really cool to be able to play for your city,” Myer said. “Ever since I can remember, 4 or 5-years-old, I wanted to play pro hockey. My first taste of pro hockey was Toledo Storm games when I was growing up.”
After realizing another life-long dream of playing major college hockey at Ohio State University, Myer will begin his pro career at the Huntington Center. The modern downtown venue replaced the now-demolished Sports Arena, the venerable old building in East Toledo that was home to the city's hockey pioneers and greatest characters for a half-century.
“I loved the Sports Arena,” the 24-year-old said. “I remember going to the games. We had seats right on the glass. There were those old folding chairs. And the glass was the [lowest] glass I'd ever seen. Me and my buddy would stand up on those chairs and yell at the guys slamming into the boards. I just remember the crazy atmosphere with all the fights. It would get smoky in the building. I'm glad I got to experience that.”
Myer's first hockey hero, former Storm forward Nick Parillo, later became one of his most important instructors.
“I'm excited for him,” Parillo said. “Being a hometown guy makes it even better. You grow up watching your local teams and it helps build that passion for the game. Then when you get the opportunity to be one of those guys you used to watch, it gives you a sense of accomplishment. It also gives you an opportunity to show friends and family how hard you have worked on attaining this accomplishment. I'm sure the fan base is excited to see one of their own take the ice.”
Myer earned the opportunity through years of dedication to the sport, moving from home when he was just 14 to play travel hockey in Cleveland. He later played for major junior teams in Wisconsin and Nebraska, developing both the speed and skill that helped land him a scholarship to Ohio State.
Buckeyes coach Steve Rohlik had high praise for his former alternate captain.
“There can't be too many better skaters than Gordi at any level, from the NHL down. He can flat out skate,” Rohlik said. “They're getting a good player and a great kid, too. If he can dial it in, he could play at any level.”
Myer, who attended Northview High School as a sophomore and freshman, played in 133 games at Ohio State.
“He became our most reliable defenseman,” Rohlik said. “His skating is second to none. He never takes a day off. His practice habits and weight room habits are outstanding. He could play all 60 minutes. He has that type of work ethic.”
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound defenseman produced 45 points with eight goals and 37 assists for the Buckeyes. Perhaps the most significant stat was Myer’s plus-minus rating. He finished with a plus-30 rating — the fourth-best for an Ohio State defenseman since 2001.
“Stats don't say everything,” Rohlik said. “His stats got better. But it's everything else he has done. It's not only goals and assists. He did so much for us [in all situations]. He did it all.”
Walleye coach Dan Watson said Myer's skating ability allows him to be effective in all areas of the ice.
“He has the ability to defend because of his mobility,” Watson said. “He can certainly join the rush and beat opponents up ice and he can take time and space away.”
In his final 36 games at Ohio State, Myer tallied a career-high five goals and nine assists, putting him second in points among the team’s defensemen. Myer was a member of the senior class that earned three straight NCAA berths, including a Frozen Four trip in 2018.
“It was awesome,” Myer said. “As a freshman, I did not realize what it meant to play at Ohio State. But as it went along, being from Toledo and with the border battle being so big, it was everything I thought it would be and more.”
Watson said he also was drawn to Myer’s leadership abilities.
“He was a captain at a very good program at Ohio State. I think that alone shows that he has good character, is willing to get better, and wants to be a piece of the puzzle here in Toledo,” Watson said.
Roots of Success
Growing up within walking distance of the Tam-O-Shanter ice facility, Myer said his love for hockey was fostered at an early age.
“I could rollerblade over there and drop in and play,” Myer said. “I got to play a lot. I fell in love with the game because I had so many opportunities. I had a big driveway and we'd play roller hockey all summer.”
Parillo, who excelled for the Storm from 2002-07, started working with Myer when he was just 8.
“Gordi was always gifted in the skill department but when his skating and speed started to complement his skill set, he started separating from his peers,” Parillo admitted.
Myer said when he competed for the Sylvania Maple Leafs youth team, he used to play at the Sports Arena.
“We'd practice down there all the time,” Myer said. “I remember watching Nick Parillo. The Storm was my first favorite pro team and he was my first favorite pro player.”
Myer also said he looked up to fellow Sylvania native and former Walleye forward Alden Hirschfeld, who is now an assistant coach with the team.
“Alden was a role model for sure. He played at Northview when I was young. When I was in junior high, he was at Miami. He was the only guy that came out of here and played [major D-I college hockey],” Myer said. “Everyone looked up to him. He had a big career. Now I train with him.”
Myer attended Lakewood High School in northeast Ohio as a junior and senior while competing for the Cleveland Barons.
“The toughest part was not playing hockey for Northview. They won the state title when I was a sophomore. But I knew I had to move to Cleveland to focus on hockey,” he said. “My junior year turned into a big year of development for me. I have no regrets now but it was tough at the time.”
Parillo said Myer always was a tireless worker on and off the ice.
“He is a player that has a real passion for the game and takes his game management in the offseason very seriously,” Parillo said. “He is a player that I can go to before a skate and he will tell me exactly what he needs to work on, which is rare.”
Parillo, who had 205 points in 276 ECHL games, said Myer's strengths are the management of his deficiencies.
“Many players are uncomfortable working on certain things that are difficult for them, Gordi is the opposite. He strives for perfection in all areas of his game,” Parillo said. “Off the ice, he maintains a religious regiment that complements his deficiencies on ice. He's always working to get better.”
Rohlik agreed that Myers' work ethic set him apart in college.
“He was a guy for four years that we never questioned what he was bringing,” Rohlik said. “He was a captain for us and guys looked up to everything he did — how he trained and what he brought to the table every day. He will be missed.”
Myer, who had 192 blocked shots in his college career, said he modeled his game and work ethic after a Detroit Red Wings hall of fame defenseman.
“Growing up I really liked Nick Lidstrom,” Myer said. “I played defense and he is one of the best of all time. So it was great to watch him.”
But Myer did not possess the same size as Lidstrom and as one of the smallest players on the ice, Myer said the ability to avoid crunching hits was a motivator.
“I'm kind of a smaller defenseman but I've always been a good skater,” Myer said. “I can skate guys down and get to loose pucks and I can break pucks out. I can beat fore-checkers to the puck. I try to break the puck out and get it to the forwards and get into the rush.”
Both Parillo and Rohlik agreed that Myer's work ethic set him apart.
“He's not the biggest guy in the world,” Rohlik said. “But he has played against every other team's top line for a couple of years. To have that plus-minus rating is a tribute to how he has played. If you take care of your own end, you'll get chances.”
Myer said he always had the mentality to be the hardest worker on the team.
“My mindset is to show up every day and work as hard I can,” he said.
Home Sweet Home
Myer said he attended several Walleye games when he was in high school.
“Then I went to a playoff game when they were in the [2019 Kelly Cup] Finals,” he said. “The atmosphere was crazy. The crowd was awesome. The fans were so into it. They had white T-shirts and towels. It made you even more excited.”
Myer also played at the Huntington Center for Ohio State when the Buckeyes participated in the 2019 Ice Breaker tournament to start last season.
“It was cool. My mom had some of the players over for dinner at our house. It was a great way to kick off my senior year to have all of my family and friends there,” he said.
It's a trend that will continue when Myer takes the ice for the Walleye.
“The Walleye did not sign Gordi Myer just because he's 'local' and a good story,” Parillo said. “His level of execution offensively will be more evident in professional hockey. Gordi Myer will be a legit pro that can help this team win games, 100 percent.”
First Published September 6, 2020, 2:00 p.m.
