Jump to content

Toronto Marlies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Toronto Marlies
CityToronto, Ontario
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
DivisionNorth
Founded1978
Home arenaCoca-Cola Coliseum
Scotiabank Arena (occasional home games)
ColoursBlue, white
   
Owner(s)Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
General managerRyan Hardy
Head coachJohn Gruden
CaptainLogan Shaw
MediaThe Sports Network
Sportsnet 590
TSN 1050
AHL.TV (Internet)
AffiliatesToronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)
Franchise history
1978–1982New Brunswick Hawks
1982–1986St. Catharines Saints
1986–1991Newmarket Saints
1991–2005St. John's Maple Leafs
2005–presentToronto Marlies
Championships
Regular season titles2 (2015–16, 2017–18)
Division titles7 (2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2022–23)
Conference titles2 (2012, 2018)
Calder Cups1 (2018)
Current uniform
Current season

The Toronto Marlies are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference. The Marlies are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a company that owns several professional sports teams in the city, including their NHL affiliate, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Marlies have played their home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum since 2005.

The Marlies were established as the New Brunswick Hawks in 1978. The team relocated three times, to St. Catharines, Newmarket, and St. John's, before relocating to Toronto in 2005. As a part of its relocation to Toronto, the team was renamed the Marlies, after the Toronto Marlboros, a junior hockey team formerly sponsored by the Maple Leafs. The Marlies have advanced to the Calder Cup Finals in 2012 and 2018, with the Marlies having won the latter series.

History

[edit]

The Marlies trace their history back to the New Brunswick Hawks, which were founded in 1978 as the first professional ice hockey team in New Brunswick, and were jointly operated by the Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks as a farm team.[1][2] Maple Leaf Gardens Limited (MLGL) and the Black Hawks each owned half of the franchise.[3][4][5]

The Hawks played until 1982 when they relocated to St. Catharines, Ontario[6] as the St. Catharines Saints, this time as a sole Leafs affiliate; the Hawks had opted to affiliate with the Springfield Indians. After four seasons, the team moved to Newmarket, Ontario as the Newmarket Saints, where they played for five seasons before moving to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador[7][8] as the St. John's Maple Leafs, the first professional ice hockey team in Newfoundland and Labrador. The team played their home games at Memorial Stadium until 2001, when they moved to Mile One Centre.

The AHL had a strong presence in Atlantic Canada in the 1980s and 1990s. However, after the turn of the millennium, NHL teams sought to have their AHL affiliates located geographically closer to their parent clubs in order to ease the movement of players between the minors and the NHL. By 2004, St. John's was the only remaining team in the region. Although the team was extremely popular and had excellent attendance, the parent Maple Leafs wanted to cut back on escalating travel costs. By the time of the team's final season in Newfoundland, their nearest opponent was the Portland Pirates, 1,781 km (1,107 mi) away. Additionally, Ricoh Coliseum (formerly CNE Coliseum and now Coca-Cola Coliseum) had recently been renovated for hockey use, and the NHL Leafs were looking to place a team there. The Coliseum had been home to the Toronto Roadrunners, top affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, in the 2003–04 season. These factors resulted in the team's relocation to Toronto for the 2005–06 season.

The team is named after the former Toronto Marlboros, a junior hockey team that played in Toronto from 1904 to 1989, the last 62 years of that time under common ownership with the Leafs. The team was long known as the "Marlies" to fans and media alike. To avoid any potential association with the similarly named cigarette brand, MLSE uses the abbreviated form as the team's official nickname.

During the 2011–12 AHL season, the Marlies advanced to the Calder Cup Finals, the deepest playoff run for a Toronto-based team since the Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967. They lost to the Norfolk Admirals in a four-game sweep.

In 2015–16 season, the Marlies moved from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference due to the relocation of five teams to California.

The Marlies compete against Ontario rivals the Belleville Senators in the "Battle of the 401" or "Battle of Ontario" since the 2017-18 season.

The Marlies with the Calder Cup, the club's first after defeating the Texas Stars in the 2018 Calder Cup Final.

During the 2017–18 AHL season, the Marlies won their first Calder Cup after a 4–3 series win over the Texas Stars in the finals.[9] It was the first professional hockey title for a Toronto-based team since 1967.

On December 1, 2019, Greg Moore was named as head coach of the Marlies, replacing Sheldon Keefe who was promoted to head coach of the Maple Leafs.[10]

On May 21st, 2023, Moore was relieved of his duties. John Gruden was announced as the teams new Head Coach on July 4th, 2023.

Team information

[edit]
[edit]

The Toronto Marlies' primary colours are blue and white, which is used in the team's logo. The present logo for the Marlies, introduced in 2016, is based on the Toronto Marlboros' logo. The Marlboros were a junior ice hockey team that was formerly sponsored by Maple Leaf Gardens Limited.

Broadcast information

[edit]

All regular season home games, as well as all home and away playoff games air on AHL.TV, with Todd Crocker as the play-by-play announcer. Select games such as playoff games are also simulcast on The Sports Network.

Season-by-season results

[edit]
Calder Cup Champions Conference Champions Division Champions League leader

Records as of the end of the 2023–24 season.[11]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points PCT Goals
for
Goals
against
Standing Year Prelims 1st
round
2nd
round
3rd
round
Finals
2005–06 80 41 29 6 4 92 .575 270 263 4th, North 2006 L, 1–4, GR
2006–07 80 34 39 2 5 75 .469 220 270 6th, North 2007 Did not qualify
2007–08 80 50 21 3 6 109 .681 246 203 1st, North 2008 W, 4–3, SA W, 4–3, SYR L, 1–4, CHI
2008–09 80 39 29 5 7 90 .563 240 229 4th, North 2009 L, 2–4, MTB
2009–10 80 33 35 6 6 78 .488 193 261 5th, North 2010 Did not qualify
2010–11 80 37 32 1 10[1] 85 .531 228 219 5th, North 2011 Did not qualify
2011–12 76 44 24 5 3 96 .632 217 175[4] 1st, North 2012 W, 3–0, RCH W, 4–1, ABB W, 4–1, OKC L, 0–4, NOR
2012–13 76 43 23 3 7 96 .632 237 199 1st, North 2013 W, 3–0, RCH L, 2–4, GR
2013–14 76 45 25 2 4 96 .632 223 202 1st, North 2014 W, 3–0, MIL W, 4–0, CHI L, 3–4, TEX
2014–15 76 40 27 9 0 89 .586 207 203 2nd, North 2015 L, 2–3, GR
2015–16 76 54 16[3] 5 1 114 .750 294 191 1st, North 2016 W, 3–0, BRI W, 4–3, ALB L, 1–4, HER
2016–17 76 42 29 4 1 89 .586 245 207 2nd, North 2017 W, 3–1, ALB L, 3–4, SYR
2017–18 76 54 18[2] 2 2 112 .737 254 170[3] 1st, North 2018 W, 3–2, UTI W, 4–0, SYR W, 4–0, LV W, 4–3, TEX
2018–19 76 39 24 9 4 91 .599 248 243 3rd, North 2019 W, 3–0, RCH W, 4–0, CLE L, 2–4, CHA
2019–20 61 29 27 3 2 63 .516 206 212 7th, North 2020 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 35 16 17 0 2 34 .486 111 119 4th, Canadian 2021 No playoffs were held
2021–22 72 37 30 4 1 79 .549 243 244 6th, North 2022 Did not qualify
2022–23 72 42 24 4 2 90 .625 229 225 1st, North 2023 BYE W, 3–1, UTI L, 0–3, ROC
2023–24 72 34 26 10 2 80 .556 249 220 5th, North 2024 L, 1–2, BEL
Totals 1400 753 495 83 69 1658 .592 4360 4055 13 playoff appearances

[1]-Indicates league leading: most shootout losses

[2]-Indicates league leading: fewest losses

[3]-Indicates league leading: fewest goals against

Players and personnel

[edit]

Current roster

[edit]

Updated December 10, 2024.[12][13][14]

Team roster
No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
26 United States Nick Abruzzese C L 25 2022 Slate Hill, New York Maple Leafs
70 Russia Artur Akhtyamov G L 23 2024 Kazan, Russia Maple Leafs
14 United States Matthew Barbolini C L 24 2024 Williamsville, New York Marlies
55 Canada Matt Benning D R 30 2024 St. Albert, Alberta Maple Leafs
10 Canada Joseph Blandisi (A) C R 30 2021 Markham, Ontario Marlies
43 Canada Kyle Clifford LW L 33 2021 Ayr, Ontario Marlies
71 Russia Nikita Grebenkin LW L 21 2024 Serov, Russia Maple Leafs
35 Sweden Dennis Hildeby G L 23 2023 Järfälla, Sweden Maple Leafs
33 Finland Roni Hirvonen C L 22 2023 Espoo, Finland Maple Leafs
84 Finland Mikko Kokkonen D L 23 2022 Mikkeli, Finland Maple Leafs
63 Canada Braeden Kressler C R 21 2024 Kitchener, Ontario Maple Leafs
94 United States Robert Mastrosimone LW L 23 2023 Bay Shore, New York Marlies
54 Canada Nicolas Mattinen D R 26 2024 Orleans, Ontario Maple Leafs
8 United States Tommy Miller D R 25 2022 West Bloomfield, Michigan Marlies
30 Canada Matt Murray G L 30 2024 Thunder Bay, Ontario Maple Leafs
47 Finland Topi Niemela D R 22 2023 Oulu, Finland Maple Leafs
56 Canada Cedric Pare C L 25 2024 Levis, Quebec Maple Leafs
32 Canada Matteo Pietroniro D L 26 2021 Boise, Idaho Marlies
61 Canada Jacob Quillan C L 22 2024 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Maple Leafs
11 Canada Logan Shaw (C) RW R 32 2022 Glace Bay, Nova Scotia Marlies
73 United States Zach Solow RW R 26 2022 Naples, Florida Marlies
46 United States Alex Steeves F L 25 2021 Bedford, New Hampshire Maple Leafs
21 Canada Sam Stevens C L 24 2024 Montreal, Quebec Marlies
77 Canada Ryan Tverberg C R 22 2023 Richmond Hill, Ontario Maple Leafs
76 Canada William Villeneuve D R 22 2022 Sherbrooke, Quebec Maple Leafs
52 United States Cade Webber D L 23 2024 Meadville, Pennsylvania Maple Leafs


Team captains

[edit]

Head coaches

[edit]
Sheldon Keefe with the Calder Cup after the 2018 Calder Cup Final. He was named as the Marlies head coach in 2015.

Notable alumni

[edit]

The following players have played both 100 games with the Marlies and 100 games in the National Hockey League:

Team records

[edit]

Single season

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Goaltending records need a minimum 25 games played by the goaltender.

Career

[edit]
Recording 15 shutouts with the Marlies, Garret Sparks holds the franchise all-time shutout record with the team.
  • Career goals: Ryan Hamilton, 94
  • Career assists: Mike Zigomanis, 116
  • Career points: Kris Newbury, 168
  • Career penalty Minutes: Kris Newbury, 475
  • Career goaltending wins: Garret Sparks, 80
  • Career shutouts: Garret Sparks, 15
  • Career games: Alex Foster, 312

Other records and firsts

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sports roundup". The Globe and Mail. 1978-06-24.
  2. ^ "Leafs, Hawks to Moncton". Toronto Star. 1978-06-20.
  3. ^ "Ballard wants Leafs to have own farm club". The Globe and Mail. 1980-03-21.
  4. ^ "Across Canada: No liquor licence for Leafs-Hawks farm club". The Globe and Mail. 1978-11-09.
  5. ^ "AHL Hawks get Tessier". The Globe and Mail. 1981-08-22.
  6. ^ "Leafs place AHL team in St. Kitts". The Globe and Mail. 1982-06-22.
  7. ^ "AHL History". Toronto Marlies. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  8. ^ Ballou, Bill (2013-04-04). "AHL: Bracken Kearns easy Worcester Sharks MVP choice". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  9. ^ McGran, Kevin (June 14, 2018). "Toronto Marlies capture first Calder Cup". The Toronto Star. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  10. ^ "Greg Moore Named Head Coach of Toronto Marlies". NHL.com. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  11. ^ Hockeydb.com, Toronto Marlies season statistics and records.
  12. ^ "Toronto Marlies roster". Toronto Marlies. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Toronto Marlies Roster". American Hockey League. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Toronto Marlies Transactions 2024-25 Regular Season". American Hockey League. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Toronto Marlies name a captain and official alternates". SB Nation. 3 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Rich Clune Named Toronto Marlies Captain". OurSports Central. 1 March 2021.
[edit]