Toronto Marlies players, staff, and fans gathered at a downtown sports bar on Monday to celebrate the team’s Calder Cup championship win after an incredible post-season run.
The team defeated the Chicago Wolves 4-3 in Game 5 of the AHL championship final at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Friday – a victory that came after they finished 15th in the league during the regular season.
Marlies general manager Ryan Hardy described their journey to the championship as “a long journey.”
“This hockey team was delusionally optimistic, perfectly dumb, fueled by unconditional brotherly love, and they just refused to die,” he said.
Hardy spoke in front of a crowd at Real Sports Bar & Grill, where fans, staff, players, and their families filled every seat.
‘The roof blew off the place’
Team captain Logan Shaw addressed fans and players’ families during the downtown celebrations, asking them to stand for a round of applause.
“It was a special run. From finishing 15th in the regular season to first in playoffs. It was magical. It was something that all of us will never forget,” he said.
Lydia Couter, a Marlies fan who attended Friday’s game and joined other supporters at the bar on Monday, said they truly deserved this win.
“They came out as the underdog and they showed that they could do it. That was amazing to see and witness,” she said.
“It’s like the roof blew off the place. The energy was amazing.”
The Toronto Marlies pose with the Calder Cup, holding the jersey of Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Rodion Amirov, who died of cancer in 2023. (Arlyn Mc Adorey/The Canadian Press)
Vinay Sharma, a longtime Marlies fan who also attended the celebration at the bar, agreed with her sentiments.
“It’s really nice to see the Marlies get some recognition over time especially when they kind of went unrecognized with the Leafs and now especially with the World Cup going on,” he said.
“To see everybody get together and fill arenas and sell out playoff games really made our community stronger.”
Team honors late player during celebration
The championship festivities also had a more serious moment as players honored Toronto Maple Leafs’ draft pick Rodion Amirov, who passed away from cancer in 2023.
Goalie Artur Akhtyamov held up Amirov’s jersey during a team photo with the cup. Akhtyamov made 27 saves during Friday’s game and received the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as most valuable player of the AHL playoffs.
During his speech, Hardy announced that part of their celebrations would include donations to several local organizations and community programs.
This included local hockey initiatives in Oakville and Burlington where Const. Marc Pinizzotto coached before being killed on duty earlier this month.
“I never want our hockey team to take more than what it gives. The people of our community, especially those who are hurting or struggling or going through difficult times are what we play for,” Hardy said.
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