Marlies

     With the hockey season coming to a close it will be a sad off season for the NHL as 2 unexpected team are fighting for league supremacy and a weak free agent market. The one thing on the other hand that leaf fans can look forward to is the possibility of a small parade. Not a parade for any major Toronto sports team but one that has an impact. The Toronto Marlies. With a good number of Marlies seeing plenty of NHL ice time and one who was with the leafs the entire season (Gardiner) the Marlies have been a powerhouse in the AHL. After finishing second in their division, Brian Burke and the rest of the organization put their focus on the minors. After getting through a tough 76 game season the Marlies knew they had what it takes to go deep. Three easy series later the Maple Leafs affiliate sees themselves playing for the Calder Cup. The first 3 rounds went very quick and the team saw some significant time off. Last night in Norfolk the Marlies went 0-for11 on the power play which was the reason the could not come away with the victory and Norfolk walked away one up in the series.

Norfolk is up 1-0

Most sports fans do not take the Marlies seriously. I have been to a lot of games and I will tell everybody that the hockey is pretty good and that you do not have to sell an limb to get tickets. If the Marlies walk away with the Calder Cup it means big things for the Maple Leafs. A roster revamp would most likely take place and the value of the players would go up. All we can do is hope for now but you can count on me being at one of the Marlies home games and me cheering in the small parade. It is only a matter of time before this city sees a winner, but all we can do is wait.

*GO MARLIES!*

-Daniel Testa