Why the Maple Leafs will turn to AHL champion Marlies for help

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The last Toronto Marlies left the rink nearly two hours after winning the Calder Cup, taking one last look at the ice covered in blue confetti.

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This isn’t the last we’ll see of a lineup like this that could play a bigger role in the Maple Leafs’ ongoing quest to hopefully one day put themselves in the emotional frame of Friday’s postgame; albeit on the larger canvas of Scotiabank Arena, complete with the final whistle, trophy victory lap, loud music and fans.

Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, Jacob Quillan and playoff MVP Artur Akhtyamov jumped to the front of the pack. Yet Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka didn’t overlook veteran Vinni Lettieri who led all playoff scorers with 26 points, Bo Groulx with 14 points, defenseman William Villeneuve who tied for second-most playoff assists in NHL history (21), Ryan Tverberg’s speed or ball-busting Landon Sim. Sim joins Michael Pezzetta and Marc Johnstone on the power line as a new audience favorite.

They can stay with the Maple Leafs for a night, a week or more, and do it with the confidence of a marathon champion.

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“This is special for a lot of us, it’s the first time we’ve won anything,” an ecstatic Toronto native Pezzetta said at the postgame on-ice party. “Now we are forever connected.

“A bunch of guys who want to compete for each other every night. From top to bottom, we have a great time as a family.”

In fact, players and staff had to dodge wives, children and prams as they paraded with the trophy aloft.

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Why Toronto fans are embracing Mary

The die-hard Marlies supporters — the ubiquitous “real” Leaf fans — make Coca-Cola Stadium a formidable house of pain. The visiting team, the parent team has not yet been replicated in the SBA. Fans hungry for the Stanley Cup lingered long after Calder presented the award, chanting “MVP” for goaltender Akhetiamov, who returned to the locker room and threw some bats through the glass to them in thanks.

Promoting affordable family entertainment through select morning high school team games and youth hockey events during the regular season, the Marlies’ weekend playoff gates are filled with spontaneous singing and effective jeers from a true blue-collar, hockey-savvy fan base in a compact 8,000-seat barn.

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WHAT LANDON SIM BRINGS

They quickly took to the tough Mary like Sim. London Knights teammate Cowan has been with him through two Memorial Cup finals and now this one. While Cowan’s fellow first-round pick played 66 NHL games, Sim spent most of his first entry-level contract year in the press box with the ECHL and Marlies before shining and scoring in the playoffs. That includes a three-goal rally starting Friday.

“I get a lot of experience in these big games,” Sim said with a smile, his front teeth already chipped. “Easton and I will do whatever it takes to win and this is what happened (both played until June). It’s great to win with him again. This is the best city to play in.”

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NYlander’s long-awaited victory

In the Nyland clan, it’s always William who gets the spotlight, but on Friday it was younger brother Alex’s turn. His father, Michael, a former National Hockey League player, ran around the ice with a camera phone, keeping him and his teammates, trophies and media buzzing, while William watched from Sweden.

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Two years ago, Alex decided to join Willian on a major AHL contract with the Maple Leafs despite interest from other NHL teams in the former Sabres’ first-round winger. He’s only played five NHL games so far, all last season, but the first championship gives him motivation.

“I want to stay here (he’s a UFA) and this organization has been great to me,” Alex said, adding that his brother has been giving him support in the two months since the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs.

“He’s hungry for the (Stanley) Cup and he’s working hard and I know he can do it.”

The Marises will host a semi-private victory party on Monday.

“This is my first time winning at this level, but to do it the way we’ve done it (five-game playoff series), it’s a tough challenge,” head coach John Gruden said before placing the final game-winning puck in front of 16 people in the locker room. “That’s why it’s the hardest trophy to win.

“It says a lot about our guys. Even guys like (those who played less) Blake Smith, Noah Chadwick, Boriah Wallis now have a lifelong pedigree of winning. The winning is developing and that’s going to be a springboard for all of them.”

lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

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