(Photo: Melissa Kania)
The Toronto Marlies are headed to the top as they prepare to face the Norfolk Admirals in this year’s Calder Cup Finals, beginning on June 1. Before it begins, however, let’s take a glance back at the playoffs and how they got here.Just four wins away from the Calder Cup, the road to this point involved just two losses on the Marlies’ side. The team accomplished eleven wins in just thirteen games.
The playoffs began on April 19 against the Rochester Americans. That series took just three games as Toronto swept the Amerks. Both of the first two games were close 4-3 wins at home, while the third game was a commanding 3-0 win to grab the series. Matt Frattin had a goal and two assists, while Jerry D’Amigo led the Marlies with five goals and one assist.
D’Amigo was also named first star of all three games.
Next, the Marlies took more a road trip – all the way out to Abbotsford, BC to face the Heat in the second round. This one wouldn’t be as easy and took five games to settle, giving Toronto their first loss of the postseason. Although the Heat won the first game, Toronto battled back to win the next four and take the series, including an overtime win in the final game.
Once again, Matt Frattin performed spectacularly, scoring a goal in all but one of the games and leading the Marlies in post-season scoring. Mike Zigomanis scored the game-winning goal in overtime to seal the series win.
The third round saw Toronto face the Oklahoma City Barons; once again, Toronto would need five games to win – but they did it.
The Marlies won the first game of the series 5-0, which made it appear (just a little?) like the series would certainly go their way. Marcel Mueller, Nicolas Deschamps, Jake Gardiner, Joe Colborne and – you guessed it – Matt Frattin scored in the win. But if that game was any indication of how much the Marlies wanted it, the next game was exactly the same – in Oklahoma’s favor.
Left wing Will Acton scored the lone goal for Toronto as they fell, 5-1. And just like that, the series was tied, and it was anybody’s game.
The third game of the series much better reflected the evenness of the teams and the series. Toronto won 5-3, but it was a close fight. Philippe Dupuis, Ryan Hamilton and Jerry D’Amigo each had a goal for the Marlies, while Matt Frattin added two to tip the scales in favor of the Marlies.
The next game would result in a 3-0 win for Toronto, as Philippe Dupuis, Nicolas Deschamps and Matt Frattin would once again tally to put the Marlies up three games to one in the series.
One more win: that’s all they needed, and they got it this past Friday. The Marlies beat the Barons 3-1…. and is there any guess as to who scored for Toronto?
If you guessed Matt Frattin, you’d be correct. The right winger scored twice, and Simon Gysbers added a goal, to win the series.
That’s where we stand now, with the Marlies preparing for the Finals, which begin Friday, June 1.
