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April 25, 2012 in Latest Leafs Updates, Miscellaneous 0

Joffrey Lupul, left winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs has been named one of the three finalists for the Masterton Trophy, an award that goes “to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverence, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey”.

Joffrey’s career had been in doubt after a serious blood infection followed two back surgeries, the first of which took place at the end of 2009. Upon his return after missing 87 games he was limited in ice time and deemed expendable by Anaheim, in particular by current Leaf coach Randy Carlyle, as a player who couldn’t play his off wing effectively. He and Jake Gardiner were traded last year for Francois Beauchemin.

Lupul was in the top ten in scoring when he was sidelined with a separated shoulder late in this season.

Also finishing in the final nominations, Ottawa’s Daniel Alfredsson and Montreal’s Max Pacioretty.

April 24, 2012 in Marlies Report 0

Hurry hard: Marlies sweep Americans

(D’Amigo first star and fifth playoff goal) Apr. 23 Marlies 3 vs. Americans 0 Marlies scorers: Dupuis (1), D’Amigo (5), Kadri (1) Americans scorers: None Links: Box score | Discussion board

Forward lines: Hamilton-Zigomanis-Kadri, D’Amigo-Colborne-Frattin, Mueller-Dupuis-Deschamps, Scott-Acton-Rosehill Defence pairings: Fraser-Holzer, Percy-Gardiner, Mikus-Gysbers Goaltenders: Scrivens (Win, 59:58 minutes played, 29 saves 0GA) Rynnas 0:00

Recap:

The Toronto Marlies, in only the third playoff game in Blue and White since 2008, ended the first round of the Calder Cup with a 3-0 win against the Rochester Americans. The score mirrored the series as the Marlies swept the best of five match in style.

True to their season form, the Marlies posted a 28-0-3 record when leading after two, Toronto scored early in each frame taking the wind out of the 7,118 fans on hand at the Blue Cross Arena.

April 21, 2012 in Marlies Report 0

Marlies take stranglehold on Calder round in Toronto

(Jerry D’Amigo continues hot play with 2 goals and game winner) Apr. 21 Marlies 4 vs. Americans 3 Marlies scorers: D’Amigo 2 (4), Zigomanis (2), Deschamps (2) Americans scorers: Foligno (2), Verone (2), Brennan (2) Links: Box score | Discussion board

Forward lines: Hamilton-Zigomanis-Kadri, Ashton-Colborne-Frattin, D’Amigo-Dupuis-Deschamps, Scott-Acton-Rosehill Defence pairings: Fraser-Holzer, Percy-Gardiner, Mikus-Gysbers Goaltenders: Scrivens (Win 60:00 minutes played, 23 saves, 3 GA), Rynnas 0:00

Recap:

I couldn’t help but wonder if I might have this feeling next year with the Leafs. Holed up in the S-Mo blue and white fortress of solitude watching the proceedings at the Ricoh Coliseum today gave me some thrills and chills… is it possible la vie en bleu et blanc sanctum sanctorum could be rocking out any harder next season?

Yeah, it is.

Still, it was extremely exciting to watch a slice of the future of the big club determine their path in the second game of their opening round of the AHL playoffs against the Rochester Americans. 7,816 spinning white rally towels propelled their club, the rafters near bursting with fans. In fact Ricoh was shy only 324 bodies for their standing room only capacity of 8,140.

Marlies open Calder Cup playoffs with a win

April 20, 2012 in Marlies Report 0

Jerry D’Amigo scores twice including winning goal
Apr. 19: Marlies 4 vs. Rochester 3

Marlies scorers: D’Amigo 2 (2), Frattin (1), Zigomanis (1)
Americans scorers: Varone (1), Foligno (1), Brennan (1)
Links: Box Score | Discussion boards

Forward lines:: Hamilton-Zigomanis-Kadri, Ashton-Colborne-Frattin, D’Amigo-Dupuis-Deschamps, Scott-Acton-Rosehill
Defence pairings: Percy-Gardiner, Fraser-Holzer, Mikus-Gysbers
Goaltenders: Scrivens (Win 59:55 minutes played, 20 saves, 3 GA) Rynnas (0:00)

Recap:
A common echo is that, once again, there is no playoff hockey in Toronto. 6,244 fans at Ricoh Coliseum disagree.

By locking up the second seed in the AHL’s Western Conference, the Marlies earned the privilege of choosing to open their best-of-five conference quarter-final against the Rochester Americans on home ice. The hometown fans did not go home disappointed. Jerry D’Amigo’s goal with 4:17 remaining in regulation was the game-winning marker in a 4-3 Toronto victory.
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Schenn named to Canada’s World Championship roster

April 17, 2012 in Latest Leafs Updates 0

Luke Schenn has been named to Canada’s entry at the IIHF World Hockey Championship. Schenn joins Leafs teammate Dion Phaneuf as two of the 5 defencemen named to the team (Marc Methot, Jay Bouwmeester, P.K. Subban).

Schenn won a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship in 2008 played in the Czech Republic.

The 2012 World Championship will be played in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

Toronto Star journalist Randy Starkman passes away.

April 16, 2012 in Miscellaneous 0

Long time Toronto Star journalist Randy Starkman, one of Canada’s leading amateur athletics writers, passed away in Toronto on Monday.

Starkman, 51, was diagnosed with pnuemonia last week and had spent several days in intensive care.

Although Starkman did some occasional professional hockey coverage, his primary focus was amateur sport during a career in which he covered 12 Olympic games.

In 1991 Starkman co-authored Eric Lindros’ biography Fire on Ice, which detailed the future NHL star’s decision not to sign with the Quebec Nordiques. Lindros had a shortly-tenured stint with the Maple Leafs years later.

TMLfans.ca extends its deepest condolences to the Starkman family.

Link: Toronto Star’s Randy Starkman dead at 51