'We Never Ever Folded The Tent': Marlies Take High Road After Chaotic End to Season Following Loss to Senators

01/05/2024

The Toronto Marlies’ season finished earlier than they would’ve wanted. However, that’s not to say there weren’t any learning experiences along the way.

“As a team, we never ever folded the tent,” Marlies captain Logan Shaw said during his end-of-season media availability on Tuesday afternoon.

Toronto’s season concluded on Sunday after falling 4-3 in overtime to their arch-rivals, the Belleville Senators, in Game 3 of the series. Shaw’s description of his team was what I learned throughout this season: The Marlies were a group that didn’t give up on each other, even when it was incredibly tough.

“The five, six, game losing streaks that we had (during the regular season), we could’ve very easily been like, ‘Oh, you know, that’s enough of that.’ But we didn’t,” Shaw added.

“We didn’t quit the whole season. I think there was two or three games all year where I’d say the work ethic maybe wasn’t there for a full game. But I’m proud of this group.”

There were a lot of good stories throughout the year within this team. One, especially, is Marshall Rifai, who made his NHL debut on Feb. 19 with the Maple Leafs, after signing an AHL contract with the Marlies in March of 2022.

“If you followed Marshall from last year to the start of this year to playoffs, the growth that he’s had, on and off the ice — but especially with his little plays coming out of d-zone and his plays with the pick — and the big thing is confidence,” Shaw said.

“His best asset — it always has been — is his skating and he knows that. So, if he keeps working on the other parts of his game as well, again, he was awarded with the NHL game this year, and deservingly so.”

When Rifai was asked on Tuesday how he’ll approach his offseason — which could be very important because of where he’s at in his career — the 26-year-old said the work could begin soon.

“Probably a little bit of time off, but the way the season ended, it maybe leaves a bit of a sour taste in your mouth. So, [I’ll] probably get to work sooner than later.”

One player who also improved this season with the Marlies was Nick Abruzzese. His 16 goals and 36 assists in 71 games with AHL Toronto was a new career high for the 24-year-old playmaking forward. Abruzzese was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

“He has all the ability to be a great player and he puts all the work in. It’s nice to see him get the rewards. If you watch him every day, he is a true professional and he wants to be in the NHL,” the Marlies’ captain said.

“We all do, but he’s doing everything he can to make sure he keeps taking steps. And it’s a big summer for him as well too. He’s going to want to come into camp next year and prove that he can play in the NHL, and I truly think he can.”

When Roni Hirvonen took a high stick to the eye in his second AHL game, the Finnish forward didn’t know if he’d ever play professional hockey again. His perseverance, Shaw says, was probably the best individual story this season with the Marlies.

“For Roni, for a guy who wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to play hockey again and come back and battle the way he did and play the way he did. And he grew a lot as well over each and every game he played when he came back. Getting to play with him, that was pretty special as well, just because of the situation he was in.”

Toronto’s year came to an end with fireworks, as Kyle Clifford got into a scuffle with Belleville’s Boko Imama while both teams shook hands following Game 3. Some might say Clifford was a loose cannon during the moment, however, a player of his stature knows a thing or two about the handshake line.

He’s won two Stanley Cups with the L.A. Kings. Something would’ve had to have set Clifford off.

And as Marlies play-by-play voice Todd Crocker noted during the broadcast, Imama said “some horrible things” in Game 2 as the two players bickered back and forth.

Clifford was not made available for comment on Tuesday when requested to speak about the situation. The team also declined to make Marlies head coach John Gruden and GM Ryan Hardy available to speak about the Marlies’ season.

From what I’ve been told, Imama crossed the line with a chirp in Game 2 and things came to a head during the handshake line in Game 3.

Clifford and Joseph Blandisi, both crucial parts of the Marlies’ leadership group, will be unrestricted free agents on July 1. Clifford is coming off a two-year NHL deal and Blandisi, who had a career year scoring 25 goals and 34 assists in 70 games, could garner some attention from NHL clubs.

Whether that’s the last time both wear a Marlies jersey remains to be seen. But for Shaw, who spent countless hours with those two players, being their teammate was a pleasure.

“They’re obviously a big part of this. They’ve obviously helped me grow as a leader as well. I thought we had a good mesh of different personalities in between the three of us,” he added.

“And both of those guys, I have nothing but great things to say. I mean, they’re two of my best friends. I want to play with them until my career’s over if it was possible. The way they lead, the way they play, they’re both vocal guys, but I think both of them lead by example as well. They play hard each and every night. They practice hard. They battle.

“And that’s what’s going to make these younger guys better and that’s kind of how we built our leadership group over the last couple of years, was just work hard each and every day and try to teach the younger guys how to be a pro and what it takes to win.”