| Toronto Marlies | |
 | |
| City: | Toronto, Ontario |
|---|---|
| League: | American Hockey League |
| Conference: | Western Conference |
| Division: | North Division |
| Founded: | 2005 |
| Home Arena: | Ricoh Coliseum |
| Colours: | Blue, white
|
| Owner(s): | Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment |
| General Manager: | Dave Nonis |
| Head Coach: | Dallas Eakins |
| Media: | Rogers TV Toronto Star Toronto Sun [FMJ |
| Affiliates: | Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) Reading Royals (ECHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1982–1986: | St. Catharines Saints |
| 1986–1991: | Newmarket Saints |
| 1991–2005: | St. John's Maple Leafs |
| 2005–present: | Toronto Marlies |
| Championships | |
| Division Championships: | 2 (2007–08, 2011–12) |
| Conference Championships: | 1 (2011–12) |
| Calder Cups: | none |
The Toronto Marlies are a Canadian professional ice hockey team currently playing in the American Hockey League (AHL). The top affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Toronto Maple Leafs, the Marlies play at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario. The Marlies are the only AHL team that currently plays in the same city as its NHL affiliate.
Official Toronto Marlies Website: http://www.torontomarlies.com
History[]
The AHL had a strong presence in Atlantic Canada in the 1980s and 1990s, but by 2004, the St. John's Maple Leafs were the only remaining team in the region. Although the team was extremely popular and had excellent attendance, the desire of the parent Toronto Maple Leafs to reduce travel costs and have a tenant for its Ricoh Coliseum resulted in the team's relocation to Toronto for the 2005–06 season. Previous minor league and junior ventures in Toronto had not met with success, and there was a general feeling that Toronto fans were only interested in the NHL and not any other levels of hockey. With the Marlies as the Leafs top affiliate, it was felt that this obstacle could be overcome. Attendance, however, of barely 2,800 for the Marlies first home playoff game in April 2006 again raised questions about the viability of a second pro hockey franchise in Toronto.
The team is named after the former Toronto Marlboros junior hockey team, but the abbreviated "Marlies" name was chosen to avoid any potential association with the similarly named cigarette brand.
Their major rivals are the Hamilton Bulldogs, located down Queen Elizabeth Way. The Maple Leafs also have a rivalry with that team's parent club, the Montreal Canadiens.
This market was previously served by:
- Toronto Roadrunners (2003–04)
Season-by-Season results[]
Regular Season[]
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 80 | 41 | 29 | 6 | 4 | 92 | 270 | 263 | 4th, North |
| 2006–07 | 80 | 34 | 39 | 2 | 5 | 75 | 220 | 270 | 6th, North |
| 2007–08 | 80 | 50 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 109 | 246 | 203 | 1st, North |
| 2008–09 | 80 | 39 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 90 | 240 | 229 | 4th, North |
| 2009–10 | 80 | 33 | 35 | 6 | 6 | 78 | 193 | 261 | 5th, North |
| 2010–11 | 80 | 37 | 32 | 1 | 10 | 85 | 228 | 219 | 5th, North |
| 2011–12 | 76 | 44 | 24 | 5 | 3 | 96 | 217 | 175 | 1st, North |
Playoffs[]
| Season | 1st Round | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | L, 1–4, Grand Rapids | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Out of playoffs. | |||
| 2007–08 | W, 4–3, San Antonio | W, 4-3 Syracuse | L, 1-4 Chicago | — |
| 2008–09 | L, 2–4, Manitoba | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Out of playoffs. | |||
| 2010–11 | Out of playoffs. | |||
| 2011–12 | W, 3–0, Rochester | W, 4-1, Abbotsford | W, 4-1, Oklahoma City | 0-4, Norfolk |