Saturday, January 31, 2009

Marlies Set Franchise Mark

January 30, 2009

Marlies Set Franchise Mark with Seventh Straight Home Victory
Stapleton’s three-point night leads Marlies to 4-2 win

(TORONTO) – The Toronto Marlies set a franchise record on Friday night with their seventh consecutive home victory in front of 3,951 fans at Ricoh Coliseum, defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs, 4-2. Tim Stapleton’s two goals and one assist helped guide the Marlies to the win in their first game back since the All-Star break.

Toronto struck just 6:05 into the game after a face-off win in the offensive zone by Tim Stapleton. Richard Petiot fired a wrist shot from the point that was deflected in by Jiri Tlusty who was in front of Bulldogs starting goalie Cedrick Desjardins. The goal was Tlusty’s eighth of the season.

The Bulldogs evened the game at 1-1 when Mile Glumac slid a puck past Justin Pogge. The puck sat behind Pogge for a few moments before anyone realized the puck was free and Glumac tapped home his 20th of the season. David Desharnais collected an assist on the play.

Kyle Rogers didn’t waste much time putting the Marlies back in front 2-1. Rogers found a loose puck in front of the Bulldogs net and slapped home his second goal in the past two games. Darryl Boyce and Phil Oreskovic each picked up an assist on Rogers’ fourth of the season.

On a Marlies power play, Tim Stapleton found the back of the net, making it 3-1 Toronto late in the second period. Tlusty cycled the puck to Staffan Kronwall who fed a one-time pass over to Stapleton who blasted home his seventh of the season.

Stapleton notched his second of the game with a wrist shot that went top shelf on the glove-side of Desjardins. Boyd Devereaux and Ben Ondrus each got assists on the play. Stapleton now has eight points in his past seven games.

Hamilton was able to get the Marlie lead to only two when Bryan Trotter was able to bang home his ninth goal of the season. Mathieu Carle and Ben Maxwell collected assists on the goal.

The Rockford IceHogs come to Toronto for their only visit tomorrow for a 4:00 p.m. tilt against the Marlies. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a Doug Gilmour bobblehead.

ICE CHIPS: The Marlies come into the game with six consecutive home victories…Coming into tonight’s action the Marlies have only allowed four goals against at home…Bulldogs forward Ryan Russell sits fourth (tie) in the AHL in plus/minus with a plus 19...Bulldogs Yannick Weber ranks first (tie) in the AHL amongst defensemen in goals with 10 and power play goals with seven…Marlies forward Tim Stapleton has nine points in the seven games against the Bulldogs this season.

SCORING SUMMARY

First Period

1. TOR J. Tlusty (8) (Petiot, Stapleton) 6:05

Second Period

1. HAM M. Glumac (20) (Desharnais) PP 10:09
2. TOR K. Rogers (4) (Boyce, Oreskovic) 12:26
3. TOR T. Stapleton (7) (Kronwall, Tlusty) PP 16:54

Third Period

4. TOR T. Stapleton 2 (8) (Devereaux, Ondrus) 9:05
2. HAM B. Trotter (9) (Carle, Maxwell) PP 14:27


Shots

TOR HAM
39 20

THREE STARS
1. TOR: Tim Stapleton
2. TOR: Kyle Rogers
3. TOR: Darryl Boyce

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

PlanetUSA Prevails on Record-Setting Night

01/26/2009 9:05 PM

Boxscore

WORCESTER, Mass. … Philadelphia Phantoms forward Jared Ross set AHL All-Star Game records with six assists and seven points and the PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars scored a record nine times in the third period to rally for a 14-11 win over the Canadian AHL All-Stars at the 2009 AHL All-Star Game tonight in Worcester.

The game was witnessed by a capacity crowd of 7,245 fans at the DCU Center as well as national television audiences in Canada on TSN and in the United States on a series of regional networks. The game was also shown on the internet at AHL Live and heard on Sirius XM Radio and XM Canada.

Ross, who was selected to participate in the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic but missed the event following an appendectomy, was named the Charter Communications Most Valuable Player for the game. He combined with linemates Ryan Potulny of the Springfield Falcons (two goals, four assists) and Jeff Taffe of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (three goals, two assists) to lead PlanetUSA to the highest offensive output in event history.

With his father, Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, in attendance, Chris Bourque of the Hershey Bears snapped an 11-11 tie with 4:54 remaining in regulation to send PlanetUSA to the victory. Martins Karsums of the Providence Bruins chipped in with five points (2g, 3a), Michael Ryan of the Albany River Rats also scored twice and had an assist and Artem Anisimov of the Hartford Wolf Pack recorded a goal and two assists.

Corey Locke of the Houston Aeros set an AHL All-Star Game record with four goals and Teddy Purcell of the Manchester Monarchs, last year’s All-Star Game MVP, picked up five assists. Both players now have eight career All-Star points, tied for the league record.

The road to the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs continues when the American Hockey League’s 73rd season resumes on Thursday.


SOURCE: theahl.com

Monday, January 26, 2009

Pogge and Kulemin Recalled From Marlies

Jan 26, 2009, 7:04 PM EST

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Monday that the club has recalled goaltender Justin Pogge and forward Nikolai Kulemin from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Kulemin has played in 41 games for the Leafs this season collecting 14 points on seven goals and seven assists with eight penalty minutes. He has also played in five games with the Marlies.

Pogge recorded the 6-2 road win versus Atlanta on December 22 in his NHL debut. In 32 AHL games this season, he has a record of 15-13-4 with a 2.58 goals against average and a .901 save percentage.For Marlies’ ticket information, including season ticket packages and priority seating, visit www.torontomarlies.com or call the team’s ticket line at 416-597-PUCK.

SOURCE: mapleleafs.com

AHL Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2009

01/26/2009 1:00 PM

WORCESTER, Mass. ... The American Hockey League today formally inducted four new members into its American Hockey League Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place during the Hockey Hall of Fame/AHL All-Star Classic Luncheon at the DCU Center in Worcester, part of the festivities that are making up the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications.

Honored for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the American Hockey League were Bruce Boudreau, one of the AHL’s all-time scoring leaders with 799 career points and a Calder Cup champion as head coach with the Hershey Bears; Jimmy Anderson, a member of the AHL’s top 10 in goals, points and games played and a member of three Calder Cup winners in Springfield; Les Cunningham, considered the first AHL superstar during his tenure in Cleveland from 1936-47; and Louis A.R. Pieri, the long-time owner and general manager of the storied Providence Reds franchise. Cunningham and Pieri were inducted posthumously.

In a unique effort to make the rich tradition of the American Hockey League available to the widest possible audience, the AHL Hall of Fame is housed on-line at www.ahlhalloffame.com and is accessible to fans worldwide with the click of a mouse as a member of the AHL Internet Network.

Now in its 73rd season of play, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 82 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates.

SOURCE: theahl.com

Schneider Leads PlanetUSA to Skills Victory


01/25/2009 4:45 PM


WORCESTER, Mass. … The PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars opened the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications with an 18-12 victory over their Canadian counterparts in the 2009 AHL All-Star Skills Competition at the DCU Center on Sunday evening.

Event scorecard

Manitoba Moose goaltender Cory Schneider, a Massachusetts native and a Boston College product, set an AHL record with 18 stops on 19 shots to earn the Reebok Top Goaltender award. Schneider, a first-round draft choice by the Vancouver Canucks in 2004, hit the All-Star break with a record of 16-2-0 for the Moose, leading the league with a 1.61 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage.

Canadian forward Mike Santorelli of the Milwaukee Admirals was a perfect 4-for-4 in the Charter Communications Accuracy Shooting event, becoming just the third AHL player ever to accomplish that feat. PlanetUSA All-Star Jared Ross of the Philadelphia Phantoms won the Reebok Fastest Skater event with a time of 14.187 seconds.

Defenseman Derek Joslin of the hometown Worcester Sharks took the Reebok Hardest Shot event with a shot registering 98.6 miles per hour, but lost to Sharks teammate Ryan Vesce in the individual Sher-Wood Puck Control Relay.

Schneider combined with Grand Rapids’ Daniel Larsson (13 saves) and Lowell’s Jeff Frazee (11 saves) to backstop PlanetUSA to its fifth Skills Competition win in the last six years.

The PlanetUSA squad will go for the sweep when the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications continues on Monday night with the annual AHL All-Star Game. Coverage from Worcester begins at 7:00 p.m. ET on TSN in Canada, a series of regional networks in the United States and on in the internet at AHL Live (www.ahllive.com). The game can also be heard live on the NHL Home Ice channel on Sirius XM Radio and XM Canada.

SOURCE: theahl.com

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Marlies Take Bite Out of Wolves

January 24, 2009

Marlies Extend Home Winning Streak to Six Games

Kronwall’s point blast the difference as Marlies edge Wolves 3-1
(TORONTO) – The Toronto Marlies came back home after their nine-game road trip and gave the 4,509 Marlies fans in attendance a 3-1 win over the Chicago Wolves at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday night, extending their home winning streak to six games.

The Wolves capitalized on an early 5-on-3 advantage when Colin Stuart beat Marlies starting goalie Justin Pogge with his ninth of the season.
Kyle Rogers tied the score at 1-1 mid-way through the second period with his third of the season. Rogers batted a loose puck past Wolves starting netminder Ondrej Pavelec to get the Marlies on the board. Kris Newbury and Jaime Sifers each collected assists on the play.

Staffan Kronwall gave the Marlies a 2-1 lead when he fired a puck on goal that fooled Pavelec. Darryl Boyce won the draw to Devereaux and passed it back to Kronwall who took a wrist shot that got through traffic and past the Wolves goalie.

With only 27 seconds left in the game Ben Ondrus was able to find Boyd Devereaux open on the far wing and fired the puck into an empty net securing the Marlies victory.

Justin Pogge was able to shut the door on the Wolves after giving up an early goal, stopping 21 of 22 shots faced in the victory, his 15th of the season.

Toronto continues its torrid home winning streak as they have now won six straight at Ricoh Coliseum. The next 10 games the Marlies play will all be at Ricoh Coliseum.

The Marlies will take a six-day break for the AHL All-Star Classic and return on Friday night to host the Hamilton Bulldogs at Ricoh Coliseum at 7:00 p.m. The Rockford IceHogs come to Toronto for their only visit on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. tilt against the Marlies. The game on Saturday is Doug Gilmour bobblehead day.

ICE CHIPS: Toronto returned home to Ricoh Coliseum for their first home game in 21 days…Newcomer Ryan Hamilton suited up for his second game with the Marlies and first on home ice…Chicago Wolves head coach Don Granato is the brother of the current Colorado Avalanche head coach Tony and female U.S. Olympic hockey player Cammi…Don also served as a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs for two seasons…Rogers scored his first goal since December 26 at Lake Erie, a span of 10 games.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Toronto Crunched in Syracuse

January 24, 2009

Road Trip Ends On Losing Note

(SYRACUSE, NY) – The marathon road trip is over and the Marlies are coming home.

Grant Clitsome scored the game winning goal in the second period as the Marlies lost 3-1 to the Crunch in Syracuse on Friday night, to end their nine game road trip with a 2-3-2-2 record.

Aaron Rome and Maxim Mayorov had the other Crunch goals, while Mark Bell scored the loan marker for Toronto. It was his fifth goal in the last five games.

Rome opened the scoring on the power play in the first period after his point shot barely snuck through the arm of Adam Munro.

The Marlies tied the game on the man advantage in the second period when Bell found a loose puck in front of a wide open net to flip it past Dan LaCosta. The Crunch responded later in the period, when Tom Sesisto sent a pass from behind to the net to Clitsome who was streaking in on the wing, and snapped a low shot by the pad of Munro.

The Crunch added to their lead in the third on a turnover, when Mayorov had a breakaway. Munro made the initial save, but the rebound off his pad came right back to Mayorov, who roofed the puck for the 3-1 lead.

With the win, Syracuse is now one point behind Toronto for fourth place in the North Division.

Toronto returns home to host the Calder Cup champion Chicago Wolves at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday night. It’s the final game before the AHL All-Star break.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Marlies Rally, But Fall in OT

January 21, 2009

Toronto Plays In League Leading 14th Overtime Game

(GRAND RAPIDS, MI) – It just wouldn’t be a game on this road trip if it didn’t go to overtime tied 2-2.

Justin Abdelkader scored his second power play goal of the game with 1:57 left in overtime, as the Griffins beat the Marlies 3-2 in Grand Rapids on Wednesday night.

Francis Pare had the other Griffins goal, while Mark Bell and Bates Battaglia scored for Toronto.
Abdelkader opened the scoring early on the power play when the puck came to him on the side of the net, and he fired it into the wide open side of the goal past Justin Pogge. Three minutes later, Darren Haydar set up Pare for a 2 on 1 to make it 2-0. The game stayed that way well into the third period. Toronto had to spend a lot of time killing penalties through the game.

Bell got Toronto on the board when he let a snap shot go from the face-off dot, which sailed over the shoulder of Jimmy Howard. It was his fourth goal in as many games. With just over four minutes left in the third, Battaglia cut in from the right circle, and lifted the puck over Howard on the short side to tie the game 2-2.

The Marlies had a chance to win the game on the power play in overtime when Ville Leino was called for hooking on a Jiri Tlusty chance, but were stopped by Grand Rapids. Then, on the Griffins OT mad advantage, Mattias Ritola snapped a one time shot that snuck through the pads of Pogge, and Abdelkader tapped the puck in behind the net minder for the OT winner.
Grand Rapids was 2 for 10 on the power play, while Toronto was 0 for 3. Pogge made 27 saves, while Howard stopped 24.

Prior to the game, the Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild made a trade sending Robbie Earl to Houston in exchange for Oshawa native Ryan Hamilton. He’s expected to join the team in time for Friday’s game in Syracuse.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Leafs Swap Earl for Wild's Hamilton

January 21, 2009

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that the hockey club has acquired forward Ryan Hamilton from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Robbie Earl.

Hamilton, a 23-year-old Oshawa native, played in 29 games for the Houston Aeros, Minnesota’s American Hockey League affiliate this season registering eight goals and four assists for 12 points with 24 penalty minutes. Last season, the 6-2, 219-pound left-winger played in 72 games and ranked second in Houston goals (20) and points (39). Over the past three seasons, he has played in 163 games for Houston collecting 35 goals, 32 assists and 67 points, along with 98 minutes in penalties. Minnesota originally signed Hamilton as a free agent on July 5, 2006.

Prior to turning pro, Hamilton played four seasons (2002-06) for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. In 2005-06, his final season in Barrie, he led the Colts with 46 goals in 63 games.

Earl played in 36 games this season for the Toronto Marlies collecting 10 points on two goals and eight assists, along with 28 penalty minutes. In nine games with the Leafs in 2007-08, Earl collected one assist. He was originally the Maple Leafs’ fourth choice, selected 187th overall, in the 2004 Entry Draft.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Shootout at the OK Corral Didn't Go Our Way!!!

January 20, 2009
Toronto Rally Falls Short In Texas


(SAN ANTONIO, TX) – It wasn’t a shootout, but it also wasn’t a decision Toronto was looking for.


A pair of power play goals was the difference as the Marlies suffered a 5-3 loss to the surging Rampage in San Antonio on Monday night.


David Spina and Wyatt Smith both had two goals with Joel Perreault adding a single for San Antonio. Bates Battaglia, Robbie Earl and Mark Bell responded for the Marlies, who are now 2-2-1-2 on their 9 game road trip.


Spina opened the scoring in the second period on a pass from Perreault behind the net. Spina was alone in the slot and snapped the shot over the glove of Justin Pogge for the 1-0 lead. Battaglia tied it for Toronto three minutes later after slipped a wrist shot through the pads of Josh Tordjman on a similar set-up from Ben Ondrus. Smith then added back to back power play goals to give San Antonio the 3-1 lead after the second period.


Earl scored his second goal of the season early in the third on a nice snap shot from the circle that went off the post and in to cut the lead, but Perreault put the Rampage back ahead with a snap shot from the wing of his own on a rush to make it 4-2. Bell cut the lead to one, deflecting Earl’s shot in front of Tordjman with over 13 minutes to go, but Spina would add the empty net goal with 1:01 left to seal the win.


Tordjman stopped 31 shots for the win, while Pogge made 40 saves in the loss.
The Marlies head to Grand Rapids to face the Griffins on Wednesday.


SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Aeros Shoot Down Marlies

January 16, 2009

(HOUSTON, TX) – This is not a repeat, but the Marlies went to the shootout.

For the second consecutive game, the Marlies dropped a shootout decision by a 3-2 score, this time to the Houston Aeros at the Toyota Center.

Boyd Devereaux and Mark Bell scored for Toronto, while Matt Beaudoin and Ryan Hamilton had the Houston goals.

Houston opened the scoring on the power play when Corey Locke sent a pass in front to Beaudoin, who slipped the puck under the pads of Justin Pogge. Toronto held a 13-5 shot advantage after the first period.

Devereaux evened the scoring in the second period before Bell put Toronto ahead 2-1 with a power play goal as he beat Nolan Schaefer for his ninth goal of the year.

Hamilton tied the game in the third on the power play, when his snap shot from the slot beat Pogge over the glove to even the game 2-2.
Both teams had chances in overtime, but Houston scored three consecutive goals in the shootout from Locke, Morten Madsen and Beaudoin to seal the win, as Toronto was scoreless.

Toronto is now 4-5 in the shootout this year.

The Marlies will head to San Antonio for a rematch of last year’s first round playoff series with the Rampage on Monday night.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Friday, January 16, 2009

Stralman Recalled to Leafs, Sifers Assigned To Marlies

Jan 14, 2009, 4:24 PM EST

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that defenceman Anton Stralman has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. In addition, the Maple Leafs also assigned blueliner Jaime Sifers to the Marlies.

Stralman has appeared in 21 games with the Maple Leafs this season, posting seven points (one goal, six assists) with a plus one (+1) rating and six penalty minutes. The native of Tibro, Sweden, was assigned to the Marlies on December 14 and registered one goal and two assists for three points with a plus one (+1) rating and 12 penalty minutes in 12 games.

In 14 games with the Maple Leafs this season, Sifers collected two assists with six penalty minutes. The rookie defenceman made his NHL debut December 8 versus the New York Islanders and picked up his first career NHL point (an assist) December 20 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sifers, who was recalled on December 7, has also notched six points (two goals, four assists) and 21 penalty minutes in 19 games with the Marlies this season and was named to the 2009 PlanetUSA AHL All-Star Team on January 7.

For Marlies’ ticket information, including season ticket packages and priority seating, visit www.torontomarlies.com or call the team’s ticket line at 416-597-PUCK.

SOURCE: mapleleafs.com

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Marlies Earn Point In Rematch Of Western Conference Final

January 14, 2009


(ROSEMONT, IL) - It was a rematch of last year's playoff battle, and it went right down to the wire.

Joe Motzko scored the shootout winner as the Marlies dropped a 3-2 decision to the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday night. The win snapped a 7 game losing streak for Chicago.
Darryl Boyce and Mark Bell scored for Toronto in regulation, while Colin Stuart and Jordan LaVallee had the Wolves markers.


Boyce opened the scoring in the second period for Toronto on a 2 on 1 with Kyle Rogers, as he beat Robert Gherson with a rebound for the 1-0 lead. Stuart responded five minutes later, when his shot from the boards went off the skate of Richard Petiot in front and past Adam Munro.
Toronto regained the lead in the third period on the power play when Kris Newbury shot the puck from the boards and Bell tipped it over the shoulder of Gherson for the go ahead marker. The Wolves would tie it with just over three minutes left in the third, on a shorthanded goal after the Marlies turned the puck over behind the net and LaVallee had the quick shot in the slot.


Alex Foster was called for a high sticking double-minor in overtime, but Munro made a big glove save and the Marlies were able to hold the Wolves at bay and force the shootout.


Bates Battaglia had the loan shootout goal for Toronto, while Jeff Hamilton, Brett Skinner and Joe Motzko netted the Chicago goals.


Toronto is now 2-1-1-1 on the nine game road trip. They'll travel to Houston next to face the Aeros on Friday night.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Marlies Grill Chops in Iowa

January 13, 2009(DES MOINES, IA) – The Marlies hit the midway point of the season on a high note, while on the road.

Alex Foster scored shorthanded in the third period, as the Marlies earned a 3-1 win over the Iowa Chops on Tuesday night.Brent Aubin and Max Taylor had the other Toronto goals, while Ajay Baines had the loan Iowa goal.Aubin opened the scoring late in the first, when he snapped a wrist shot through traffic past Jean-Phillipe Levasseur for the 1-0 lead.

Iowa scored the only goal of the second period, just under two minutes in when Baines intercepted a cross-ice pass off the boards and beat Justin Pogge to even the game 1-1.

In the third period, while killing a penalty and working the puck down low in the Chops zone, Foster got the puck onto his stick in the crease and tipped it off the pad of Levasseur and in the net. Two minutes later, Boyd Devereaux worked the puck behind the Chops net and sent a pass out front to Taylor, who cut in front of the net and lifted a backhand shot in for the 3-1 lead.

Pogge made 21 saves for his third win in his last 4 starts, while Levasseur stopped 24 shots in the loss.Toronto was 0 for 2 on the power play, but held Iowa to 0 for 6.

Toronto has killed off 16 of it’s last 17 power plays against them on the road trip, while adding two shorthanded goals in that span.

The Marlies travel to Chicago to face the Wolves for the first time since the Western Conference playoff series last year. It’s an 8:00pm ET puck drop at Allstate Arena.
SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Monday, January 12, 2009

January 11, 2009

(TORONTO) - The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Sunday that the hockey club has recalled forward Nikolai Kulemin from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. In 40 games with the Maple Leafs this season, Kulemin registered 14 points (seven goals, seven assists), eight penalty minutes and averaged 13:55 of ice time. He appeared in three games for the Marlies (0g, 0a) after his assignment to the AHL on January 7. The rookie from Magnitogorsk, Russia, was Toronto’s second choice, 44th overall, in the 2006 Entry Draft.


SOURCE: mapleleafs.nhl.com

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Marlies Come Close In Final Minute, But Can't Find Tying Goal

(ROCKFORD, IL) – As they say, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Despite a valiant effort in the final minutes, the Marlies were unable to muster up a tying goal, as they were shutout 1-0 by the IceHogs in Rockford on Saturday night.

Evan Brophey had the only goal of the game just over five minutes into the first period, after finding a loose puck on the side of the goal, and beating Justin Pogge who had no chance on the play.

Toronto had a few scrambles in front of the net in the second and third period, but were unable to slip the puck past Corey Crawford. With the net empty in the final minute of the third, Jiri Tlusty had a chance in tight, but Crawford made the save. Jack Skille was racing back up the ice for the empty net, but Anton Stralman was called for holding in the race. Kris Newbury was also given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the same play, giving Rockford a 5-on-3 power play with 46 seconds left in the game.

Earlier in the day, Chicago and Columbus made a trade that sent Michael Blunden to Syracuse for Adam Pineault. Due to the weather and the travel, Pineault showed up to play the third period for Rockford.

Crawford made 24 saves for the shutout, while Pogge blocked 21 shots.
The Marlies head to Des Moines where they will face the Iowa Chops on Tuesday night.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Lundmark Nets OT Winner On Power Play

January 9, 2009

(MOLINE, IL) - Special teams play a bigger role some nights, and this night was one of them.

Jamie Lundmark scored on a 4 on 3 power play 32 seconds into overtime, as the Marlies dropped a 3-2 decision to the Quad City Flames on Friday night at the I Wireless Center.

Kyle Greentree and David Van der Gulik had the other Flames goals. Bates Battaglia and Anton Stralman scored for Toronto, who lost it's first overtime game of the season.

Battaglia opened the scoring shorthanded in the first period when he hooked up with a Jiri Tlusty for a 2 on 1 rush, that lead to Battaglia having a wide open net to beat Matt Keetley. Just over five minutes later, Stralman knocked a shot from the slot through Keetley's legs on the power play for the 2-0 lead after the first.

Greentree got the Flames on the board with the only goal of the second period, but Toronto was solid killing off a 5 on 3 power play, which included a couple of big saves by Adam Munro.

Early in the third, Van der Gulik tied the game when he threw a shot on net from the boards. Munro went to kick the puck away, but it slipped under his stick, through his pads and in the goal for the 2-2 game.

With 24 seconds left in the third, Boyd Devereaux tried to clear the puck out of the Marlies zone, and it went over the glass for the delay of game penalty, that carried over to the extra frame.
With traffic in front, Lundmark beat Munro with a blast from the high slot for the game winner, snapping Toronto's three game win streak.

The Marlies were 1 for 1 on the power play, while Quad City was 1 for 4.

Keetley had 36 saves, while Munro stopped 30 shots.

Toronto heads to Rockford to face the IceHogs on Saturday night.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Friday, January 9, 2009

Battaglia Scores Shootout Winner As Marlies Earn First Ever Win In Milwaukee


January 8, 2009

(MILWAUKEE, WI) - Nothing like starting a 9 game road trip with some extra time.


Bates Battaglia had a goal and the eventual shootout winner as the Marlies scored a 3-2 shootout victory over the Milwaukee Admirals at the Bradley Center on Thursday night. It marked the first time in four seasons that the Marlies won in Milwaukee.
Jiri Tlusty had the other Toronto goal while Andrea Thuresson and Nick Spaling scored for the Admirals.


After Thuresson opened the scoring in the second period, Tlusty tied the game by driving the net and getting a shot away that was stopped by Mark Dekanich, but the rebound fluttered in the air, when Tlusty banged it out of the air and in. Late in the period, Anton Stralman drove down the wing and his slap shot hit the stick of the Admirals defenceman and came right to Battaglia who had a wide open net to give Toronto the 2-1 lead.


In the final minute of the third, the Admirals had the empty net and Spaling was able to bounce a rebound over the shoulder of Justin Pogge to tie the game 2-2.


Tim Stapleton and Patric Hornqvist also scored in the shootout.


Pogge stopped 21 shots for the win, while Dekanich made 31 saves in the loss.


Toronto faces the Quad City Flames on Friday.

SOURCE: torontomarlies.com

Thursday, January 8, 2009

AHL announces Canadian broadcast deal with TSN

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today a multi-year agreement with TSN that will see “Canada’s Sports Leader” broadcast the next three AHL All-Star Classics nationally. The leading English-language sports network in Canada, TSN will begin its American Hockey League coverage with the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications, which is set for January 25-26 in Worcester, Mass. “This partnership represents a fantastic opportunity for Canadian hockey fans to follow the best and brightest young professional players as they compete in the top development league in the world,” said David Andrews, AHL President and CEO. “Our All-Star Classic each year is a showcase of the future stars of the NHL, and we’re excited to be able to bring the excitement of the event to TSN’s viewers.” The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will be produced by the New England Sports Network (NESN) and will air on a series of regional sports networks in the United States in addition to TSN in Canada. The 2009 AHL All-Star Skills Competition will take place on Sunday, January 25 (4:00 ET), with the 2009 AHL All-Star Game following on Monday, January 26 (7:00 ET).

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

2009 All Star Planet USA Team Announced

The AHL has announced the PlanetUSA team for the 2008 AHL All-Star Game in Worcester, MA. For Marlies fans, this was a great announcement as our veteren defensemen, Jaime Sifers made the team (even though he would probably be MUCH HAPPIER in his TML jersey!)The team comprises 24 players – 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders – born outside of Canada. AHL fans determined the starting lineups via on-line balloting at theahl.com, while a committee of AHL coaches selected the remainder of the rosters. All 29 AHL teams are represented by at least one All-Star.

The team's players are:

Forwards
Keith Aucoin, Hershey
x-Chris Bourque, Hershey
x-Nikita Filatov, Syracuse
x-Nathan Gerbe, Portland
Martins Karsums, Providence
Tim Kennedy, Portland
Petri Kontiola, Rockford
Drew Miller, Iowa
Joe Motzko, Chicago
Michael Ryan, Albany
Ryan Potulny, Springfield
Jeff Taffe, W-B/Scranton
Ryan Vesce, Worcester


Defensemen
Rory Fitzpatrick, Rochester ("C")
Jonas Junland, Peoria
Mattias Karlsson, Binghamton
x-Jakub Kindl, Grand Rapids
Ben Lovejoy, W-B/Scranton
Bobby Sanguinetti, Hartford
Jaime Sifers, Toronto
x-Yannick Weber, Hamilton


Goaltenders
Jeff Frazee, Lowell
Daniel Larsson, Grand Rapids
x-Cory Schneider, Manitoba

x-starters

Head Coach: Don Granato, Chicago
Assistant Coach: Jason Christie, Chicago
Assistant Coach: Wendell Young, Chicago
Athletic Trainer: Kevin Kacer, Chicago
Equipment Manager: Craig Kogut, Chicago


The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in the 2009 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 25 (4:00 p.m. ET), and the 2009 AHL All-Star Game on Monday, January 26 (7:00 p.m. ET). The event will be televised nationally in the United States and Canada.

Leafs Assign Kulemin to the Toronto Marlies

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that forward Nikolai Kulemin has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.In 40 games with the Maple Leafs this season, Kulemin registered 14 points (seven goals, seven assists), eight penalty minutes and averaged 13:55 of ice time. The rookie from Magnitogorsk, Russia, was Toronto’s second choice, 44th overall, in the 2006 Entry Draft.

2009 AHL All Star Canadian Team Announced

The AHL has announced the Canadian team for the 2008 AHL All-Star Game in Worcester, MA.


The team comprises 24 players – 13 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders – born in Canada. AHL fans determined the starting lineup via on-line balloting at theahl.com, while a committee of AHL coaches selected the remainder of the roster.

The team's platers are:

Forwards
Steve Downie, Norfolk
x-Alexandre Giroux, Hershey
x-Claude Giroux, Philadelphia
Mike Iggulden, Bridgeport
Jason Krog, Manitoba
Corey Locke, Houston
Brett MacLean, San Antonio
Mark Mancari, Portland
x-Chris Minard, W-B/Scranton
Cal O'Reilly, Milwaukee
Teddy Purcell, Manchester
Martin St. Pierre, Providence
Mike Santorelli, Milwaukee


Defensemen
x-Johnny Boychuk, Providence
Kyle Cumiskey, Lake Erie
Cody Franson, Milwaukee
Bryan Helmer, Hershey ("C")
x-Derek Joslin, Worcester
Andrew MacDonald, Bridgeport
Brett Palin, Quad City
Danny Syvret, Philadelphia


Goaltenders
Mike Brodeur, Rochester
Barry Brust, Houston
x-Brian Elliott, Binghamton


x-starters

Head Coach: Bob Woods, Hershey
Assistant Coach: Mark French, Hershey
Athletic Trainer: Matt White, Worcester
Equipment Manager: Vinny Ferraiuolo, Worcester

The 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications will feature the top young talent in the American Hockey League competing in the 2009 AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, January 25 (4:00 p.m. ET), and the 2009 AHL All-Star Game on Monday, January 26 (7:00 p.m. ET). The event will be televised nationally in the United States and Canada.