The Toronto Marlies beat the Chicago Wolves 4-3 on Friday night at Coca-Cola Coliseum to clinch the Calder Cup Finals in five games.
Easton Cowan wanted to be the one to pass the Calder Cup to Ben Danford after the Toronto Marlies clinched the American Hockey League championship on Friday night.
“A guy like that, he’s a winner, right,” Cowan said. “He blocks every shot and he competes every shift so to see him lift that trophy, it was special for me, and everyone in this organization.”
The Maple Leafs selected Cowan, a winger, in the first round of the 2023 NHL draft. One year later, the Leafs picked Danford, a right-shot defenceman, in the first round.
“We have a really close bond,” Danford said. “We’ve lived together the last month or so. He’s somebody who’s taken me under his wing ... He beat me in the last couple [Ontario Hockey League] Finals and to be on his side this time, it’s pretty special.”
Cowan’s London Knights eliminated Danford’s Oshawa Generals the last two years.
“He said to me, ‘If you can’t beat’em, join’em,’” Danford revealed with a big smile. “Now we’re together and this is the first [one], and hopefully there’s more down the road.”
That’s music to the ears of Leafs fans who hope Cowan and Danford can help usher in a new era that finally ends the franchise’s 59-year Stanley Cup drought. Winning a championship with Toronto’s AHL affiliate early in their professional careers can only help accelerate their development.
“It teaches them what you have to go through,” said Marlies coaching advisor and former Leaf Mark Giordano. “This long run, like, the ups and downs of playoff hockey, the bumps and bruises, the grind of playing two and a half months after the season, yeah, it’s a great experience for any young guy.”
“It could do a lot,” Cowan agreed. “A lot of confidence. It’s just fun winning and showing up to the rink every day ... Showing up to the rink in shorts, like, you can’t beat it. So, super excited, going to really enjoy it, take some time off, and then back to work.”
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The championship marked the end of a long first season in professional hockey for Cowan who played in 66 games for the Leafs before being sent to the AHL for the playoffs.
“From day one, his leadership just grew,” Giordano said. “Like, he wasn’t with us all year, so it could’ve been a tough situation for a young guy to come in. We have a lot of veteran players on our team, but you could see his leadership grow. He was well-liked in the room. The guys liked him and they got along and right from day one it kept growing.”
Cowan, who turned 21 in May, came through in some key moments for the Marlies, including scoring a final-minute winner in the decisive Game 5 against the Cleveland Monsters in the third round.
After a costly turnover in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which allowed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to tie the series, Cowan met the media and took accountability and vowed to be better. He proceeded to score in the next two games to help the Marlies book their ticket to the championship series.
“He had some moments in the playoffs that he wanted back, especially that one against Wilkes-Barre, but what showed up really for me was how he responded to that and was our best player the next night,” Giordano said.
After a slow start to the Calder Cup Finals, Cowan again raised his game. He scored in the Game 3 win and delivered three assists in the Game 5 clincher.
Cowan finished the playoffs with 18 points in 22 games, which was tied for third overall.
One year after winning the Canadian Hockey League title and being named MVP of the Memorial Cup, Cowan is ending his season on top again.
“Winning’s winning and no matter what league it is, it’s super special and fun, especially in this city,” the native of Mount Brydges, Ont. said. “Obviously you want to keep winning in Toronto down the road. Right now, [I’ll] enjoy this, but that’s where my goals are at.”
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Danford joined the Marlies after his juggernaut Brantford Bulldogs unexpectedly lost in the OHL’s Eastern Conference Final.
“I’m pretty speechless, to be honest,” the 20-year-old from Madoc, Ont. said. “It feels great. You kind of black out. It’s pretty unexpected to be a Calder Cup champ right now just coming from junior and everything, but this group is just a special group and it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Danford, who suited up in 16 games with the Marlies during the run, did not look out of place despite jumping in midway through the playoffs.
“What stuck out for me was he has no fear in his game,” said Giordano, who is a former Norris Trophy winner. “He doesn’t make the safe play or ice the puck when he’s in trouble, he’ll look to make the right play. His skating really pops out and stands out even at this level so that’s a good sign.”
Danford plans to push for a roster spot at training camp with his stated goal being to make the Leafs.
“I feel it’s going to help my confidence a lot,” he said of the Calder Cup win. “They gave me a lot of opportunity here, which helped my confidence. I thought I got better as the playoffs went on. Yeah, I think it’s going to go a long way. Going into training camp after getting a sniff of pro hockey, and especially to win it means that much more.”
During a media availability on Friday, new Leafs general manager John Chayka praised Danford’s development, but stressed the team will be careful not to rush him.
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The injection of youth from Cowan and Danford helped push the Marlies over the top, but Toronto does not win the Calder Cup without an incredible performance from goalie Artur Akhtyamov, who was named playoff MVP.
“Just an unbelievable guy,” said Cowan. “How he prepares each and every game is special and to see him lift that trophy and get that MVP, it’s very deserving.”
Akhtyamov won 15 of his 22 starts in the playoffs while posting a sparkling .923 save percentage. The 24-year-old from Kazan, Russia was mobbed by teammates after making one final save right before the buzzer.
“I was so happy,” he said. “I was so happy. Probably the best day in my life. I just, I don’t know. No words. No words.”
Akhtyamov started the season as the Marlies No. 2 goalie behind Dennis Hildeby on the depth chart, but took over the net for good in a second round series against the Laval Rocket.
With Joseph Woll traded earlier in the week, Akhtyamov moved up the Leafs depth chart. He made his NHL debut with the Leafs during the 2025-26 season and it now feels like he’s closer than ever to making the jump permanently.
“I don’t think about my future,” he said. “I’m just enjoy tonight. We’re champions and I just want to take a little bit of rest.”
There’s no doubt he deserves it.
Teammates made him blush with a ‘We’re not worthy’ celebration after the game, but Akhtyamov deflected praise.
“I think everybody here is MVP on our team,” he said. “Everybody plays great. I’m glad to take this award, but, again, here everybody’s MVP.”
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Akhtyamov held a Rodion Amirov Leafs sweater during the Marlies team photo at centre ice. Amirov, a Leafs first-round pick in 2020, passed away tragically in 2023 at the age of 21 due to a brain tumor.
“This means a lot,” Akhtyamov said. “He was my friend. We played together in national team. That’s pretty special for me.”
The Marlies have had Amirov’s sweater hanging in their dressing room at Ford Performance Centre and Coca-Cola Coliseum throughout the playoff run.
Leafs assistant general manager Ryan Hardy, who serves as GM of the Marlies, wore the sweater on the ice during the championship celebrations on Friday night.
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Alex Nylander shared the championship with his dad Michael Nylander, who joined him on the ice.
“It’s amazing,” Alex said. “I’m so happy that he’s here and gets to enjoy this with me.”
Big brother William Nylander had to go home to Sweden before the Calder Cup Finals, but the Leafs winger has been a constant support for Alex throughout the run.
“This round he had to go home, unfortunately,” Alex said. “But he’s been watching every game at home. It’s helped a lot. He was watching and seeing what I could do better and how the team’s doing and giving that support that we needed.”
Alex believes the Marlies win will motivate William to bring his own title to Toronto.
“Oh yeah it [will],” Alex said with a smile. “I bet he’s waiting. He wants it so bad. He wants that Cup, but he’s got to work every year to try to do his best to win that thing. I know he can do it.”
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The Marlies had a golden chance to win the Calder Cup on Thursday night but lost in overtime after a turnover by defenceman William Villeneuve led to the winning goal by the Wolves. Villeneuve, a fourth-round pick by the Leafs in 2020, met with the media afterwards calling the play “unacceptable” and saying he felt like he let his teammates down.
“Yesterday was a dark night, to be honest,” he said. “But at the end of the day, as hockey players, you gotta be able to move on and come in and do your job. It was hard last night. I was hard on myself, but came in with a new mindset.”
That mental reset showed how much the 24-year-old has grown.
“You’re allowed to have a bad day but you can’t make it a bad week,” said the native of Sherbrooke, Que. “In the past it would’ve taken me down for much longer than one night and I’m pretty happy now ... I’m going to cherish this moment for the rest of my life.”
Villeneuve led all AHL defencemen with 23 points in the playoffs, which was second overall behind only Marlies forward Vinni Lettieri, who had 26 points.
But despite the strong playoff performance, Villeneuve acknowledged this could be the end of the road for him in Toronto.
“I love Toronto,” the pending restricted free agent said. “Toronto is my second home. It’s been four years. My contract’s up, but this is where home is for me. I would love to be back here.”
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Gruden enjoyed getting doused by Gatorade during the celebrations.
“The best shower I ever had,” the 56-year-old said. “This group is amazing. I’m so thankful.”
The Marlies began the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the North Division (seventh in the Eastern Conference) way back on April 22. They needed to survive a best-of-three play-in round against the Rochester Americans right off the bat. Toronto survived four elimination games during the magical run and came out on top in three winner-take-all games.
What did it take?
“I don’t even know,” Gruden said. “All I know is I did it with the right people.”
Gruden reflected on advice he received from Barry Trotz when he worked as an assistant on his staff with the New York Islanders.
“The great Barry Trotz said, ‘You can’t do anything going alone. You gotta do it together. If you do it together you accomplish so many things.’ To get to that buy-in from our group and for them to go out and execute it at such intense moments and pressure moments. It’s special. I’m just so proud of them and so happy for them.”
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Gruden consistently praised the team’s veteran leadership group, which was led by captain Logan Shaw and alternates Marc Johnstone and Dakota Mermis.
“Oh my God, it’s just a war,” said Mermis. “That’s what it is. When it comes down to it, it’s everyone being bought in. It’s everyone doing the things that they do the best. It’s everyone being able to do it the longest. Certainly the amount of rounds we had to win to get here, the length of our series, the length of being able to stick with it is what made the difference. It’s just the Marlie way.”
For the 32-year-old Mermis, this was his first championship in professional hockey after a long journey that included stops with 11 different teams.
“When I see my kids, I can’t help but get emotional,” the defenceman said with his voice cracking. “It’s so special what the families do, especially through my career. There are so many moves and there’s call-ups and there’s send downs and my wife and kids are the ones that make it all possible so I can show up at the rink the next day and do what I do and hopefully win a championship. For me to enjoy this with my family, now three kids, my dad’s here, my family back home, that for me is what means the world.”
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Marlies lines in Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals:
Cowan - Shaw - Lettieri
Pare - Groulx- Tverberg
Haymes - Quillan - Nylander
Sim - Johnstone - Pezzetta
Thrun - Benning
Mermis - Villeneuve
Rifai - Danford
Akhtyamov
Hildeby
