Marlies Open 2009-10 Regular Season with Shootout Victory Over Bulldogs
October 6, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Toronto Marlies News Release
Opponents This Week:
(Oct. 10): The Marlies host the Grand Rapids Griffins - AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings - in the first of six meetings between the two clubs on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Ricoh Coliseum. The Griffins last season outpaced the Marlies finishing third in the North Division with a record of 43-25-6-6 for 98 points. Last season the Marlies played eight games against their division rivals, compiling a 3-3-1-1 record, including a 3-2 loss in their most recent matchup. Grand Rapids plays their first five games of the 2009-10 season on the road. The Griffins opened their season in Peoria with a 3-1 win on Saturday. After falling behind 1-0 to the Rivermen, Grand Rapids fought back with three unanswered goals to pick up the win. Grand Rapids forward Dick Axelsson leads the team with two points (one goal, one assist). The Griffins bring in two familiar faces this weekend into Toronto; Kris Newbury and Jeremy Williams will be back playing at Ricoh Coliseum. Williams' next goal will be his 100th as a pro. Griffins forward, Brad May played part of the 2008-09 season with the Maple Leafs and played his 1,000th NHL game as a member of the blue and white last spring. Evan McGrath and Paul Crosty are both from the Greater Toronto Area; while Cory Emmerton, Thomas McCollum and Ryan Oulahen all played for the Brampton Battalion of the OHL. Marlies goalie, Joey MacDonald played for the Griffins from 2002-07 and ranks among their all-time leaders with 16 shutouts (first), 164 games played (second) and 88 wins (third). Marlies assistant head coach, Derek King played four seasons in Grand Rapids (1999- 2000; 2002-04), and ranks seventh on their all-time games played list with 264. King ranks third on their all-time goals list (73), fourth in assists (130) and points (203), and second with a plus-71 rating.
(Oct.11): The Marlies welcome the Rockford IceHogs - AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks - on Sunday at Ricoh Coliseum for the first of two games against Rockford this season. Last season, the IceHogs finished fourth in the West Division with a record of 40-34-0-6 for 86 points. The final match-up between the Marlies and IceHogs played on January 31 was a penalty-filled affair with both teams combining for close to 90 minutes in penalties, including 10 fighting majors. The IceHogs opened their season on Sunday with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Peoria Rivermen. Derek Nesbitt and Danny Bois each netted goals for Rockford in their OT loss. Bois and Nesbitt both tallied two point games. Tim Brent led Rockford in scoring with 62 points (20 goals, 42 assists)) last season, but is now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. Former Marlies defenceman, Richard Petiot, will return to Ricoh Coliseum for the first time since last season, now as a member of the IceHogs. Petiot tallied 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) with the Marlies in 45 games. The Chicago Blackhawks reassigned goaltender Corey Crawford to the IceHogs. Crawford appeared in two preseason games with the Blackhawks. Evan Brophey, former runner-up for the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy in 2006-2007 as the OHL's top Overage Player, will be looking to improve upon the 16-goals he scored last season by reaching the 20-goal mark for the first time in his AHL career.
MARLIES HEADLINES:
Welcome Back: The Toronto Marlies opened their 2009-10 season at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday, October 4 against the Hamilton Bulldogs with a 3-2 shootout victory. Kyle Rogers and Ben Ondrus each scored for Toronto and Andre Deveaux notched the shootout winner. Joey MacDonald was solid in net, earning second star honours, making 32 saves in the victory. In total, the Marlies will play five home games and four road games during the month of October.
Behind The Bench: The Marlies have a brand new coaching staff this season. Dallas Eakins was named the head coach of the Toronto Marlies on August 4, 2009. Eakins previously served as the Director of Player Development for the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. Gord Dineen and Derek King will both be behind the bench as Eakins' assistants. Dineen spent the 2008-09 as the head coach with the Iowa Chops. King returns to the organization after playing 161 games for the Maple Leafs from 1997 to 2000 during which he scored 45 goals and 53 assists for 98 points.
Another Brick in the Wall: Joey MacDonald shined in his Toronto Marlies debut on Sunday afternoon against the Hamilton Bulldogs. MacDonald collected the shootout victory, turning aside 32 saves, including two in the shootout and was named the game's second star. The Pictou, Novia Scotia native appeared in 49 games last season with the New York Islanders, earning a record of 14-26-6 with a 3.37 goals-against average and 0.901 save percentage. He was named the NHL's Third Star of the Month for November after posting an 8-5-1 record with a 2.64 goals against average and 0.916 save percentage.
Making Their Debut: The Marlies dressed nine new players in their home opening game against the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. Defensemen Brendan Mikkelson, Carl Gunnarsson, Brennan Evans and Juraj Mikus; forwards Richard Greenop, Greg Scott, Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak and goaltender Joey MacDonald all made their Marlie debuts.
Starting in Scotland: The Marlies played three games in Edinburgh, Scotland to begin their preseason. Toronto dropped their opening match to the Hamilton Bulldogs 1-0. The Marlies bounced back with a 6-1 victory over the hometown Edinburgh Capitals in their second game. In the Gardiner Cup final matchup against the Bulldogs, the Marlies lost 3-1. Andre Deveaux and Ryan Hamilton led all scorers with three points each.
Scoring Summary:
Player GP G A PTS
Andre Deveaux 3 1 2 3
Ryan Hamilton 3 0 3 3
Alex Foster 3 2 0 2
Dale Mitchell 3 2 0 2
Stefano Giliati 3 0 2 2
Phil Oreskovic 3 0 2 2
Ben Ondrus 3 1 0 1
Alex Berry 3 1 0 1
Richard Greenop 3 0 1 1
Brennan Evans 3 0 1 1
MARLIES QUICK HITS:
Nine different players made their Marlies debut in the team's season opener on Sunday afternoon. Brennan Evans collected his first point (assist) in a Marlies uniform in Toronto's 3-2 shootout win over the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Alex Berry recorded two assists for the Marlies on Sunday afternoon, his first career points in the American Hockey League.
The past two Marlies home openers have gone to a shootout. Last year the Marlies lost to the Binghamton Senators 2-1 in a shootout. Toronto is now 2-2-0-1 in their season openers.
Alex Foster and Brennan Evans were named assistant captains prior to their season opening game; while Ben Ondrus began his third season as captain of the Marlies. Ondrus scored the game tying goal mid-way through the third period on Sunday versus Hamilton.
The Marlies signed defenceman Andy Rogers to a professional try-out contract on Sunday. Rogers skated in one regular season and two playoff games for the Marlies at the end of last season.
Reebok/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE
For the week ending October 4, 2009, the Toronto Marlies nominated goaltender Joey MacDonald for consideration as the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week. MacDonald sparkled in his Marlies debut, turning aside 32 saves on 34 shots and was named the game's second star of the night. The Pictou, Nova Scotia native also made two saves in the shootout in Toronto's 3-2 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon in the team's home opener.
MARLIES ON THE WEB
Follow the Marlies all season long for the latest, most up-to-date information on their official web site, torontomarlies.com
MARLIES UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
Saturday, October 10 vs. Grand Rapids Griffins - Magnetic Schedule Night
Friday, October 30 vs. Adirondack Phantoms - Live Band / Halloween Night
Sunday, November 1 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Veterans Night
MARLIES RECAP:
Sunday, October 4 vs. Hamilton
MacDonald Propels Marlies Over Hamilton
Marlies Goals: K. Rogers (1), Ondrus (1)
Bulldogs Goals: Wyman (1), Trotter (1)
Three Stars: 1. Foster (TOR), 2. MacDonald (TOR), 3. Wyman (HAM)
Recap: The Marlies began their 2009-10 regular season with a comeback, shootout victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. After the Bulldogs made it 1-0, 16 seconds later Kyle Rogers netted a wrist shot to tie the contest. Brock Trotter made it 2-1 with his power play tally mid-way through the second period. With seven minutes remaining in the game, Ben Ondrus tipped an Alex Berry shot to tie the game at 2-2. Four out of the five Marlie shooters scored in the shootout to give Toronto the 3-2 victory. Joey MacDonald made 32 saves in the win, including two in the shootout. Berry finished the game with two assists, his first points in the AHL. Brennan Evans registered his first point (assist) as a member of the Marlies.
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