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.<\/p>\n
Easton Cowan<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n \u201cA guy like that, he\u2019s a winner, right,\u201d Cowan said. \u201cHe 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.\u201d <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have a really close bond,\u201d Danford said. \u201cWe\u2019ve lived together the last month or so. He\u2019s somebody who\u2019s 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\u2019s pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowan\u2019s London Knights eliminated Danford\u2019s Oshawa Generals the last two years. <\/p>\n \u201cHe said to me, \u2018If you can\u2019t beat\u2019em, join\u2019em,\u2019\u201d Danford revealed with a big smile. \u201cNow we\u2019re together and this is the first [one], and hopefully there\u2019s more down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s music to the ears of Leafs fans who hope Cowan and Danford can help usher in a new era that finally ends the franchise\u2019s 59-year Stanley Cup drought. Winning a championship with Toronto\u2019s AHL affiliate early in their professional careers can only help accelerate their development. <\/p>\n \u201cIt teaches them what you have to go through,\u201d said Marlies coaching advisor and former Leaf Mark Giordano. \u201cThis 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\u2019s a great experience for any young guy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt could do a lot,\u201d Cowan agreed. \u201cA lot of confidence. It\u2019s just fun winning and showing up to the rink every day … Showing up to the rink in shorts, like, you can\u2019t beat it. So, super excited, going to really enjoy it, take some time off, and then back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n Giordano feels playoff performance will accelerate development of promising Leafs Cowan, Danford Easton Cowan and Ben Danford joined the Toronto Marlies for their playoff run, and saw it through to the end winning the Calder Cup. Former Maple Leaf and current Marlies coaching advisor Mark Giordano joined Mark Masters to discuss the development of the Leafs young prospects after winning the Calder Cup. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cFrom day one, his leadership just grew,\u201d Giordano said. \u201cLike, he wasn\u2019t with us all year, so it could\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cHe 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,\u201d Giordano said.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Cowan finished the playoffs with 18 points in 22 games, which was tied for third overall. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWinning\u2019s winning and no matter what league it is, it\u2019s super special and fun, especially in this city,\u201d the native of Mount Brydges, Ont. said. \u201cObviously you want to keep winning in Toronto down the road. Right now, [I\u2019ll] enjoy this, but that\u2019s where my goals are at.\u201d <\/p>\n ‘It could do a lot’: Cowan’s confidence grows as Leafs rising star adds another ring to the resume Easton Cowan shares what it means to win the Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies and what he can take from this playoff run. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Danford joined the Marlies after his juggernaut Brantford Bulldogs unexpectedly lost in the OHL\u2019s Eastern Conference Final. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty speechless, to be honest,\u201d the 20-year-old from Madoc, Ont. said. \u201cIt feels great. You kind of black out. It\u2019s 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\u2019s something I\u2019ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat stuck out for me was he has no fear in his game,\u201d said Giordano, who is a former Norris Trophy winner. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t make the safe play or ice the puck when he\u2019s in trouble, he\u2019ll look to make the right play. His skating really pops out and stands out even at this level so that\u2019s a good sign.\u201d<\/p>\n Danford plans to push for a roster spot at training camp with his stated goal being to make the Leafs.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel it\u2019s going to help my confidence a lot,\u201d he said of the Calder Cup win. \u201cThey 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n During a media availability on Friday, new Leafs general manager John Chayka praised Danford\u2019s development, but stressed the team will be careful not to rush him. <\/p>\n After OHL heartbreak, Danford hopes this is first of many celebrations with rival-turned-pal Cowan Ben Danford shares what it means to win the Calder Cup with rival-turned-pal Easton Cowan, and how this group helped him build his confidence. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, who was named playoff MVP. <\/p>\n \u201cJust an unbelievable guy,\u201d said Cowan. \u201cHow he prepares each and every game is special and to see him lift that trophy and get that MVP, it\u2019s very deserving.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cI was so happy,\u201d he said. \u201cI was so happy. Probably the best day in my life. I just, I don\u2019t know. No words. No words.\u201d<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n With Joseph Woll<\/a> 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\u2019s closer than ever to making the jump permanently.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think about my future,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just enjoy tonight. We\u2019re champions and I just want to take a little bit of rest.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no doubt he deserves it. <\/p>\n Teammates made him blush with a \u2018We\u2019re not worthy\u2019 celebration after the game, but Akhtyamov deflected praise. <\/p>\n \u201cI think everybody here is MVP on our team,\u201d he said. \u201cEverybody plays great. I\u2019m glad to take this award, but, again, here everybody\u2019s MVP.\u201d<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cThis means a lot,\u201d Akhtyamov said. \u201cHe was my friend. We played together in national team. That\u2019s pretty special for me.\u201d<\/p>\n The Marlies have had Amirov\u2019s sweater hanging in their dressing room at Ford Performance Centre and Coca-Cola Coliseum throughout the playoff run. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n ‘Pretty special’: Akhtyamov honours late friend Amirov after being named Calder Cup playoff MVP Toronto Marlies goalie Artur Akhtyamov discusses what it means to win the Calder Cup and playoff MVP and honours his late friend. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Alex Nylander shared the championship with his dad Michael Nylander, who joined him on the ice.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d Alex said. \u201cI\u2019m so happy that he\u2019s here and gets to enjoy this with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Big brother William Nylander<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n \u201cThis round he had to go home, unfortunately,\u201d Alex said. \u201cBut he\u2019s been watching every game at home. It\u2019s helped a lot. He was watching and seeing what I could do better and how the team\u2019s doing and giving that support that we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Alex believes the Marlies win will motivate William to bring his own title to Toronto. <\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah it [will],\u201d Alex said with a smile. \u201cI bet he\u2019s waiting. He wants it so bad. He wants that Cup, but he\u2019s got to work every year to try to do his best to win that thing. I know he can do it.\u201d <\/p>\n Nylander believes big bro William will be motivated to match his Toronto title: ‘He wants that Cup’ Alex Nylander discusses winning the Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies and how his big brother William will be motivated to match his Toronto title. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n