The Marlies have been tough to find on television. Road games through the playoffs have been on Leafs-TV. Home games were broadcast on a small Rogers cable channel. The AHL has a streaming service as well.
Now the Marlies have a chance to grab the spotlight.
“It’s a recognition of the reputation these players have created,” said Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello. “These are stepping-stones. They are in the spotlight. Much is expected. And they have to be prepared for that.”
For Lamoriello, how well the Marlies do is at least an indication of how they are growing as players.
“The further you get, the tougher it is,” said Lamoriello. “You experience the highs and lows. How you overcome them, how you handle the recognition that you get, all of this is a growing process. It’s part of maturity. It’s part of experience. It’s another step.”
Before the Marlies left for Hershey, coach Sheldon Keefe said he could feel the team’s bandwagon getting bigger.
“The reaction we’ve had, with people filling the place for all of our playoff games, really shows people are following the team, paying attention, are into it,” said Keefe. “It’s a cool experience. Guys have put in a lot of work and feel good with what they’ve done. For people to take notice, it makes them feel good.”
