Marlies Booster Club

This seven year vet of the AHL life has yet to get a sniff at the big leagues. Now that might have something to do with the fact that he can’t fly, well not in the skies anyway. Casey Winter has been the Marlies’ team bus driver since they arrived in Toronto. Before that he spent 2 seasons driving for the Roadrunners and 1 season for the Bulldogs of Hamilton.

The “Pennsylvania Swing” is three games the Marlies play every year back to back to back. Wednesday was Hershey, followed by Friday night in Philadelphia then Saturday in Wilkes-Barre Scranton.

Wednesday night was a 4-3 loss to the Bears but more important was the loss of Jiri Tlusty. Jiri was hit into the boards and was injured. It is still unclear how long he will be sidelined. I was not at this game to be able to report more.

Three weeks ago I noticed a change in one mister Jiri Tlusty. When Jiri first showed up in Marlieland October 6th 2006, he made his presence known with a goal in his first game. He showed early on that he had talent, but he was a young man in a foreign country and talent can only take you so far if you are not yet comfortable with your surroundings. Jiri could be seen leaving the rink back then with his agent. He was able to say hi to fans, but you could tell the English was not yet there. I don’t remember seeing him leave with a team mate.

Looking down the Marlies roster and seeing the name Mark Bell might surprise some people. This young man had such a promising career when he was drafted 8th overall by Chicago in the 1998 entry draft. He spent his first pro season splitting time between Norfolk and Chicago before becoming a full time Blackhawk in the 2001 – 2002 season. He spent four full years in Chicago before playing the 2006 – 2007 season in San Jose for Ron Wilson.

I felt as the boys headed out on their West Division January tour that they needed to collect 10 points in their seven games. That was if they hoped to come home still in possession of their 4th and final playoff spot in the North Division. Now I know it is early to talk about playoffs, but if you fall behind in December, January and February you will not make the playoffs in April. This trip is made even more important by that fact that not only are they trying to collect points, but they are trying to stop points going to the possible cross-over team.

I love to see the excitement and joy of a young professional. On Saturday night we had the opportunity to witness such excitement not once but twice.

In an era where some professional players have elevated opinions of themselves it is very refreshing to find a player who will accept their role. In its short history in Toronto the Marlies have had several players that left the fans with the impression that they felt they were too good to be playing for the Marlies and should be in the NHL, and for that reason left for Europe to ply their trade.