The Marlboros reached their first
Memorial Cup series in 1929 after being upset in 1928 by the
Ottawa Gunners . In 1929 the Marlboros defeated the
Ottawa Shamrocks in a two-game total goals series by 6 to 5. Ottawa won the first game 4 to 3, and Toronto won the second game 3 to 1.
Toronto would play the
Elmwood Millionaires from
Winnipeg, Manitoba in a best of three series starting on
March 29 at the Arena Gardens (
Mutual Street Arena ) for the Memorial Cup. The Marlboros won the first game 4 to 2 in overtime. On
March 31 , Toronto won game 2 by an identical score of 4 to 2 for its first Memorial Cup.
Turk Broda took over the coaching duties of the Marlboros midway through the 1954-55 season. In the playoffs the Marlboros defeated the reigning Memorial Cup champions
St. Catharines Teepees , followed by the
Québec Remparts to win the Eastern Canadian championship.
After a long train ride to
Regina, Saskatchewan to Marlboros and the Regina Pats took part in the The idea of the banquet was one of Harold Ballard's many longlasting effects on the game. The next day the two teams would start a best of seven series for the Cup.
Regina won the first game 3 to 1. Toronto won the next two games scores of 5 to 2, and 3 to 2. Regina tied up game four at 2 goals each in the dying minutes of regulation to send the match to overtime. Billy Harris would score in overtime to give the Marlbors a 3 games to 1 lead. Game five was also tied after three periods. Toronto scored three unanswered goals, winning 8 to 5 in overtime, and their second Memorial Cup.
Toronto defeated the
Montreal Junior Canadiens in an 8-game series to return to the Memorial Cup and a rematch versus the Regina Pats.
The championship series started at
Maple Leaf Gardens on
April 27 .
The teams tied the first game at 4 goals each. Toronto put together three consecutive victories by scores of 5 to 1, 4 to 2, and 6 to 1.
The Marlboros captured their second consecutive Memorial Cup in game five by a score ot 7 to 4. The
Oshawa Generals were the first team to accomplish the feat in 1938-39 and 1939-40.
Toronto defeated the defending OHA champions
Niagara Falls Flyers and the Montreal Jr. Canadiens to win the
J. Ross Robertson Cup . The Marlboros swept the NOHA champion
North Bay Trappers to play the Quebec champion Notre-Dame-de-Grace Monarchs, who were coached by
Scotty Bowman . Toronto prevailed to return to the Memorial Cup after an eight-year absence. Their opponent would be the perennial Abbott Cup champion
Edmonton Oil Kings .
The series opened at Maple Leaf Gardens with a 5 to 2 Toronto victory. The Marlboros continued on to win games two and three with scores of 3 to 2 and 5 to 2. Toronto finished the series sweep with a 7 to 2 win in game 4. Many of the players on the 1964 Marlboros team like
Ron Ellis ,
Mike Walton and
Pete Stemkowski went on to help the Maple Leafs capture the
Stanley Cup in 1967.
Toronto defeated the Montreal Jr. Canadiens and
Hamilton Red Wings for the OHA title, then eliminated the Thetford Mines Canadiens to capture the eastern Canadian championships. The Marlboros would play the
Port Arthur Marrs in the Memorial Cup series hosted at the
Fort William Gardens in what is now the city of
Thunder Bay, Ontario .
The Marlboros won the first two games by scores of 6 to 3, and 8 to 4. Port Arthur won the third game 6 to 4 in a heavily penalized match, including a bench brawl with one second left in the game. Toronto won the last two games by scores of 6 to 0, and 6 to 3 capturing its 5th Memorial Cup. In 1966-67, the Maple Leafs also won the Stanley Cup, the last year the two clubs would be national champions at the same time.
The Marlboros of 1972-73 lost only seven games in the regular season. The team was ranked # 1 in Canada going into the playoffs. Toronto eliminated the
St. Catharines Black Hawks and
Ottawa 67's before meeting the
Peterborough Petes in the OHA finals.
The series versus the Petes went to a seventh game played at Maple Leaf Gardens in front of 16,485 spectators, a record at the time for junior hockey attendance. Toronto needed only a tie game to advance, and did so in dramatic fashion. Paulin Bordeleau scored on a penalty shot in the last minute to tie the game at 5 goals each.
After winning the OHA title, the Marlboros travelled to Memorial Cup hosted at the
Montreal Forum where their opponents would be the
Québec Remparts and the
Medicine Hat Tigers , who were led by future NHL star
Lanny McDonald .
The Marlies beat Quebec 5 to 2 in the first game, and lost 3 to 2 to the Tigers in the second game. The Remparts then beat the Tigers 8 to 3 in game three. Since each team had won a game, Toronto and Quebec would play each other in the finals based on goals for and against. The Marlboros scored a 9 to 1 victory for their 6th Memorial Cup.
The 1975 playoff run for the Marlboros was complicated by
Mark Napier and
John Tonelli signing professional contracts before the season ended. Tonelli would sit out all the Marlboros games after his 18th birthday so he would not the jeopardize playing for the
Houston Aeros .
Toronto stumbled through the playoffs managing come-from-behind victories in series versus the 8th place
Kingston Canadians and 5th place
Sudbury Wolves . Both series went 8 games, and the Marlboros were a point away from being eliminated each time but stayed alive. The Marlboros then beat the
Hamilton Fincups in the finals for their last OHA championship. Toronto would face the
New Westminster Bruins , and the
Sherbrooke Castors in the Memorial Cup series played at the
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex .
Toronto beat Sherbrooke 5 to 4 in overtime in game 1 after coming back from three goals down. The Bruins beat the Castors (Beavers in English) 7 to 5 in game two, defeated Toronto 6 to 2 in the third game to reach the finals. In a rematch versus the Castors in the semi-final, Toronto won 10 to 4 to reach the finals versus New Westminster.
The Marlboros continued their momentum in the finals winning 7 to 3, and capturing their seventh and final Memorial Cup championship. Coach Armstrong said it was all worth it, even after his team had tossed him into the hotel swimming pool during a victory party.
One of the most famous Maple Leafs and Marlboros of all time,
George Armstrong , coached the Marlboros to their final two Memorial Cup victories in 1972-73 and 1974-75.
Two Toronto Marlboros coached have been awarded the
Matt Leyden Trophy as the OHA Coach of the Year. They are George Armstrong 1972-73 in his first year, and Dave Chambers in 1979-80.
Partial list of Toronto Marlboros coaches.
Until the NHL instituted the
Entry Draft in 1967, the Maple Leafs relied heavily on the Jr. A. Marlboros to produce NHL players. Many players were part of Maple Leafs Stanley Cup winning teams. In total, 202 OHA Junior Marlboros went on to play in the National Hockey League.
(Most Outstanding Player)
- ''1949-50'' - George Armstrong
- ''1949-50'' - Dave Gardner
(Scoring Champion)
- ''1937-38'' - Hank Goldup
- ''1940-41'' - Gaye Stewart
- ''1971-72'' - Billy Harris & Dave Gardner
- ''1974-75'' - Bruce Boudreau
(Top Scoring Right Winger)
- ''1971-72'' - Billy Harris
- ''1974-75'' - Mark Napier
(Rookie of the Year)
- ''1979-80'' - Bruce Dowie
|
(Lowest Team GAA)
- ''1949-50'' - Don Lockhart
- ''1950-51'' - Don Lockhart
- ''1951-52'' - Don Head
- ''1952-53'' - John Henderson
- ''1954-55'' - John Albani
- ''1955-56'' - Jim Crockett
- ''1956-67'' - Len Broderick
- ''1957-58'' - Len Broderick
- ''1972-73'' - Mike Palmateer
(Overage Player of the Year)
- ''1986-87'' - Mike Richard
(Scholastic Player of the Year)
- ''1988-89'' - Brian Collinson
|
Six players who played for the Marlboros and Maple Leafs have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. They are
George Armstrong ,
Charlie Conacher ,
Red Horner ,
Harvey Jackson ,
Joe Primeau , and
Bob Pulford . Former Marlboros
Brad Park was also inducted into the Hall of Fame as an NHL defenceman, and
Carl Voss was inducted as a builder.
Standings prior to 1937 currently unavailable.
''Complete records prior to 1960 are unavailable.''
- Out of playoffs.
- Defeated Brampton 7Ups 8 points to 2 in Metro League semi-finals.
Lost to St. Michael's Majors 8 points to 6 in Metro League finals.
- Defeated Whitby Dunlops 8 points to 2 in Metro League semi-finals.
Lost to Neil McNeil Maroons 8 points to 4 in Metro League finals.
- Defeated Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Received bye through semi-finals.
Defeated Montreal Junior Canadiens 9 points to 1 in finals. '''OHA CHAMPIONS'''
Defeated Edmonton Oil Kings in '''Memorial Cup''' finals. '''''MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS'''''
- Defeated Montreal Junior Canadiens 9 points to 7 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Peterborough Petes 9 points to 7 in semi-finals.
Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 2 in finals.
- Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Kitchener Rangers 9 points to 7 in semi-finals.
- Defeated Montreal Junior Canadiens 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Kitchener Rangers 9 points to 5 in semi-finals.
Defeated Hamilton Red Wings 8 points to 0 in finals. '''OHA CHAMPIONS'''
Defeated Port Arthur Marrs in '''Memorial Cup''' final. '''''MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS'''''
- Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
- Lost to St. Catharines Black Hawks 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
- Defeated Oshawa Generals 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Defeated London Knights 9 points to 3 in semi-finals.
Lost to Montreal Junior Canadiens 8 points to 6 in finals.
- Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 8 points to 0 in semi-finals.
Lost to St. Catharines Black Hawks 8 points to 0 in finals.
- Defeated Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Peterborough Petes 8 points to 2 in semi-finals.
- Defeated St. Catharines Black Hawks 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Ottawa 67's 8 points to 0 in semi-finals.
Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 6 in finals. '''OHA CHAMPIONS'''
Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place based on goal differential.
Defeated Quebec Remparts 9-1 in final game. '''''MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS'''''
- Defeated London Knights 9 points to 1 in quarter-finals.
Lost to St. Catharines Black Hawks 8 points to 0 in semi-finals.
- Defeated Kingston Canadians 9 points to 7 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Sudbury Wolves 9 points to 7 in semi-finals.
Defeated Hamilton Fincups 8 points to 6 in finals. '''OHA CHAMPIONS'''
Finish Memorial Cup round-robin in second place.
Defeated Sherbrooke Castros 6-2 in semi-final game.
Defeated New Westminster Bruins 10-4 in final game. '''''MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS'''''
- Defeated London Knights 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Hamilton Fincups 9 points to 1 in semi-finals.
- Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 with 1 tie in quarter-finals.
- Lost to Kitchener Rangers 6 points to 4 in first round.
- Lost to Kitchener Rangers 6 points to 0 in first round.
- Lost to Brantford Alexanders 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
- Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 3 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
- Defeated Cornwall Royals 6 points to 4 in first round.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
- Lost to Cornwall Royals 7 points to 1 in first round.
- Earned first round bye. 2nd in Leyden division.
Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 0 in semi-finals.
- Lost to Cornwall Royals 8 points to 2 in first round.
- Lost to Peterborough Petes 8 points to 0 in first round.
- Out of playoffs.
- Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in first round.
- Lost to Cornwall Royals 4 games to 2 in first round.
In 1903 club secretary Fred Waghorne wrote to the Duke of Marlborough in England for permission to use the storied name and crest. In choosing its logo the club took the Marlborough family crown and added the initials A.C. for Athletic Club.
The Toronto Marlboros used the same colour scheme as the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs from 1927 when the two club came under common ownership. The Marlborough crown was originally displayed by itself on the jersey chest. It wasn't until the late 1950s that the crown was set against the present day Maple Leaf.
:''Note: The inset logo is that of the Markham Waxers (see the "MW" on the crown in place of the "AC"). The logo is displayed only to show the Marlborough Crown set against the old style Maple Leaf, similar to that used by the Jr. A team in the 1950s.''
In the beginning both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Marlboros practiced and were headquartered out of the old Ravina Gardens in Toronto's west end. in 1927 both teams started playing their home games were played downtown at the
Mutual Street Arena .
In 1931
Maple Leaf Gardens opened up for business and the Marlboros had a new home again. In 1964 the Marlboros won the Memorial Cup on home ice, the same year the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup on home ice.
The Marlboros occasionally also played games in the 1970s at the
North York Centennial Centre and the
Markham Centennial Centre when Maple Leaf Gardens was unavailable, usually due to scheduling conflicts at MLG with both the
Toronto Maple Leafs and also the
Toronto Toros of the
WHA . They also played part of their home schedule in the 1976-77 season in
Brantford, Ontario out of the
Brantford Civic Centre .
- - History of arena
- - History with pictures
- - Ballparks.com
- - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
- - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
The operates minor hockey teams in the city of
Toronto, Ontario . This club operated independently to the former OHA Junior 'A' team.
After the Junior 'A' team left for Hamilton, the late
Toronto Maple Leafs owner
Harold Ballard granted permission for the Minor Marlboros to retain and carry on the Marlborough name.
Three years later in the fall of 1992 the Marlboros combined their fabled crest with the current NHL Maple Leafs' uniform. The Minor Marlboros celebrated their 75th anniversary in 2005-2006.
The are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Ricoh Coliseum. The franchise was previously known as the
St. John's Maple Leafs from 1991 to 2005.
