Viktor Stalberg Sends Message to Brian Burke #marlies
Published November 1, 2009 @ 20:30 in Toronto Marlies

My son and I spent the afternoon at the Marlies game watching us beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-2 in American Hockey League action. Driving to the game, we planned to focus on three Marlies: Viktor Stalberg, Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak.

Bozak was scratched with the flu, so our eyes were set on Stalberg and Hanson. We watched each of them score a pair and Stalberg added a couple of assists. It was the Stalberg show all afternoon as if he was sending Leafs general manager Brian Burke a loud and clear message. Burke was at the Ricoh Coliseum as well, and I hope he was taking notes.

As cool as it would be to watch Stalberg from the front row of Marlies games all season, he should be a Leaf. He will be a Leaf. Hanson's looking like he wants another shot with the big club as well.

After Hanson scored the opening goal, I asked my son about it. This clip gives you a gander at our regular seats for Marlies games.

More pics and vids are in the photoset.

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Maple Leafs 6, Ducks 3
Published October 27, 2009 @ 08:47 in Toronto Marlies

The Leafs win a game! The Leafs win a game!

And of course, sleepy old man Mike fell asleep when it was 3-1 and missed the celebration. It's worth noting the only period of Leafs hockey I've missed this season is the third period of our only victory. Coincidence?

Tomas Kaberle had five points, Lee Stempniak had four points, Matt Stajan had three points and Niklas Hagman scored three of our five power-play goals. Meanwhile, The Monster got the start and the big win.

1-7-1 folks! Let's plan that parade...

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Sherola Wins the Marlies Tickets
Published October 26, 2009 @ 10:39 in Toronto Marlies

Sherola has won the two Marlies tickets for November 1. He/she was randomly selected from the comments left on this entry.

Here's who Sherola named as his/her favourite favourite Maple Leaf of all-time.

Captain Clutch, Mats Sundin! Mats always gave his all and was a great leader. He will always be #1 in my books :) We miss you Mats!

Sherola, I've sent you an email to get further details. I'll see you at the game.

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You Still Have 5 Hours to Enter & Win Marlies Tickets
Published October 25, 2009 @ 18:41 in Toronto Marlies

It's not yet 7pm. That means you still have over 5 hours to enter my little Win Free Marlies Tickets contest.

If you're interested in a couple of free tickets to catch the Marlies next Sunday, click on over to http://www.torontomike.com/2009/10/free_marlies_tickets_available.html and tell me your favourite Maple Leaf of all-time in the comments.

I see 36 comments thus far. One will be randomly chosen as the winner. It might as well be you.

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Free Marlies Tickets Available Here Right Now
Published October 21, 2009 @ 09:50 in Toronto Marlies

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know I've frequented a number of Toronto Marlies games the past two years. The Marlies are the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate and they play their home games at the Ricoh Coliseum, on the grounds of the CNE.

The Marlies have given me two tickets to give away to a reader of this blog. These tickets are for the game on Sunday, November 1st at 4pm.

Current Marlies include Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson, Phil Oreskovic, Ben Ondrus, Andre Deveaux and Carl Gunnarsson. It's a great building, a great product and there isn't a bad seat in the house.

If you're interested in these two free Marlies tickets, simply leave a comment below telling me your favourite Maple Leaf of all-time and why. Put your email in the email field. I'll randomly pick a winner Monday morning, so this contest ends Sunday at midnight.

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The Justin Pogge Rollercoaster Ride Continues
Published July 23, 2009 @ 13:40 in Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies

I was sure Justin Pogge was on his way out and that suspicion was confirmed by a Sportsnet report confirming the Justin Pogge era had indeed come to an end here in Toronto. But then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, it seemed Pogge was saved from the chopping block.

Today, Pension Plan Puppets is giving a very interesting quote from Brian Burke the light it deserves. Here's what Burke said yesterday about Pogge.

[Justin] Pogge's a good kid, but it just didn't work out for him in Toronto. I assured him I would find him somewhere to play this year.

It appears the Justin Pogge era in Toronto has indeed come to an end. The Justin Pogge rollercoaster ride continues...

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Pogge Saved From Chopping Block
Published June 29, 2009 @ 20:06 in Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies

I really thought Justin Pogge was on his way out. Earlier this month, a Sportsnet report suggested the Justin Pogge era had indeed come to an end here in Toronto. It was time to move on, to get Jonas Gustavsson to compete with Vesa Toskala for the Leafs spot, to make James Reimer a Marlie.

Today it's been reported that the Toronto Maple Leafs have made a qualifying offer to goaltender Justin Pogge.

The move ensures that Pogge remains a restricted free agent after July 1st, allowing the Leafs to match any offer made to Pogge by other clubs. Had the Leafs not extended the offer and failed to sign him to a new contract by Wednesday, Pogge would have become an unrestricted free agent.

Drafted by the Leafs 90th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Pogge has failed to live up to expectations. The Fort McMurray, AB native has spent most of the last few seasons with the Marlies, Toronto's AHL affiliate, and has not impressed in call-ups to the big club. In seven appearances with the Leafs last season, Pogge was 1-4 with a 4.35 goals against average and 0.844 save percentage.

I've never been so happy to be so wrong. I really want Justin Pogge to succeed and I'm glad Burke is giving him another year with the Marlies. I know I'll be there, cheering him on with my kids from the front row.

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Killing the Culture of Entitlement Means Pogge Has To Go
Published April 28, 2009 @ 16:51 in Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies

I'm as guilty as anyone. Justin Pogge was awesome during the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championship, and ever since we've been waiting for him to assume his role as Maple Leafs saviour. Here's the entry I wrote in January 2006 in which I opened with the following line. "I have seen the future of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey, and his name is Justin Pogge."

I have a great relationship with the Marlies PR people, and when I told them I wanted to meet Justin Pogge and ask him some questions, they quickly made it happen. He was the only Marlie I wanted to meet. Who wouldn't want to meet the future of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey?

I was there during the low points and the high points. It's been a roller coaster ride with peaks and valleys. When I learnt he was benched for the final playoff game of the season in Winnipeg, I responded with this tweet.

Pogge didn't get the start tonight.... it's Munro starting for the Marlies in the Peg. Whoa, methinks the Pogge era has grinded to a halt.

For the second season in a row, Greg Gilbert passed over Pogge at playoff time. Pogge's NHL record this season was abysmal. There's a reason we picked up Gerber... Pogge isn't anywhere close to being an NHL starting goaltender.

I want to believe, I really do, and that's the problem. There's a culture of entitlement with this franchise that Ron Wilson and Brian Burke are working hard to destroy, and that means Pogge has to go. I hate that this has to happen, but it's for the best.

It's time to get Jonas Gustavsson to compete with Vesa Toskala for the Leafs spot. James Reimer is ready to play with Adam Munro with the Marlies. The Justin Pogge era has indeed ground to a halt.

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@torontomike Wins Stajan Autograph from @TorontoMarlies
Published April 23, 2009 @ 11:41 in Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies, Twitter

I just won an autographed Matt Stajan card from the Toronto Marlies. I won via Twitter, where I suspect my odds were pretty awesome. @torontomarlies currently has 208 followers and I'm fairly certain only a handful played along with their RT contest yesterday.

I'm glad I won, because it gives me an excuse to respond to something I just read on the Toronto Sports Media Blog.

I know, I am fixated on this right now. The Bellville vs. Brampton game last night outdrew the Marlie game…..The Marlies announced a crowd of over 2200, the OHL game???? 3221!

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I have a blast at Marlies games. I'm going tonight to watch game five from the front row. My son and I know all the players by name, know their strengths, their weaknesses and have remarkable access to them. I'm not blowing smoke up your ass when I tell you we sincerely love watching the Marlies live.

Having said that, I can vouch for the fact that weeknight games are poorly attended. Even playoff games, and that doesn't make sense to me. I've dealt with the Marlies PR folks and they seem to be doing a lot of things right. They reached out to me, they do great things with kids hockey leagues, including my son's Timbits hockey at Swansea, they're now on Twitter and Facebook and they're open to creative marketing solutions.

I think the OHL is outdrawing the Marlies because the Marlies are part of the MLSE empire, and it's hard to paint yourself as a low-cost family alternative when you're printing money with the Leafs, Raptors and TFC. Even though the product is excellent and most of the players have already suited up or will suit up for the Maple Leafs, those looking for a low-cost family alternative sway toward the OHL, the more grass-roots, organic flavour of minor league hockey in the GTA.

There's nothing the Marlies can do about this, but I have one suggestion. Lower ticket prices because you're already gouging us on the NHL level and we know it. My preferred Marlies seats cost $38 each... Decent side seats are $33 on game day. Even the end zone seats are $21 on game day. IMHO, that's too high to be a true low-cost family alternative, especially when we pay $12 to park.

The product is good but the competition is fierce. Aggressive pricing and continued good grass-roots work on the marketing front is the best bet for future Marlies success.

I can't wait for puck droppage tonight @ 7pm at Ricoh. I'll tweet from the game... and hopefully pick up my Matt Stajan autograph.

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Justin Pogge is a Phriggin' Phoenix
Published April 19, 2009 @ 19:39 in Toronto Marlies

When Pogge made his Maple Leaf debut in the 2007 pre-season, I had butterflies. It's been up and down ever since. I recently got to interview him, witnessed a Marlies crowd turn on him, until he finally got pulled, and on March 29 I declared him "not ready for prime time".

Then, when I least expected it, he started to stop the puck. I've been in the building for quite a few Marlies games lately, and those soft goals have evaporated. The shaky Justin Pogge who always made me nervous seems to have stabilized and transformed into a formidable netminder who now invokes confidence. I had the best seat in the house this afternoon and witnessed his excellence as we beat Manitoba 2-1 and took a 2-1 series lead.

The Moose peppered Pogge with 31 shots and J.P. was awesome. He denied Manitoba's Michael Grabner on a pair of breakaways in the second period and was perfect during six Moose powerplays. With the game on the line, you knew Pogge was done allowing soft goals. He's a different guy out there, complete with required swagger.

He's a phriggin' phoenix. Just when I thought he was done, he's come back to life.

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