Toronto Marlies win first Calder Cup in franchise history

The Toronto Marlies won the Calder Cup on Thursday in front of a loud home crowd, beating the Texas Stars 6-1 in Game 7.

This is the first Calder Cup for the Marlies and the first professional men’s hockey trophy presented to a Toronto team since the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967.

Andreas Johnsson earned 24 points in 16 games and was awarded with the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most outstanding player of the playoffs.

The 23-year-old winger made appearances this season in a Maple Leafs jersey.

His two goals and one assist in Game 7 put him four points over Stars captain Curtis McKenzie for the AHL playoff scoring title.

The Marlies are also the first Leafs farm team to win a championship since the New Brunswick Hawks (shared by the Chicago Blackhawks) did it in 1982.

The city of Toronto has now won four titles in less than a year.

Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC won the MLS Cup and Canadian Championship, while the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts won the Grey Cup back in November.

The Marlies will host a Calder Cup Championship Celebration outside Ricoh Coliseum Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.