For the second time in franchise history, the Toronto Marlies are Calder Cup champions.
The Marlies captured the American Hockey League title on Friday night, defeating the Chicago Wolves 4-3 in Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals on home ice in Toronto.
Trailing 2-0 late in the first period, Toronto responded with four consecutive goals to take control of the contest. London Knights alumnus Landon Sim ignited the comeback with the Marlies’ opening goal, while fellow Knights graduate Easton Cowan played a pivotal role, recording three assists during the middle frame.
The championship marks the second straight year a Canadian club has claimed the Calder Cup, following the Abbotsford Canucks in 2025.
For Cowan and Sim, the victory represents a third consecutive championship season. The pair previously helped London capture back-to-back J. Ross Robertson Cup championships in 2024 and 2025, as well as the 2025 Memorial Cup, before making the jump to the professional ranks.
Toronto entered the postseason as the fourth seed in the North Division after posting a 36-26-5-5 regular-season record. The Marlies advanced through the Rochester Americans, division champion Laval Rocket, Cleveland Monsters and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before defeating the Chicago Wolves in the Finals.
In total, eight OHL alumni were members of the championship-winning roster, representing six different OHL franchises.
OHL alumni crowned champions with the Marlies:
Forwards:
Easton Cowan (London Knights)
Alex Nylander (Mississauga Steelheads)
Landon Sim (London Knights)
Michael Pezzetta (Sudbury Wolves, Sarnia Sting)
Defenceman:
Ben Danford (Oshawa Generals, Brantford Bulldogs)
Dakota Mermis (London Knights, Oshawa Generals)
Chas Sharpe (Mississauga Steelheads)
Blake Smith (Oshawa Generals, Flint Firebirds)
Hockey Operations:
* denotes OHL club as a player
John Gruden – Head Coach (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Mark Giordano – Assistant Coach (Owen Sound Attack*)
Brie Donelson – Assistant Athletic Therapist (Guelph Storm)
Nick Hornby – Assistant Equipment Manager (Niagara IceDogs)
Nick Biamonte – Video Coach (Guelph Storm)
