| Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club | |
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989. The Marlboros were formerly a farm team to the Toronto Maple Leafs and one of the dominant junior teams in history, winning seven Memorial Cup championships.
Other Toronto Marlboros teams include a Senior Hockey team who competed for the Stanley Cup in 1904 & won the Allan Cup in 1950, and a Minor Hockey team, which has operated continuously since 1931.
Franchise Identities:
In the early years, the Marlboros were just one of many athletic clubs and junior hockey teams in and around Toronto that played in relative obscurity in the history books. The club was thrust onto the national scene in 1927 when Conn Smythe bought the Toronto Marlboros to be the farm team for his other recently acquired team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. From 1927 to 1989 the Marlboros and Maple Leafs shared common ownership first in the Smythe family and later in Harold Ballard. Upon the passing of Conn Smythe, his son Stafford Smythe inherited the teams, and later sold a portion of both clubs to Harold Ballard. Ballard became sole owner of both teams upon the passing of Stafford Smythe.
The Marlboros would serve as a farm team for the Maple Leafs for 40 years until direct NHL sponsorship of junior teams ended in 1967, however the two clubs continued to remain affiliated under a common ownership until 1989. During this time the Marlboros would send over 180 players to the NHL and 6 future Hockey Hall of Fame inductees. The two teams would often play double headers on Saturdays, with the junior games in the afternoon and the NHL games in the evening.
The original Hot Stove Club was formed at Maple Leaf Gardens on May 28th, 1937 for the purpose of raising funds to support the Marlborough Hockey Club. The Hot Stove Club would be given a permanent bar & lounge at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1963. From 1929 to 1975 the Marlboros won the national junior championship seven times.
Marlboro players from the Memorial Cups in the 1950's and 1960's jumped directly the Maple Leafs, helping them win the Stanley cup 4 times in the 1960's. Former NHL stars stayed in the organization to help coach in the junior ranks. Turk Broda and George Armstrong both coaches the Marlboros to Memorial Cup victories.
Stafford Smythe organized the Metro Junior A League in 1961 as a rival league to the OHA, with the Marlboros as it charter member. After the league folded in 1963, the Marlboros scooped up all the former stars from the Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons including their coach Jim Gregory. The Neil McNeil Maroons won two consecutive Metro Junior A league titles. The 1964 Marlboros were one of the strongest teams in Canadian junior history.
The Marlboros would return to prominence again in 1973, coached by former Toronto Maple Leafs captain George Armstrong. Armstrong's team in 1973 lost only 7 seven games all season, and two years later he would coach the Marlboros to their 7th national title in 1975.
The team began to take a decline in the standings in the late 1970's and all through the 1980's. Many people felt that Harold Ballard's penny-pinching ways helped contribute to the demise of Canada's most successful junior team. After the 1988-1989 season the Toronto Marlboros were sold, and severed ties with the maple Leafs. The OHA team moved to Hamilton, becoming the Dukes of Hamilton. They were not financially successful in Hamilton, though, and after only two seasons the Dukes became the Guelph Storm.
J. Ross Robertson Cup
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Memorial Cup
Hamilton Spectator Trophy
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Toronto would play the Elmwood Millionaires from Winnipeg, Manitoba in a best of three series starting on March 29th at the Arena Gardens (Mutual Street Arena) for the Memorial Cup. The Marlboros won the first game 4 to 2 in overtime. On March 31st, Toronto won game 2 by an identical score of 4 to 2 for its first Memorial Cup.
1955
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 First Annual Memorial Cup Dinner. 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.
1956
Toronto defeated the Montreal Jr. 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 27th.
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.
1964
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 abscence. 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.
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.
1973
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.
1975
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.
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.
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Red Tilson Trophy (Most Outstanding Player)
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
Emms Family Award
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Dave Pinkney Trophy (Lowest Team GAA)
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy
(Scholastic Player of the Year)
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| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals For | Goals Against | Standing |
| 1946-47 | 36 | 20 | 16 | 0 | 40 | 0.556 | 87 | 84 | 5th OHA |
| 1947-48 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 30 | 0.375 | 97 | 149 | 7th OHA |
| 1948-49 | 48 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 44 | 0.458 | 168 | 176 | 6th OHA |
| 1949-50 | 48 | 37 | 9 | 2 | 76 | 0.792 | 253 | 119 | 1st OHA |
| 1950-51 | 54 | 32 | 16 | 6 | 70 | 0.648 | 220 | 167 | 2nd OHA |
| 1951-52 | 53 | 39 | 8 | 6 | 84 | 0.792 | 302 | 146 | 1st OHA |
| 1952-53 | 56 | 32 | 17 | 7 | 71 | 0.634 | 199 | 139 | 2nd OHA |
| 1953-54 | 59 | 34 | 18 | 7 | 75 | 0.636 | 242 | 160 | 2nd OHA |
| 1954-55 | 49 | 29 | 17 | 3 | 61 | 0.622 | 189 | 142 | 3rd OHA |
| 1955-56 | 48 | 23 | 21 | 4 | 50 | 0.521 | 174 | 164 | 4th OHA |
| 1956-57 | 52 | 35 | 14 | 3 | 73 | 0.702 | 189 | 133 | 2nd OHA |
| 1957-58 | 52 | 21 | 21 | 10 | 52 | 0.500 | 210 | 186 | 4th OHA |
| 1958-59 | 54 | 19 | 27 | 8 | 46 | 0.426 | 160 | 213 | 6th OHA |
| 1959-60 | 48 | 28 | 17 | 3 | 59 | 0.615 | 222 | 180 | 1st OHA |
| 1960-61 | 48 | 9 | 30 | 9 | 27 | 0.281 | 136 | 211 | 7th OHA |
| 1961-62 | 33 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 44 | 0.636 | 141 | 103 | 2nd Metro Jr |
| 1962-63 | 40 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 50 | 0.625 | 217 | 159 | 2nd Metro Jr |
| 1963-64 | 56 | 40 | 9 | 7 | 87 | 0.777 | 336 | 195 | 1st OHA |
| 1964-65 | 56 | 32 | 17 | 7 | 71 | 0.634 | 259 | 222 | 2nd OHA |
| 1965-66 | 48 | 20 | 18 | 10 | 50 | 0.521 | 203 | 211 | 6th OHA |
| 1966-67 | 48 | 23 | 15 | 10 | 56 | 0.583 | 208 | 184 | 3rd OHA |
| 1967-68 | 54 | 31 | 17 | 6 | 68 | 0.630 | 273 | 179 | 5th OHA |
| 1968-69 | 54 | 21 | 27 | 6 | 48 | 0.444 | 222 | 239 | 6th OHA |
| 1969-70 | 54 | 26 | 17 | 11 | 63 | 0.583 | 239 | 201 | 4th OHA |
| 1970-71 | 62 | 28 | 26 | 8 | 64 | 0.516 | 353 | 304 | 5th OHA |
| 1971-72 | 63 | 45 | 15 | 3 | 93 | 0.738 | 363 | 256 | 1st OHA |
| 1972-73 | 63 | 47 | 7 | 9 | 103 | 0.817 | 416 | 199 | 1st OHA |
| 1973-74 | 70 | 30 | 31 | 9 | 69 | 0.493 | 293 | 276 | 8th OHA |
| 1974-75 | 70 | 48 | 13 | 9 | 105 | 0.750 | 469 | 303 | 1st OHA |
| 1975-76 | 66 | 26 | 30 | 10 | 62 | 0.470 | 278 | 294 | 3rd Emms |
| 1976-77 | 66 | 31 | 23 | 12 | 74 | 0.561 | 335 | 286 | 3rd Emms |
| 1977-78 | 68 | 24 | 36 | 8 | 56 | 0.412 | 263 | 341 | 5th Emms |
| 1978-79 | 68 | 27 | 40 | 1 | 55 | 0.404 | 308 | 351 | 5th Emms |
| 1979-80 | 68 | 33 | 32 | 3 | 69 | 0.507 | 342 | 310 | 2nd Emms |
| 1980-81 | 68 | 31 | 37 | 0 | 62 | 0.456 | 298 | 336 | 4th Emms |
| 1981-82 | 68 | 37 | 31 | 0 | 74 | 0.544 | 316 | 290 | 4th Leyden |
| 1982-83 | 70 | 36 | 29 | 5 | 77 | 0.550 | 325 | 311 | 4th Leyden |
| 1983-84 | 70 | 45 | 24 | 1 | 91 | 0.650 | 392 | 317 | 2nd Leyden |
| 1984-85 | 66 | 35 | 28 | 3 | 73 | 0.553 | 315 | 302 | 3rd Leyden |
| 1985-86 | 66 | 22 | 41 | 3 | 47 | 0.356 | 297 | 345 | 6th Leyden |
| 1986-87 | 66 | 22 | 41 | 3 | 47 | 0.356 | 298 | 376 | 7th Leyden |
| 1987-88 | 66 | 26 | 39 | 1 | 53 | 0.402 | 292 | 348 | 6th Leyden |
| 1988-89 | 66 | 32 | 31 | 3 | 67 | 0.508 | 319 | 332 | 3rd Leyden |
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 dispayed by itself on the jersey chest. It wasn't until the late 1950's that the crown was set against the present day Maple Leaf.
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 1970's 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.
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.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the
"Toronto Marlboros".
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