Marlies claim Calder Cup

Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said his team went through “championship moments” during its long run through the American Hockey League post-season.

The Marlies delivered again when it mattered most Thursday night, giving them a championship moment they’ll never forget. Raising the Calder Cup.

Toronto defeated the Texas Stars 6-1 in the decisive seventh game of the AHL final to the delight of the towel-waving sellout crowd at Ricoh Coliseum.

“We seemed like we had all those answers,” Keefe said. “That just showed how resilient we were as a team and how competitive we are. And just the fact that we weren’t going to be denied.”

Playoff MVP Andreas Johnsson scored two goals and added an assist to pad his league-leading total to 24 points. Mason Marchment scored twice, Carl Grundstrom and Ben Smith netted singles, and Garret Sparks backstopped the win with 29 saves.

The Canadian Press Toronto Marlies and Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas reacts after winning the AHL Calder Cup championship against the Texas Stars in Toronto on Thursday night. The Marlies won 6-1 in Game 7.