The reigning AHL champions, the Marlies, just exploded in their home opener, dropping a 5-3 bomb on the Hammers. After a tough loss on the road in Rochester against the Amerks, this squad came out swinging, showing everyone why they wear those crowns.
New Faces, Same Championship Vibe?
Man, talk about a squad in transition, right? New season, a lot of new faces, and a new bench boss with Steve Sullivan stepping in after John Gruden got the call-up to the Leafs. You’ve got guys like Easton Cowan and Ben Danford promoted, Alex Nylander off to Calgary, Dennis Hildeby to Tampa Bay. That’s a lot of talent walking out the door. But hey, it’s the AHL, that’s just the game! Despite all that movement, they still look like champs. Arty Akhtyamov was in net for the Marlies, facing off against Josh Kotai, an undrafted NCAA free agent, for the Hammers. The Marlies came out absolutely flying, making a serious statement from the first puck drop.
Brendan Brisson Goes Double-Dip!
And who brought the fireworks? None other than Brendan Brisson! This dude, a first-round pick by Vegas back in 2020 and the son of a famous hockey agent, signed with the Leafs in September as a free agent after the Rangers didn’t give him a Qualifying Offer. Guess what? He just bagged his first goal with the team on the power play, putting them up 1-0. And he was not done! Before we could even catch our breath, Noah Chadwick sniped one for his first of the season, making it 2-0. Then Brisson went full double-dip mode, firing in his second goal to blow it wide open at 4-0 in the first period! Unbelievable start. Seriously, after missing the Top 25 Under 25 list because of his late signing, he’s basically screaming, “You missed out!” This guy’s already making a massive impact.
The Veteran Grind and Coach’s Praise
It wasn’t all new blood though. You still got constants like Logan Shaw out there. The guy just keeps delivering. Shawzy snapped one home to make it a ridiculous 5-0. Think about that for a minute. Five. Zero. In the first period of your home opener! Coach Sullivan summed it up perfectly about Shaw, saying, “there’s a reason why he keeps getting extensions, it’s because of what he does in the dressing room, not just what he does on the ice. You look at John Gruden, last year, I thought he played him too much. I’m on the bench now and I’m playing him too much. I und…” That kind of leadership, mixed with this new-player energy? Potent combo.
What a way to kick off the home stand. Yeah, they let the Hammers claw back a bit for that 5-3 final, but the statement was made early and often. This team, even with all the changes, is still showing that championship DNA. Gotta carry this momentum. Get ready for more, because if Brisson keeps playing like this, it’s gonna be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
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