In his first go-around as a coach, Mark Giordano found quick success forged by a long road to discovering success as a player.

Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, Jacob Quillan and playoff MVP Artur Akhtyamov. Vinni Lettieri, Bo Groulx, William Villeneuve, Ryan Tverberg. Wrecking ball Landon Sim, Michael Pezzetta, Marc Johnstone. They could play a bigger role in the Maple Leafs’ ongoing quest to duplicate what the Marlies did on Friday night.

Toronto Marlies standouts are eager to prove themselves with the Maple Leafs after winning the Calder Cup.

The Toronto Marlies clinched their second Calder Cup championship with a 4-3 win over the Chicago Wolves on Friday night.

Not to make too much of it, but Easton Cowan handing a championship trophy to Ben Danford held all sorts of symbolism and gave Leaf Nation all kinds of reasons for hope.

Kill the clock and live forever as champions. With the Calder Cup in the building and the Toronto Marlies clinging to a third-period lead for a second straight night, the seconds felt like minutes, the minutes dragged like hours.

In the midst of their second Calder Cup celebration, Marlies GM Ryan Hardy surprised everyone by wearing Rodion Amirov’s No. 72 jersey, turning triumph into a deeply personal tribute.

Watch the entire Toronto Marlies celebration from the dying seconds and Todd Crocker’s call, to the time-honored tradition of the end-of-series handshakes, to the Calder Cup presentation and the players’ moments with it.

For the second time in franchise history, the Toronto Marlies are Calder Cup champions.

The Toronto Marlies and Chicago Wolves faced off for Game 4 at Coca-Cola Coliseum on Thursday.