No Respect

Marlies Trying to Climb Power Rankings

JANUARY 11TH, 2022 BY HIERONYMUS MACMILLAN

One of hockey's most known quotes doesn't come from a hockey player. Or coach. Or anyone that you'd readily associate with hockey. Even people who've never seen a hockey game in their life have likely heard the quote in some iteration. 
"I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out."
That was coined by the late and unimitable Rodney Dangerfield. From what this writer can tell, it's the only linkage he had to the sport, but with that quote he left his mark.
But on this occasion, it isn't THAT Dangerfield quote that Toronto Marlies head coach Lonny Bohonos conjures up when asked about how he thinks his team is viewed around the league. In fact, it's probably THE Dangerfield quote. You know the one...

"I don't get no respect."

To most, it may seem impossible and improbable that their even exists another hockey team at The Hockey Center of the Universe™. But just a 5 minute drive from the Air Canada Center, located on Manitoba Drive (sorry, I couldn't resist name dropping Manitoba), is Coca-Cola Coliseum. Home of the Toronto Marlies. Farm team for the g̶r̶e̶a̶t̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶m̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶l̶d̶ Maple Leafs. But trust me, they exist. 
They exist to the point that right now in the RHL they are second in the league in points percentage (.775) and tied at the top of the league in wins (29) with the class of the league, the Cleveland Monsters. They've only lost 5 games in their last 20 (two in a shootout and once in overtime, though to be fair two of their wins in that span have come via shootout as well).
And despite of this, the Marlies are 6th overall in the power rankings. "Power rankings schmower schmanking" I hear you say. Look, the Monsters are ranked under the Marlies (7th) so they have their own argument but that's for another time (and writer). Sure, the power rankings focus on win sreaks and last 10 games and blah blah blah. The simple fact of the matter is, well, they get no respect.

"To be fair, I didn't even know it was a thing until you brought it up," Bohonos said when asked if he thought the ranking was fair. He continued, "but even without the ranking, I've gotten the feeling this year that other teams don't really have us on their radar as a team to look out for. Whether it's because we don't have any, and this is no offense to any of the guys in our locker room, all-stars or high end draft picks in our lineup it just doesn't seem like teams take notice."
"It doesn't bother me though. I almost prefer it that way. What we don't have in raw talent we make up for in spades with character. We've got a few guys with us who could probably be playing in the RHL right now, but they've accepted what's in front of them and have done everything we've asked of them and more. I mean, look at Megs (Jayson Megna). I think he's, what, at least top 5 in league scoring. Gus (Filip Gustavsson) is giving a chance to win everynight in net. Guys like Calvert and Kivi (Matiss Kivlenieks), this is their last year playing and they're giving everything they have, leaving nothing on the table. The other guys see that and it inspires everyone. They're playing for each other and I couldn't be any prouder. So 6th, 1st, last. Rank us where you want. We're just going to keep going out there and playing hockey. Sorry if that isn't the soundbyte you wanted."

Spoken like a true coach. It wasn't all for naught though. When asked what would happen if the Marlies could bring Toronto a championship he quoted none other than, you guessed it, Rodney Dangerfield. "We're all gonna get laid!"