Why Marlies had Amirov’s sweater in their Calder Cup photo

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On a night of celebration for young prospects on the Maple Leafs, the late Rodion Amirov was not forgotten. 

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His training camp No. 72 sweater has been hanging in the Marlies’ dressing room at Coca-Cola Coliseum and their Ford Centre practice facility, and after Friday’s Calder Cup win, it came out on the ice. 

Marlies general manager Ryan Hardy wore it as the Cup was passed around to staff and Amirov’s Russian countryman and playoff MVP Artur Akhtyamov clutched at the centre of the team picture. 

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Toronto’s first-round pick in 2020 from Ufa in Russia was diagnosed with a brain tumor two years later and died in 2023 in Munich, Germany, where the Leafs had arranged for treatments at a specialty medical clinic. They had also rented ice for him on days he felt strong enough to skate. 

The forward, who had 24 points in 27 games his draft year, made one symbolic camp trip to Toronto in 2022 with his family, but took ill. Before Amirov flew home, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan gave him one of the first bronzed team medallions he had created, a vintage Leaf on one side and the ‘Honour, Pride and Courage’ motto embossed on the other. 

Leaf legend Borje Salming, in a battle with ALS around the time, also received one. Amirov’s enthusiasm was infectious when he was around the club as he tried to live as normal a life as possible. 

“It’s pretty cool when you understand the situation,” head coach John Gruden said of saluting Amirov. “I’m glad we did it. That’s a great gesture.” 

Winger Ryan Tverberg was the last pick in 2020, but never met Amirov as that year was a virtual draft due to the COVID pandemic. 

“We’ve had his sweater both at Ford and here,” Tverberg said he hugged with family at centre ice. “It’s a little thing, because a lot of us never met him. But nice to know he is rooting for us.” 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby

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