For a family with a couple of little guys under the age of three, the Toronto Marlies are a Godsend when winter rolls around.
The hockey is pretty good, you can get a ticket for $10 and most important of all - there's plenty of room for the rug rats to roam. Took in a Marlies tilt on the weekend and as usual, there were only a few thousand fans at Ricoh Coliseum. So, you have a whole row to yourself, which is perfect for a couple of kids who have trouble sitting still for an entire game.
Of course, lousy attendance isn't so great for the players.
On one particular Wednesday evening a few years ago, only 500 fans turned out to watch the Marlies play the Manitoba Moose. I know, because I was in the rink and decided to do my own crowd count. The game also happened to be televised on Sportsnet and my buddy RJ Broadhead was hosting the broadcast from ice level. Veteran NHL'er Tyson Nash suited up for the Marlies that season and at one point in the game, he skated over to R.J.
"Well," Nash said, as he looked around at the morgue-like surroundings. "This is about as exciting as watching grass grow, isn't it?"
Yes, it's tough to get pumped up when you're performing in front of a bunch of empty seats and come to think of it, that lack of atmosphere could be one of the reasons Sportsnet doesn't carry Marlies games anymore. Thankfully, attendance has improved over the years but you still have to feel sorry for ex-Leafs such as Boyd Devereaux and Mark Bell who have gone from a sold out Air Canada Centre to the much more quiet confines of Ricoh. Still, based on what I saw on the weekend, you can understand why Bell couldn't keep his spot with the Leafs. In today's speedier NHL, Bell has trouble keeping up and even in the AHL, he seems to lumber around the ice.
But that doesn't mean a big man can't do some big things. You have to be impressed with the hot hands of 6' 3", 240 lb. Andre Deveaux. The Leafs signed the 24-year old forward over the summer after he played in the Atlanta Thrashers organization and helped the Chicago Wolves capture the Calder Cup last season. Deveaux racked up 232 penalty minutes last year while scoring seven goals in 66 games. But this season, he already has five goals in seven games, including a hat trick against the Houston Aeros. The Leafs aren't carrying a true heavyweight on their roster and if Ron Wilson ever decides they need one, Deveaux could be a possibility.
"I've proven I can stand up to all the heavyweights in the AHL," said Deveaux. "The fighters in the NHL are even bigger and stronger but I'm certainly not afraid to jump in and help a teammate when the situation calls for it."
In the meantime, Deveaux is excited about the chance to hone his skills as he gets more and more confidence.
"It's all about being confident to try things in a game situation. A lot of coaches just want you to make the simple play and it's tough to get better. But Gibby (Marlies coach Greg Gilbert) has been really good about encouraging me to grow my game in different areas."
Deveaux and the Marlies have a pair of home contests this weekend - November 1st against Lake Erie and November 2nd versus Hamilton, so come on out and keep an eye on the big guy's progress.
And if you happen to spot a family of four sitting in a row all to themselves, keep your head up.
The little guys like to run around just as much as Andre Deveaux enjoys charging to the net.