1. NICHOLAS CARAFA
It’s early July and you’re headed to your first day of camp, an entire summer is at your fingertips
and you’re filled with excitement about catching up with old friends. Fairly common, right?
Now imagine you’re Mitch Marner.
It’s early July and you’re headed to your first day of prospect camp, less than two weeks after
you were drafted fourth overall in the NHL Draft and became the future face of the team you
grew up cheering for. No pressure, right?
Heading into this summer hockey excursion, Marner knew he would be reunited with a number
of former teammates and opponents, including childhood pal and fellow 2015 draft pick Jeremy
Bracco (second round, 61st overall).
As it turns out, the old friends had plenty of time to catch up during the Toronto Maple Leafs’
six-day camp in Collingwood, Ont., as they were paired as roommates
A summer hockey excursion with Bracco – a Freeport, N.Y., native – gave Marner a sense of
familiarity in an otherwise novel situation.

2. “[Bracco] sent me a photo of us in a summer hockey tournament [from when] when we were
eight or nine,” said Marner in late July, prior to hopping a flight to Calgary for Canada’s
National Junior Team development camp.
The pressure that comes with being one of Toronto’s top prospects is unfathomable to the
outside world of hockey-watchers, but something as simple as reminiscing with a pal can ease
the tension.
“It’s funny looking at us then and now (that) we’re back together here in Toronto; it’s been a fun
time for sure. I was happy to hear [Bracco’s] name called by the Leafs. He’s an exceptional
player with a lot of talent and I’m excited to get on the ice with him again.”
Playing with his childhood friend on his favourite childhood team seemed more like a dream
than a reality – that is until both players heard their names called in Florida this past June.
Marner’s dream of playing in the NHL began to blossom in elementary school when his uncle
took him to watch his favourite player, Mats Sundin, play live for the first time.
“I remember Sundin potted a couple,” recalls Marner. “Watching him in real life was incredible
for me as a kid and ever since that day I’ve wanted to put that maple leaf on my chest.”
He wouldn’t even be getting the chance to wear the blue and white if his grade-seven self didn’t
choose to pursue a puck over a lacrosse ball.

3. The fast pace, contact and need for conditioning were apparent in both sports, but something
immeasurable tipped the scales in favour of the rink.
Like countless hockey stories before, the catalyst in Marner’s story was a heart-to-heart
conversation with the makeshift taxi drivers/personal chefs/skate-tighteners – Mr. and Mrs.
Marner. They helped their son realize he had a natural gift for hockey, and that the sport needed
his undivided attention if he wanted to tap its true potential.
As the 18-year-old says, the decision turned out okay.
He’s not wrong, if “okay” is defined by winning scoring championships and all-star selections
beginning in atom. In 2007-08, the Thornhill, Ont., native joined the GTHL where he donned
purple and black with the Vaughan Kings for five seasons before swapping for Don Mills Flyers
colours in his minor midget campaign.
While individual accolades kept piling up – like MVP at the Manhattan Big Apple Tournament,
where he led all players in assists (17) and points (25) – the mystique behind winning his first
GTHL championship with the Peewee AAA Kings takes the cake for most memorable moment.
“It’s a hard league to play in and a lot of players come out of there,” said Marner of the GTHL.
“Every game was fun to play. It was a challenge and it helped me get better in the different
aspects of my game.”

4. “The coaching in the GTHL is top notch and a lot of them have seen what it takes to get their
players’ game to the next level,” continued Marner. “When I was with the Kings and the Flyers,
they had really good people in there that helped me strengthen my game.”
For Marner, playing in the GTHL presented the perfect situation to play and develop. By his
Minor Midget AAA season – when he scored 41 goals and 86 points in 55 games – scouts and
OHL general managers were taking notice of the dynamic, goal-generating machine Marner had
grown into.
The London Knights, under the management of now-Maple Leafs director of player personnel
Mark Hunter, nabbed Marner with the 19th overall pick in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.
“Mark and I have had a really good relationship since day one,” said Marner. “He had belief in
me that I could be a good player and ever since then he’s always had confidence in me.”
The history between Marner and Hunter doesn’t mean the Maple Leafs’ first-rounder gets to take
his foot off the gas now that he has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club.
“[Hunter] wants to challenge me every day. Every player loves that – they want to get better
every time they step in the rink and that’s what I try to do.”

5. That’s exactly what Marner has been doing since grade eight – pushing himself at the gym and
on the ice to a place where he can barely move.
Marner says the confidence boost that comes with having Hunter call his name a second time, in
perhaps the most important moment of his life, means so much because he now has a chance to
be a part of something special in Toronto.
“Waiting for your name to be called and knowing that you could maybe be with a team for the
rest of your life, even potentially being home for the rest of your life, it’s kind of crazy,” recalled
Marner of the moments leading up to his selection at the NHL Draft.
“Sitting there with your family, everyone’s shaking and no one knows where you’re going to go.
It was a crazy feeling and I don’t think my heart has ever beat that fast.”
The easy part, if you want to call it that, is over.
Now the focus shifts to meeting and exceeding the expectations set out by his new bosses – Lou
Lamoriello, Brendan Shanahan, Kyle Dubas and Mike Babcock. If his performance at the
World Junior Showcase in August is any indication, Marner is passing with flying colours.
Expectations are high when some of the biggest names in hockey are calling the shots,
particularly when those shots are being called for a franchise – and a fan base – starving for a
Stanley Cup.

6. But that’s the kind of situation Marner welcomes with open arms. He wants those expectations to
push him to a level that a long day at the gym can’t compete with.
Developing prospects requires tough love to correct mistakes and maintain player confidence
after the inevitable bad shifts and games.
For Marner, it’s not that complicated.
“I just think of the kid that picked up his stick and played this game for fun. That’s how I do it
every time I step on the ice – I’m just a little kid again, playing the game I love with all my
heart.”
Sounds like he just won over a nation.
A few options for graphics…
1…
Since 1967, the Maple Leafs have selected with a top-five pick on eight occasions, including
three times in the past seven years (Morgan Rielly: 2012, 5th overall; Luke Schenn: 2008, 5th
overall).
Only four forwards have been top-five selections by Toronto since the first modern NHL Draft in
1967.

7. Forwards selectedwithin top 5 of NHL Draft by Maple Leafs
2015 – Mitch Marner (C) London – OHL (4th overall)
1989 – Scott Thornton (LW) Belleville – OHL (3rd overall)
1985 – Wendel Clark (LW) Saskatoon Blades – WHL (1st overall)
1973 – Lanny McDonald (RW) Medicine Hat Tigers – WHL (4th overall)
2….
Marner in 2014-15
 Gold medal at Ivan Hlinka Memorial
 Named alternate captain of Knights
 OHL First All-Star Team
 4th overall in NHL Draft
3….
Marner finished second in OHL scoring with 44 goals, 82 assists and 126 points in 2014-15 –
more than doubling his rookie totals.
Other notes on TOR draft (no need to use these, just for my future reference)…
Thornton: 144-141—285 in 941 GP (1-3—4 in 33 GP w/ TOR)
Traded to EDM as part of package for Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson and Craig Berube in
September 1991
Clark: 330-234—564 in 793 GP (260-181—441 in 608 GP w/ TOR)

8. Traded to Quebec as part of package for Mats Sundin, Garth Butcher, Todd Warriner and a pick
in June 1994.
* Clark served as captain for three seasons before being traded in 1994.
McDonald: 500-506—1,006 in 1,111 GP (219-240—459 in 477 GP w/ TOR)
Traded to COL as part of package for Pat Hickey and Wilf Paiement in December 1979
Did You Know? The Maple Leafs have selected three times in the opening round on two
occasions – 1973 and 1989. In ’89, Toronto selected a trio of Belleville Buills with their picks:
Scott Thornton (3rd), Robert Pearson (12th) and Steve Bancroft (21st).
Since 1967, the Maple Leafs have selected within the top five of the NHL Draft on eight
occasions.
Maple Leafs top 5 picks, since 1967
2015 – Mitch Marner (C) London – OHL (4th overall)
2012 – Morgan Rielly (D) Moose Jaw - WHL (5th overall)
2008 – Luke Schenn (D) Kelowna – WHL (5th overall)
1989 – Scott Thornton (LW) Belleville – OHL (3rd overall)
1985 – Wendel Clark (LW) Saskatoon Blades – WHL (1st overall)
1984 – Al Iafrate (D) Belleville – OHL (4th overall)
1982 – Gary Nylund (D) Portland – WHL (3rd overall)

9. 1973 – Lanny McDonald (RW) Medicine Hat Tigers – WHL (4th overall)
1966 – John Wright (C) West Clair Jr. B (4th overall; Amateur League)
1964 – Tom Martin (RW) Toronto Marlboro Midgets (5th overall; Amateur Team)