Amidst the roar of victory, general manager Ryan Hardy and MVP Artur Akhtyamov paid an emotional tribute to their fallen teammate, ensuring Rodion Amirov’s spirit shared the trophy.
As the Toronto Marlies celebrated after they won the Calder Cup. There was one very touching moment that stood out from everything else.
During the on-ice celebration after their series win, Marlies general manager Ryan Hardy came out to join the team wearing a white jersey with Rodion Amirov’s name and number 72 on it.
Amirov, who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, passed away in 2023 at just 21 years old after battling a brain tumour. He never got the chance to play in North America, but inside the organization his presence has never really gone away. His jersey stayed in the locker room all season, just sitting there as a reminder of who he was to the group.
The moment became viral as the team gathered at center ice for the Cup photo. Artur Akhtyamov, fresh off being named playoff MVP, held Amirov’s jersey up next to the Calder Cup while the group posed around him.
Akhtyamov and Amirov were close. They came up through the Russian national program together, and that connection didn’t disappear with time. In a night full of noise and celebration, that part of it felt quiet but was probably the most meaningful thing in the building.
