The U16 Toronto Marlboros keep on rolling, rolling into the finals of their host event, the Toronto Marlboros Holiday Classic. 

The Marlies upset the Vaughan Kings in the quarters and took care of business in the semis, taking down Ontario Prep’s Hill Academy by a score of 5-2. The 2009-born Marlboros, led by Sudbury Wolves’ Kingston Harris, were eliminated in the semi-finals at last year’s event. 

The U16 Toronto Marlboros have had a couple of disappointing teams over the last two years, for their standards. This year’s team is quickly rising the ranks, and has really upped their game over the last month or so, led by top draft prospect Braden Reilly. 

The Marlboros will be facing off in the finals for the Toronto Marlboros Holiday Classic against the London Jr. Knights. 

The Jr. Knights are coached by former NHLer and OHL London Knights captain, Danny Syvret. He was a member of that stacked 2004-05 Knights squad, capturing an OHL Championship and Memorial Cup. Syvret won the OHL and CHL Defenseman of the Year that season. Additionally, he represented Canada at the 2005 World Juniors and scored the gold medal-winning goal. 

Syvret captured a U16 Alliance Championship with the Jr. Knights squad in 2023-24 as Head Coach. On his coaching staff is his London Knights teammate, Rob Schremp, whom he brought in last year to be a skills coach. 

The Jr. Knights shutout the Ajax-Pickering Raiders 4-0 in the semis. Although their tournament comes to an end, the Raiders should be proud of how they played. They lost only 2-0 to the Marlboros in preliminary play and allowed only three goals against heading into the elimination round. 

The Finals are at 1 pm EST today. Will the host team bring home a title?