Episode 7: VK Test and Marlboros Standouts

Emily

Hey everyone, welcome back to This Week in Blue & White! It’s Emily here—yeah, it’s just me this episode, Prentice is out nursing an injury, but don’t worry, he’ll be back soon. So I get the mic all to myself. Where to start... well, let’s get right into it: the Marlboros had a serious showdown against the first place Vaughan Kings, and let me just say, this one was a tough pill to swallow with a final score of 4–1, Vaughan on top. But you know, the score only tells part of the story.

Emily

The energy at the rink was wild—Vaughan came out flying. I mean, they were pressuring the puck, firing shots from the jump. I actually got a little nervous at one point—reminded me of this overtime game I watched ages ago as a kid, just edge-of-your-seat stuff. Anyway, Vaughan struck first, but the Marlboros just do not quit. Seriously, they never do. On the power play, #84 Challenger—he’s got this knack for being in the right place at the right time—buried one after some slick, slick puck work from Longo and Mancino. You could feel the momentum swing for a second there.

Emily

Then, the second period. Alright, if I’m honest, this is where Vaughan started flexing. Two goals, and they were just peppering our goalie. But here’s the thing—despite getting outshot, the Marlboros’ defenders didn’t fold. Guys like Leung, Ryan, and Zettas? They were absolute rocks on the backend. Birch and Nadeau actually finished the night +1, and Zettas held strong against Vaughan’s toughest forwards. There were a couple moments—like, I think mid-second—where you could see the D-core just tightening up, blocking passing lanes, keeping the team in it.

Emily

Fast forward to the third, and even with that hill to climb, the compete level just never dipped. Thompson, Lamming, Heine—they all pushed for those late-game rushes and honestly made Vaughan’s goalie work for it. The Marlies didn’t just sit back; they were hunting for that spark. Final numbers? Evened out on hits—8-8. That’s saying something about grit. And hey, faceoffs... not bad there, either, just under 50%. Even in a loss, I love how this team keeps fighting ‘til the very last horn. That’s something we’ve talked about in past episodes, that never-quit attitude—honestly, you see it at its best in games like this.

Emily

Switching lanes a bit—I wanna focus in on someone who absolutely embodies that relentless compete we’re always talking about. Let’s talk about Cohen Hutchison. This kid’s got his eyes on the NHL, no question. If you ask him about his dream, he’ll tell you straight up: he wants to play pro. And honestly, it shows in the way he preps, the way he plays, all of it. What’s cool is he patterns his game after Auston Matthews—I’m not making that up—especially in how he moves the puck and makes smart choices. I might be a little biased because I’m a huge Matthews fan, but you see those quick, smart plays with Cohen. He knows where to be. Great hockey sense.

Emily

Off the ice? Oh, this is the fun stuff. If Cohen could have any superpower, flying is his top pick—his words, “You can go anywhere.” And apparently, if he got to choose a travel spot, it’d be Italy. Bit of a romantic, I guess! Pregame music, he’s got Drake’s “Headlines” on repeat. That’s, like, his trigger to get locked in. Oh, and side note—he’s really into NHL 25 right now, so safe to say hockey’s on his mind 24/7.

Emily

But here’s the thing that I keep noticing with Cohen—he’s absolutely rock solid under pressure. It’s become kind of his thing, actually. Especially in games that get tense, like that last one against Vaughan? He’s making the right decisions, he’s calm, never forces the play. In high-pressure late-game moments, you see him keep his head, move the puck with purpose, and just do the little things right. Off the ice, too, I mean, his habits? Just super consistent and steady. I think, like, what sets Cohen apart is that he doesn’t let the moment get too big. And that is so valuable for this team—especially when things get tense.

Emily

Now, let’s swing over to another impact player—Colton Lamming. Colton’s a really interesting guy, because he’s not just dialed in on hockey—he’s got this entrepreneurial drive too. He talks about wanting to play in the NHL or own his own business one day. That’s, like, ambitious on both fronts. Makes you wonder if leadership is something you’re born with, or if it’s something you build over time by pushing yourself in all kinds of directions. Not sure there’s a right answer to that.

Emily

You know, Colton’s got some quirks too—his go-to superpower? Teleportation, so he can get places quick. Dream spot is Florida for the sun and, obviously, all the hockey down there. He’s a big FC 26 fan—bit of a FIFA guy, clearly—and his pump-up song before games is “One of Wun” by Gunna. I gotta admit, that song goes hard, it’s got that perfect pregame energy.

Emily

But what stands out with Colton is how he brings Brady Tkachuk’s gritty, physical edge into every shift, but does it with real smarts. His hockey IQ and his passing—man, they jump out. Actually—total tangent here—I still remember, I think it was at the Buffalo tournament, Colton made this sick pass right through traffic, set up a game-changing play. That’s what he does—sees things most guys don’t. I keep wondering about leadership with a player like Colton—do those instincts just develop naturally from pushing yourself, or is it something that comes from watching guys like Tkachuk and deciding, “I want to be that kind of force in the room and on the ice”? If you’ve got thoughts, message me, because I still go back and forth on it.

Emily

Alright, that’s gonna do it for today’s episode of This Week in Blue & White! Even with a tough loss, the Marlboros are still finding ways to tighten up, bring energy, and you see leaders like Cohen and Colton taking on bigger roles. We’ve got another tournament on the way and, next time, I’ll have some behind-the-scenes stuff, including a special interview with one of our assistant coaches, so don’t miss that. Thanks for listening, and as always—Go Marlies!