GRAVENHURST — Fans came for ‘M&M’, the coaches came to see third and fourth-line prospects.
With Monday’s roster deadline, Toronto Maple Leafs on the bubble chopped up the ice here at training camp.
With a full house of wildly cheering public schoolers at the Graeme Murray Arena Wednesday, coach Sheldon Keefe put the team through a rigorous hour-long practice to the pounding beat of ear-piercing canned music that pumped up the excited teeny bopper crowd of hundreds waving blue and white ‘Leafs for ever” towels and chanting “Go Leafs go!”
And while the players put on a good show with a passing play drill, it was the Mitch and Matthews show.
The two most popular stars Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews were clearly the most favoured in the house.
M&M scored the most points among fans who tried to shout out their names over the glass in vain hopes their hockey heroes would acknowledge them cheering their blue hearts out.
But the real show was the whirling competition for roster spots.
The players go at it again Thursday — this time with high school students providing the Leafs Nation cheering section.
Fans can also drop by for any extra free seats. Doors open just after 11 a.m. when wristbands will be handed out.
Play was fast and furious around the Leafs net as players scrambled for the remaining spots on the roster ahead of next week’s deadline before the season stars Oct. 12. Photos Mark ClairmontFans lined up before practice in hopes of getting Mitch Marner to sign his #16 jersey and other things all Leafs, which the star of show obligingly did after getting off the bus at 10:30 a.m. today.Fans jumped and cheered “Go Leafs go!” when their hockey heroes hit the ice at the Graeme Murray Arena as part of a three-day training camp.Hundreds turned out from the K.P. Manson and Gravenhurst Public schools. High schoolers will join in Thursday around noon.Leafs forever for sure as moms brought sons and daughters to cheer and generally go crazy with hockey fever.Free giveaways had fans on their feet showing their hometown support for their adopted team.Mitch Marner looked comfortable along the blue line where he could see more ice time.Auston Matthews looked ready to regain his scoring lead with hopefully 60-goal season.William Nylander was another popular and recognizable star fans got close to during drills.Coach Sheldon Keefe was hard on the players as he began paring down his players.Digging deep, being pro-active and aggressive on offence looks to be in the Leaf playbook as Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Rasmus Sandin show here above and below.Corner work will be something also to watch fall, winter and spring if the Leafs are to go further than the first playoff round.Leaf goalies are going to be busy at both ends of the rink, just as offensive teammates storm the other net.A few nifty moves and it will be a high-scoring season again for the Toronto Maple Leafs.Mayor Paul Kelly showed his support for the town’s adopted team.Katlyn Reid, of Gravenhurst, got her 11-month-old son for his first Leafs autograph. Mitch Marner declined to sign the baby who began watching his favourite team at one month old.Old and new autograph collectors Rob McCron, with 60 signatures, and Matthew Marshall with a dozen or more including both who got captain John Tavares to sign their jerseys when he arrived just after 8 a.m.
Gravenhurst give and go at start of training camp in Gravenhurst Wednesday.
