It’s celebration time for the AHL's Toronto Marlies, who crusaded their way to a Calder Cup victory over the Texas Stars. As you’d expect with the season ending win, there was lots of celebrations, but the factor that people sometimes don’t want to think about is that it also marks the time when decisions need to be made about players and personnel. Not everyone will be returning to the team.
That was the question surrounding Marlies’ left-winger Rich Clune. The former NHLer, who has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction in the past, had lots of question marks surrounding his future with the team. While he wasn’t even a lineup regular last season, his presence in the locker room was integral to the team’s success, and he helped to develop younger players to an intangible degree.
And guess what? He’s coming back. He didn’t just announce it in a press release either, he announced it in a Wolf of Wall Street style way during the team’s Calder Cup celebrations.
If you would like to see the original speech, the one this rendition is based after, it is posted below. Be warned, it is NSFW, and it may also include a spoiler for those that haven’t seen the movie.
(H/T Twitter/David Nestico)
