John Gruden on the challenge for Ben Danford acclimating to pro playoff hockey with the Marlies: "Good players like that find a way to figure it out"

"“We know what his capabilities are. It is a tough loss for him (in the OHL). I still have a soft spot for the Bulldogs. But I guess it is a consolation prize, in that regard, that he is here.” “He is a presence. Again, we'll try to acclimate him with a group. He'll fit in. He's a great teammate. We'll evaluate from there. But having him around will definitely be a boost of energy for the older and younger players.”"

"“It is always a difference just from the physical matchups. The guys are stronger and bigger. But there are a lot of things that are the same.” “The hockey instincts are there for him. With the way he defends, he is cognizant of his own end. That will help him with the transition, and obviously, the experience in the World Juniors, too, with the competition that was there.” “He'll handle his own. It will take him to get acclimated, but good players like that find a way to figure it out.”"

"“It makes a huge difference for him. I know he has played a lot of hockey with tryouts and so forth for the World Juniors. Being here and seeing the difference will only help for next year. Playoff hockey is different in any league. It doesn't matter if it is OHL, AHL, or NHL; it is different. Things tighten up. The experience he'll gain from it will be tremendous.”"

"“A sign of a good team is how we continued to get better as the game went on. Usually, when you ar”"

Ben Danford has joined the Toronto Marlies playoff run. The plan is to acclimate him with a group while evaluating how he fits, with expectations that his presence and teammate attitude will boost energy for both younger and older players. The transition from juniors to pro hockey is expected to be challenging due to stronger, bigger physical matchups, but his hockey instincts and defensive awareness should support the adjustment. His World Juniors experience is expected to help him handle the competition level. The experience gained in playoff hockey is expected to be tremendous and beneficial for next year. The team’s performance in a hostile environment is tied to continuing to improve as the game progressed.

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