Marlies Rally Past Hamilton Hammers for 5-2 Victory
October 11, 2026 | American Hockey League
The Toronto Marlies delivered another impressive performance against the Hamilton Hammers on Sunday afternoon, earning a 5-2 road victory at TD Coliseum.
Brendan Brisson led the offensive charge with a hat trick, while Toronto responded decisively after Hamilton erased an early two-goal deficit.
The win capped a successful Thanksgiving weekend for the Marlies, who continued their strong start to the 2026-27 American Hockey League season.
First Period — Brisson Strikes Twice
Toronto wasted little time establishing control.
Brisson opened the scoring just over two minutes into the first period, giving the Marlies an early advantage.
The forward struck again approximately seven minutes later, doubling Toronto’s lead to 2-0.
His finishing ability gave the visitors momentum and put Hamilton under pressure heading into the second period.
The Marlies carried their two-goal advantage into the intermission, placing themselves in a strong position to control the remainder of the contest.
Second Period — Hamilton Fights Back
The Hammers responded with a more determined effort in the middle frame.
Cameron Berg scored his first goal of the season by recovering his own rebound and cutting Toronto’s lead to 2-1.
Hamilton continued pressing and controlled much of the period, outshooting Toronto 11-5.
The home side’s improved puck possession and offensive pressure made life increasingly difficult for the Marlies.
Despite Hamilton’s territorial advantage, Toronto maintained its narrow lead entering the third period.
Third Period — Brisson Completes His Hat Trick
Hamilton carried its momentum into the final frame and found the equalizer at 3:22.
Matthew Highmore scored to make it 2-2, with Marshall Warren and Matt Luff collecting the assists.
However, the Marlies answered almost immediately. Less than 30 seconds after Hamilton tied the game, Brisson completed his hat trick, restoring Toronto’s lead at 3-2.
The goal proved to be the decisive moment. Toronto held firm defensively before adding two empty-net goals late in the period to secure the 5-2 victory.
Goaltending Report
Samuel Hlavaj, Toronto: Stopped 22 shots to help the Marlies secure the victory.
Josh Kotai, Hamilton: Made 20 saves on 23 shots in his second career AHL start.
Toronto received the crucial stops it needed, particularly as Hamilton pushed hard to get back into the game.
Three Stars of the Game
First Star — Brendan Brisson
Toronto Marlies
Brisson scored all three of his team’s first three goals, completing a hat trick and delivering the offensive spark Toronto needed.
Second Star — Samuel Hlavaj
Toronto Marlies
Hlavaj turned aside 22 shots and helped Toronto withstand Hamilton’s second-period surge.
Third Star — Cameron Berg
Hamilton Hammers
Berg scored Hamilton’s first goal, providing a spark during the Hammers’ second-period push.
The Marlies demonstrated their ability to combine offensive finishing with resilience under pressure.
Brisson’s three-goal performance was the headline, but Toronto’s response after Hamilton tied the game was equally important.
Rather than allowing the momentum to swing completely toward the home side, the Marlies regained the lead almost immediately and closed out the contest with two late goals.
Toronto now turns its attention to its next scheduled matchup against the Belleville Senators on October 17, followed by a home game against Belleville on October 18.
Final verdict: A strong road performance from Toronto, highlighted by Brisson’s hat trick and a timely response in the third period.
The Marlies leave Hamilton with a convincing 5-2 win and valuable early-season momentum.
