The Toronto Maple Leafs’ ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers, are ceasing operations effective immediately after the league’s board of governors voted to terminate the club’s membership in the league.
The ECHL announced Tuesday that the organization had failed to fulfill its obligations under the ECHL Bylaws.
“We are saddened to lose ECHL hockey in the Newfoundland market,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “We’d like to thank the Growlers fans and partners for their support of the team throughout their existence, and are hopeful that hockey can return to the region for their dedicated and passionate fanbase.”
The announcement means that 6 remaining games on the league’s regular season schedule will officially be cancelled, with playoff seeding in the North Division moving to a points percentage system.
Cancelled Games:
ECHL Game #943 – Trois-Rivières at Newfoundland (Friday, April 5)
ECHL Game #954 – Trois-Rivières at Newfoundland (Saturday, April 6)
ECHL Game #965 – Trois-Rivières at Newfoundland (Sunday, April 7)
ECHL Game #974 – Norfolk at Newfoundland (Thursday, April 11)
ECHL Game #995 – Norfolk at Newfoundland (Saturday, April 13)
ECHL Game #1,007 – Norfolk at Newfoundland (Sunday, April 14)
The league also announced that players currently under contract for the Growlers would become unrestricted free agents, and would be able to sign with another ECHL team for the remainder of the year.
“The ECHL and Professional Hockey Players’ Association have agreed that as per the ECHL/PHPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, all ECHL Contracted Players on the Newfoundland roster are Unrestricted Free Agents, however no ECHL Member may sign more than two (2) Players from the free agent pool of Newfoundland Players,” the league said in a statement. “Any Player from this pool who signs and finishes the Season with a new ECHL Member for the balance of the 2023-24 Season shall be ineligible for that Member’s Protected List and shall become an Unrestricted Free Agent at the conclusion of the 2023-24 Season. The only exception to this rule applies to Serron Noel, whose ECHL rights will revert to the Allen Americans at the end of the Season as part of the completion of a Future Consideration trade owed by Newfoundland.”
“Any Player on an AHL/NHL contract who was on Newfoundland’s roster after 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 20 (AHL/NHL Recall Reassignment Deadline) is ineligible to play in the ECHL for the remainder of the Season.”
Originally launched prior to the 2018-19 season, the team would go on to win the North Division in their inaugural campaign, eventually winning the Kelly Cup. At the time of the announcement, Newfoundland was tied for 3rd place in the division with a 28-28-10 record on the year.
“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our fans, sponsors, partners, staff, and the hundreds of players who have proudly represented the Growlers, whose unwavering resilience and support has been instrumental to our on-ice product,” said the Growlers. “Deacon Sports and Entertainment extends sincere gratitude to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montréal Canadiens for their support over the past six seasons.”
“Despite the efforts of our front-office, Deacon Sports and Entertainment regrets to announce that the sale of the Newfoundland Growlers could not be finalized prior to the league-mandated April 2, 2024 deadline. Due to unforeseen challenges, and while a discussion was put forth to salvage the future of both teams, only the continuation of the Trois-Rivières Lions was approved by the ECHL, and as a result, the ECHL Board of Governors has voted to terminate the league membership of the Newfoundland Growlers.”
The decision to cease operations is now the second time that the Growlers brand has folded in Newfoundland. Back in 2022, the CEBL version of the Growlers suspended its operations after just one season with commissioner Mike Morreale announcing that the team’s home arena lacked the amenities required by a professional league.
As a result, the following players and coaches are now free to sign on with an ECHL team of their choosing:
Forwards
| Name | POS | H | W | Sh | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Caufield | F | 5-9 | 185 | R | Stevens Point, WI |
| Jackson Berezowski | F | 5-9 | 181 | R | Yorkton, SK |
| Serron Noel* | F | 6-5 | 216 | R | Ottawa, ON |
| Zach O’Brien | F | 5-11 | 193 | R | St. John’s, NL |
| Mathieu Gosselin | F | 5-10 | 168 | R | Quebec City, QC |
| Todd Skirving | F | 6-2 | 190 | L | Thunder Bay, ON |
| Jordan Escott | F | 6-2 | 175 | L | St. John’s, NL |
| Grant Cruikshank | F | 5-11 | 193 | L | Delafield, WI |
| Neil Shea | F | 6-1 | 195 | L | Marshfield, MA |
| Isaac Johnson | F | 6-3 | 183 | R | Andover, MN |
| Keenan Suthers | F | 6-8 | 245 | L | Belle River, ON |
| Tyler Weiss | F | 5-11 | 170 | L | Raleigh, NC |
| Marko Sikic | F | 6-3 | 183 | R | Kitchener, ON |
| Adam Dawe | F | 5-8 | 145 | R | Gander, NL |
Defence
| Name | POS | H | W | Sh | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Tabakin | D | 5-10 | 175 | R | Woodbury, NY |
| Brennan Kapcheck | D | 5-9 | 160 | R | Mt. Prospect, IL |
| Nolan Dillingham | D | 6-1 | 211 | R | Mississauga, ON |
| Jonny Tychonick | D | 6-0 | 187 | L | Calgary, AB |
| Josh Victor | D | 6-4 | 212 | L | Round Rock, TX |
| Owen Norton | D | 5-9 | 170 | R | Ancaster, ON |
| Joe Gatenby | D | 6-0 | 192 | R | Kelowna, BC |
| James Melindy | D | 6-3 | 197 | R | St. John’s, NL |
| Nathan Staios | D | 5-10 | 170 | L | Atlanta, GA |
| Chase Carter | D | 5-11 | 165 | L | Truro, NS |
Goalies
| Name | POS | H | W | C | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dryden McKay | G | 5-11 | 175 | L | Downers Grove, IL |
| Vyacheslav Peksa | G | 6-3 | 181 | L | Magnitogorsk, |
Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Glenn Stanford | Governor |
| Ken O’Leary | Vice President of Hockey Operations |
| Matt Cooke | Head Coach |
| Gene Reilly | Associate Coach |
| Adam Pardy | Development Coach |
| Marek Benda | Goaltending Coach |
| Kody Degenstien | Video Coach |
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner