A look back at 30 years of professional hockey in St. John’s and celebrating the local stars who gave fans plenty of reason to cheer

It’s been three decades since professional hockey arrived in the province’s capital, a sports journey that has embraced several franchises, two leagues and an alumni of NHL legends.

The Baby Leafs 

That first year was pure magic for the province as the American Hockey League’s St. John’s Maple Leafs, the farm team of the storied Toronto Maple Leafs, captured the hearts of sports fans – narrowly losing the 1991-92 league championship. 

The Baby Leafs – featuring 21-year-old Corner Brook forward Todd Gillingham and led by rookie coach Marc Crawford – gave fans at Memorial Stadium its first taste of the pro game.

But the city’s first dalliance with the pro game actually came way back in 1983 when Ian McKenzie, owner of Regatta Ford, organized a four-team AHL exhibition tournament with an eye to bringing a pro team to St. John’s. AHL president Jack Butterfield balked at the idea of having his teams, which travelled exclusively by bus, fly to the island.

 But by the early 1990s pro hockey talk heated up. In 1990 the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars and general manager Bobby Clarke signed a deal with Mayor Shannie Duff to place Minnesota’s minor league affiliate in St. John’s. 

There was only one problem, the North Stars minor league team at the time was based in Kalamazoo, Michigan of the International Hockey League and the AHL refused to allow Minnesota to simply transfer the club to the league without buying an expansion franchise first and the deal fell through.

Standing room only

Undaunted, the city turned its attention to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were unhappy with their AHL franchise in Newmarket, Ontario. Shifting the franchise to St. John’s would not pose the same problem the North Stars encountered. And despite Butterfield’s concern about travel, Cliff Fletcher and his Toronto Maple Leafs would be finally bring pro hockey to Newfoundland.

Rabid St. John’s hockey fans quickly snapped up every season ticket available in the 3,500 seat Memorial Stadium and the standing room only crowd were treated to an exciting brand of hockey that culminated in a Calder Cup run.

Gillingham was the first of many Newfoundlanders to play the pro game in St. John’s. Players like Terry Ryan and Harold Druken followed with the Baby Leafs, but the most memorable was South Shore senior hockey league legend Andy Sullivan, one of the province’s all-time great amateur players, who turned pro with the Maple Leafs as a 32-year-old.

First pro goal

Venerable Baby Leafs radio broadcaster George MacLaren said when Sullivan scored his first pro goal it was like the roof just about blew off the old Stadium — cheering never heard since the night George Spracklin scored for the St. John’s Caps senior hockey team versus the visiting Soviet national team, featuring the likes of Vladislav Tretiak.

 By 2005, the pro hockey landscape had changed and many teams wanted to have their AHL affiliate close to the parent club for salary cap reasons and the Maple Leafs were one of those clubs — moving the Baby Leafs to the Ricoh Colleseum in Toronto.

 While the St. John’s Fog Devils of the Quebec Major Junior league filled the hockey void for a couple of years, it would be several years until the American Hockey League would return to St. John’s.

Miracle on ice

In nothing short of a miracle, former Premier Danny Williams convinced the newly-formed Winnipeg Jets to place their AHL franchise in St. John’s. The IceCaps were a smash hit at Mile One Stadium — setting an AHL record for most consecutive sell-outs and advancing to the league semifinals in year one, led by Corner Brook native Jason King.

The IceCaps would advance to the AHL finals in 2014 and play one more year as the Jets’ top farm club before, like Toronto, the club was moved to the same city as the parent club. 

As a stop gap, the Montreal Canadiens, building a new AHL arena in nearby Laval, needed a place to temporarily house its minor league team and the IceCaps lived on for two more years.

Go Growlers, Go!

There was another absence of pro hockey in the capital city until 2018 when the Toronto Maple Leafs came into the picture once again, this time with an ECHL affiliation for St. John’s.

The ECHL is considered a tier below the AHL, but the team would be considered the class of the league, bringing St. John’s its first professional sports title. And like the city’s previous hockey clubs the Newfoundland Growlers were led by a handful of Newfoundlanders — NHL veteran Adam Pardy, snipers Zach O’Brien and Marcus Power and tough defenceman James Melindy. The club was also coached initially by long-time NHLer Ryane Clowe, of Fermeuse, who had to leave the bench due to lingering concussion issues.

Glenn Stanford

The Growlers did not get to defend their title in 2020 as the playoffs were cancelled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Growlers then voluntarily suspended operations for the 2020-21 season as the pandemic still had ongoing travel restrictions.

Of course, no story about professional hockey would be complete without mentioning Glenn Stanford, the executive who has overseen every interaction of professional hockey in the city and has a sterling reputation in pro hockey circles. 

Buddy the Puffin

Another fixture on all pro hockey teams in St. John’s was Buddy the Puffin. He was previously the mascot of the St. John’s Maple Leafs and later the St. John’s IceCaps and Growlers. Buddy’s number is 92, which represents 1992, the year that he was introduced as the mascot of the St. John’s Maple Leafs. For most of Buddy’s tenure, the man in the suit was Chris Abbott, who tragically passed away in early February.

Pro hockey dream

Among coaches who steered St. John’s pro hockey teams two men — Marc Crawford and Joel Quenneville of the St. John’s Maple Leafs – went on to coach NHL teams to Stanley Cup championships. Arguably the greatest player to ever play the pro game in St. John’s is former IceCaps goalie Connor Hellebuyck who won the 2020 Vezina Trophy, the only St. John’s pro hockey alumni to win a major NHL individual player award.

The pro hockey dream continues in the province’s capital with the Newfoundland Growlers still chasing another ECHL title. This team –and the many teams over the past three decades – continue to give fans a reason to cheer.

Kyle Wellwood and his brother Eric Wellwood have an interesting connection to both hockey and Newfoundland. 

While Eric is the current coach of the Newfoundland Growlers, back in the “Baby Leafs” days when the Maple Leafs AHL franchise played from the old Memorial Stadium before heading off to Mile One Centre – now the Mary Brown’s Centre – Eric’s brother Kyle was one of the first players to lace up skates at Mile One. 

As the Growlers celebrated 30 years of professional hockey in St. John’s with a special ceremony held on April 10th, at centre ice at the Mary Brown’s Centre, former Baby Leaf Andrew McKim and former Growlers defenceman Adam Pardy joined Kyle as part of the ceremony in honour of current Growlers Governor and Chief Operating Officer Glenn Stanford, the common thread that has tied each of the AHL/ECHL franchises – from the Baby Leafs to the IceCaps to the Growlers – together.  Hockey via Stanford, has given many fans of the sport unique opportunities.

Like Wellwood, Pardy and McKim, Felix Potvin, Josh Morrissey, Don Beaupre, Mark Scheifele, Shawn Thornton, Morgan Rielly and D.J. Smith have all played for St. John’s at some point of their pro career. Having AHL/ECHL franchises here also allows talented homegrown players, like Growlers team captain James Melindy, to earn a living at pro hockey while playing in their own backyard.

Eric, the third head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers, has seen nothing but success since entering the team’s locker room in 2021 and as they make a run at this year’s Kelly Cup championship, Kyle is cheering them on. 

Ring of Honour

Kyle, who was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs 134th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, played his first three seasons in the NHL with Toronto before joining the Vancouver Canucks in 2008. 

He also played with the San Jose Sharks and the Winnipeg Jets, but when we spoke his thoughts were on his time spent in this province as a St. John’s Maple Leaf, and on his brother’s success with the Growlers in the ECHL. 

“I thought (the 30 years of hockey ceremony) was great. That Ring of Honour they introduced for the stadium in Glenn’s (Stanford) honour is such a great idea,” he opened. 

We ask the Ontario-born star about his enduring connection to this place and where it comes from.  It comes from the time he spent here, he begins, but it was always reinforced anytime he ran into players that had come from here. 

“Anytime I ran into hockey players that I played with in Newfoundland, or who were from Newfoundland, we always got along. I was fortunate that I played with Ryane Clowe (former head coach of the Growlers) so it was always nice to run into him. Because I lived here and felt this was such a special place, we had something to talk about.” 

When brother Eric was first offered the Growlers coaching position, one of the first calls made was to Kyle.  “I think it’s always difficult to try to take a job in a new city and people want to know, ‘what’s it like there?’ I just said ‘it’s one of the most fabulous places in the world and everybody’s so nice and down earth,’ and I know my brother’s really happy to have made the choice to come here.” 

Playoff time looms

Now, as playoff time looms large, we ask if it’s non-stop hockey talk between the brothers.  

“We do talk about hockey quite a bit, but Eric’s just been the really lucky guy in the family as he seems to win all the time and that’s not what happened in my career so you can just assume it’s going to happen again and he’ll win,” he laughed, referring to this year’s Kelly Cup. 

Reflecting on his own time here, Kyle shared it was “exciting.” 

“Mile One had just been built and it was a very nice atmosphere. The fans were so excited to have Baby Maple Leafs here and it was just first class all the way. We had a pretty good team and it was a really nice environment.” 

Kyle, like many others, shared that Stanford deserves so much credit for the success of hockey in this province.  

“You need to have someone to steer the ship and that’s been Glenn. Anyone you run into will have wonderful things to say about him. It’s really fortunate for St. John’s that he took an interest in pro hockey here.”

We ask if there’s any sporting highlight that stands out for him personally. He doesn’t hesitate. “The time I scored five goals one night in St. John’s. That was a fun night. My first goal with the Maple Leafs. Getting to play in the playoffs. Those are my fondest hockey memories.”

 When it comes to his brother’s career, Kyle says there’s still great things to come. “Eric has got a great personality and he has a great relationship with the guys and everybody is ready for the playoffs and they’re going to try to win. And I think that the city should be in for a great playoff run.”  

The Newfoundland Growlers become the 10th franchise of the Canadian Elite Basketball League and as the games are set to begin, it’s playoff time in the hockey world. There’s no rest for the wicked, and there’s even less for anyone dedicated to delivering great sporting entertainment in St. John’s, NL.

Dean MacDonald is the man behind Deacon Sports & Entertainment which owns the Newfoundland Growlers – affiliates of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They also own the Trois Rivières Quebec Lions (also in the playoffs), and the Coralville Iowa Heartlanders. 

MacDonald opened by saying “It’s been a tough but great season.”       Tough, because of the COVID restrictions when it came to fans in the stands and travel, but great because all three teams have made great strides in the ECHL world. “We’re really pleased with fan support and without them, things would be quite different,” he said. Sometimes, especially speaking about the success of the Growlers, who were Kelly Cup winners in their first franchise year, he has to remind himself “that it’s real.” 

“I don’t know how we ended up here. I honestly don’t. The irony is that we were approached to bring a team here, and we did it. It’s a credit to Glenn (Stanford – the Governor and Chief Operating Officer of the Newfoundland Growlers) and the team. A few things are important. We run a tight ship and we’re active in the community. That’s kudos to the lads on the team who have the passion. As for me? It’s just fun. I can’t describe it any other way. The playoff run we had in the first year, and to win it was like magic and that’s just one of the greatest moments of all time.”

Watching the joy on the faces of the players and the fans made his investment all that much more worthwhile, he added.

“It’s so much fun to see fans engaged. Our fans are really into each game. I think the local players on the team helps a lot as it gets the heart beating fast.”

Zach O’Brian. James Melindy. Nathan Noel. Marcus Power. Tyler Bowland. Players who grew up here bring family and community support to each and every game. 

Speaking of getting the heart beating faster, the three games the Growlers played at home against the Cincinnati Cyclones just before the start of the playoff games were some rough and tough hockey. MacDonald laughed. 

“I watched it. It was tough. But it’s nice when you win the gritty ones because that’s playoff hockey. They’re (Cyclones) a heavy hitting team and they’re going to take the lumber to us.” 

MacDonald and the Growlers organization have earned much praise in the league. While many are owed credit, as far as the head of the organization is concerned, the parent team gets the credit.

‘the Leafs system’

 “I think it starts with the Leafs … they are very determined to have a good team and all the players feel like they’re in the Leafs system. Like they have a chance. There’s a lot of time and effort put into each player with individual coaching so I think players feel that they’re really wanted and I think it’s fair to say there are teams in the league where that isn’t the case.” 

From medical care to good grub, the management team are committed to the players and their wellbeing both mentally and physically, he shared.

Looking back over 30 years of professional hockey in this province, McDonald says the credit goes to one man: Glenn Stanford. 

“At the end of the day, it’s all about Glenn. We don’t have a team without Glenn. It was the Leafs that approached Glenn about possibly playing here in St. John’s. It was Montreal who approached Glenn about Trois Rivières, and it was the city of Coralville that approached Glenn about the Heartlanders.” 

Glenn, he added, has a “blue chip kind of Rolodex when it comes to hockey,” he added. 

“I think it speaks volumes for him and his personality that people like him and like working with him … Glenn Stanford has been there from the get go.”

As for the playoffs? The team is ready, he said. “Coming into the playoffs now, we’re going to have to have a very good team and hopefully it’ll be interesting hockey.”

The fans, he said, are ready. 

“With everything that’s happened with COVID, I think the people are just longing for (sport at that level). That’s the feeling I have. We’re starting to get big crowds now and people are into it and I think we did a really good thing when we called the team the Newfoundland Growlers because we have a lot of support across the entire province.” 

The Growlers Academy

One piece that’s important is the opportunity to give back with Growlers Give and the Growlers Academy. 

“That’s really important for us … when I got involved with the team I realized that we had an opportunity to add good works for want of a better term. And you know, we really have a super active group of players like Todd Skirving. The Growlers Academy has been just huge and  the kids love it so much. I think that speaks volumes to how active we are in the community.”

The Growlers get a fair bit of play on the NHL stage too, like shout outs on Hockey Night in Canada. 

“It’s been said, ‘how are you guys getting so much time on Hockey Night in Canada?’ It’s because we’re giving it our all, from the staff to the fans, and this franchise is earning a very special place in people’s heart and so that makes me feel very proud.” 

Something else that has made him proud is his connection with Chris Abbott – Buddy the Puffin – who died suddenly early in the season. 

“Chris was the heart and soul of the franchise and has been for 30 years and loosing him is just beyond sad. I had so much respect for him in terms of what he did and how dedicated he was to his craft. There was no one better than Chris and hopefully (his memory) gives us something to play for now. He was just such a gentleman and a good person and a big part of warming up the crowd. He was dedicated to the cause.”

Any last words? “This is a celebration of hockey and a celebration of Newfoundland. It’s proven that hockey’s important to the community. I think it’s also a celebration of what Glenn has done for 30 years, and I’m really proud for him because he deserves so much credit. What a career he’s put together, and it’s inspiring, and he’s just a wonderful individual and I enjoy working with him so much. It’s been a real pleasure.” 

But at the end of the day, the fans are what makes hockey in NL such a pleasure to be involved with. “There’s so many who bring it every season, but really, anyone who has come to a game is part of the story of the last 30 years of hockey in this province.” 

For many a hockey fan or Olympic follower, the name Danielle Goyette just might ring a bell. Goyette was head coach to the University of Calgary Dinos women’s hockey program, helping them win a national championship in 2012. That same year, she also served as assistant coach for Team Canada at the World Championships and later, at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, she helped Canada win gold.

Goyette also won eight IIHF World Women’s Championships gold medals and two Olympic gold medals — Salt Lake City in 2002 and Turin, Italy in 2006, the year she was also Canada’s flag-bearer during the opening ceremonies.

Why so much fanfare over this champ here in the province of Newfoundland Labrador? The reason is simple: Goyette joined the Newfoundland Growlers behind the bench, stepping in temporarily on the coaching staff after head coach Eric Wellwood entered COVID-19 self-isolation. This step back for Wellwood was one giant leap for Goyette, making her the first woman in ECHL history to take the reins as coach.

The Growlers Family

Goyette has been part of the Growlers family, as she joined the Growlers’ parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, last May to serve as director of player development. 

The games played on Feb. 3rd, 4th & 5th against the Reading Royals at the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s didn’t go as hoped for a variety of reasons – many of them COVID or call-up related – still, Goyette remained positive. 

The weekend she was here there were no fans in the stands due to NL’s Alert Level status and public health protocols. If that wasn’t enough to dampen spirits, the weather was wet and windy. Having just left Toronto, and a record snow storm that shut down the city no too long before,  Goyette – who hails from Quebec – said she wasn’t concerned one bit. 

“I’ve been here before, and I prefer rain over four feet of snow, though I’m used to a lot of snow. Where I’m from, snow wasn’t a problem for us to drive in, but to see some people from Ontario trying to drive in the snow with a small car and no snow tires, it was kind of interesting,” she opened with a chuckle. 

Remaining Positive

Other things are not quite as light, however. Facing the loss of Chris “Abbo” Abbott, the heart and soul behind team mascot Buddy the Puffin, was one thing. COVID protocols were another and some players were sidelined, along with the team’s coach. Other players had been called up to the Toronto Marlies or to the Manitoba Moose while other teammates were out with injuries. 

Still, Goyette was cheerful. “It’s been awesome. So welcoming. This is my third day and I feel I’ve been here for two weeks and it’s just so easy to get along with people. Everybody’s helping each other. The people are so easy to work with, especially the coaching staff,” Goyette said.

On finding out she was the first woman to hold such a coaching position, she paused, then shared that she had “No idea. I just found out when I landed … I was coming here because I wanted to help the team.”

On the challenges, she remained focused. “This is a hard business. It’s not easy because you have to be able to adapt in a blink of an eye,” she said.

Referencing the game held on the 4th, an overtime loss, Goyette shared she felt “hopeful”  going forward. 

“We didn’t get the win, but the way they played, that’s the way that we need them to play every game.” 

With some fisticuffs, an overtime loss and a shattered stick, there was excitement. “I love it … (the energy) put some excitement into the game. When you get scoring in overtime, I think the guys got a bit disappointed and frustrated. That’s (broken stick) going to happen. I would not suggest any kids to do that. Sticks are too expensive,” she chuckled.

Goyette has had a fabulous and much decorated career, and with her Olympic history, we ask if she’s been watching.   

When she can, she shared. “It’s pretty amazing. It’s funny when you watch (the opening ceremonies) as it brings back the memories that I had from the Olympics. The feeling of walking to the stadium (as a flag-bearer) came back.” 

‘I was so proud’

Watching this year’s Canadian contingent, particularly this year’s flag-bearers short-track speed skater Charles Hamelin and hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin, made her proud, she added.

“When they walked with the flag, it’s something that you can’t explain. But I was so proud of them because that’s to say that they are making a big impact in Canada sport.”  

Brad Gushue was an Olympian back in 2006 when Goyette was there. Did the two meet? She laughed. The short answer was no: they were much too busy competing to socialize, but they did cheer one another on. 

“You play so many games. When you are done, you focus on the next. (Team Gushue) made Canadians proud.” 

She’s from Quebec and works for the Leafs. What about the Canadiens, we ask? “It’s all Canadian hockey, the Maple Leafs or Canadiens,” she laughed. 

Goyette admitted, when she first got the call to join the team, she hesitated.  She spoke to her best friend who said “Go for it.”  

“She was right, and every decision that I’ve made that was outside my comfort zone always had good results. I always say to people, if you don’t risk nothing you’re going to get nothing in return and this is how I try to live my life.”

It was the same when she made the decision to head to NL to coach the Growlers.  “They asked me if I would like to go to Newfoundland and coach with the Growlers. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, no,’ but after that, I think, ‘you know, I like being part of the team. I’ll do it.’”

Now that she’s broken yet another so-called glass ceiling, what’s her hope?  “Now that we’ve had the first female  coach, I’m hoping we’re going to see more females in the game on the bench,” she said.

As to finding out she’s the first female to do so in the ECHL’s history, she remained fairly chill. 

“Maybe when I get home I’m going to say, ‘OK, that was pretty cool,’ but right now I’m enjoying being part of the team and I’m thinking about the next game and how much we want to win because I’m not a good loser. As a coach … we have to bring the energy and make sure that (players) feel that for the game.” 

Win or lose

Win or lose, Goyette says she’s been feeling like part of the family. “There’s a great sense of community here,” she opened, referring to the fact that the Growlers helped shovel locals out after Snowmageddon in 2020. 

“That’s pretty amazing. The connection the players have to the community, it’s great for kids to see that as it inspires them to be involved and be active.” 

Many of the team’s players call Newfoundland home. Some homegrown talent like team Captain James Melindy, and players Zack O’Brien, Marcus Power, Nathan Noel, Daniel Cadigan are from here but so-called honourary Newfoundlander Todd Skirving and long-time player Derian Plouffe also have made this feel like home. 

Thinking of the overall experience, Goyette’s happy she came.
“This is a great experience. I won’t forget it. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and say, ‘Hey! I’m working for the Maple Leafs!’ It’s crazy. Especially, you know, I grew up being a Montreal fan and now I’m working for the Leafs.” 

There’s much laughter. Her heart is with her team, however. “My heart is with the Maple Leaf and our job is to develop our young prospect to make sure these guys from the Growlers are able to one day be nearly perfect.” 

People look up to her, we say. Any last words of wisdom? “Make sure you do what you love and no matter what, you have to believe in yourself. I can tell you for me, if you were to tell me years ago that this was going to happen in my life, I wouldn’t believe you.”

When she started playing hockey, women’s hockey was “not popular.”

“People asked, ‘why do you play hockey for a sport?’ And now it’s normal so you never know what the future will have waiting for you.”

Chase those dreams, she added.

“Kids, if you have a dream, no matter what people tell you, keep pushing. As long as you do what you love, you’re going to find a way.”

This week, it’s wellness Gill Whelan style, Hockey Hall-of-Famer Danielle Goyette makes ECHL history with the NL Growlers, in conversation with Ben Cleary, one of Atlantic Canada’s top journalist, and learn about the art of unpolished living in Grates Cove!

Visit our YouTube link for more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgys4wbWSqM

The investigation respecting complaints as between employees of SJSEL and DSE is ongoing.

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SJSEL states there were never any allegations of a physical or sexual nature. Neither players nor coaches of the Newfoundland Growlers are involved in the allegations in any way. SJSEL and DSE are both committed to a respectful workplace and are committed to respectful social media use.

The agreement between SJSEL and DSE includes:

• Provisions for an autonomous operational committee comprising representatives from both SJSEL and DSE to support operational requirements and obligations under the lease agreement;
• Operational stability for the remainder of the three-year lease agreement to support the Newfoundland Growlers’ continued access to the Mary Brown’s Centre for hockey operations;
• Agreement to support a media blackout with respect to the workplace harassment investigation and arbitration as well as promotion of respectful social media commentary;
• Continuation of the arbitration commenced by DSE against SJSEL.

The Newfoundland Growlers and SJSEL staff are working together to confirm and roll out ticketing for the return of the Growlers to the Mary Brown’s Centre. More information will be communicated to fans, sponsors, and community partners in the coming days.

Who says you can’t go home again?

Nathan Noel’s dream to play professional hockey has seen the 24-year-old St. John’s native hit the ice across North America in roles demanding both leadership  and support, but Noel’s next assignment will see him return to The Rock to help a group of champions vie to regain a title they never lost.

‘A Great Opportunity’

Noel, a fourth round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016 and former QMJHL champion alongside the Saint John Sea Dogs, was amongst the earliest crop of signings for the 2021-22 St. John’s Growlers of the ECHL.

“It’s definitely a great opportunity, no doubt. And I’m just excited for it,” Noel shared in a one-on-one with The Herald ahead of November’s home opener.

“Right now my biggest concern is just getting back in the swing of things and getting playing in the pro-hockey circuit  and the Growlers have given me a great opportunity to do that. So I’m very thankful for that.”

Having spent his first three pro-seasons split between Chicago’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, and the ECHL – including stints with the Indy Fuel, Reading Royals and South Carolina Stingrays – Noel knows what it means to be an everyman on a roster. From grinder to scorer and locker room leader, he’s ready to take on many hats for the new-look Growlers. That includes blocking out any potential hometown noise and jitters.

“It’s like anything,  like any other game you go into. You gotta stick to what’s going to help your team win and that’s kind of where your head has got to be at. Your head can’t be anywhere else,” Noel adds.

“But obviously, it’s exciting. Whenever you have family and friends watching you, you want to do well for them, too, so obviously it’s a motivator, but at the same time it’s just hockey. You got to play for your teammates and you got to play in the coach’s system and find a role for yourself on the team.”

Another in the recent run of promising Newfoundlanders and Labradorian pro-hockey prospect – a list that includes Alex and Abby Newhook, Dawson Mercer, Maggie Connors, Evan Fitzpatrick, and Clark Bishop among countless others – Noel proudly waves the flag of his home province both on and off the ice, particularly when it comes to inspiring the next wave of NL’s young hockey hopefuls.

“I think that you want to make your province proud and I think you said it, you hit the nail on the head. Right now our province is producing a lot of high level players and it’s just good to see you, because obviously this is a new era of hockey,” Noel comments.

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Pandemic Downtime

“We haven’t seen a lot after Ryder and Cleary and all those guys, Teddy Purcell, Ryane Clowe, all those great NHL players who we grew up watching. Then there was a bit of a taper off for a few years. So it’s great to see that there could be a push for more Newfoundlanders in the NHL, which is obviously great to see and great for the province, because it’s good for our young here because they get to watch. They get to watch and realize that the dream is real, and that’s really the biggest thing is inspiring them.”

Noel, much like the glut of professional athletes who found themselves waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic, took the downtime as an opportunity to retool his game and body, crediting much of his rehab and growth to trainer Ryan Power of Power Conditioning Inc.

“I mean it’s tough, obviously, when you’re not in the normal routine. But I was able to keep working out and keep running and doing conditioning, and I feel good going into this year,” Noel explained, sharing that while he’s missed the competitive nature of the game, his training alongside Power has proved to be instrumental in readying him for his run with the Growlers.

“That’s where Ryan Power comes in. He’s really helped me. My body feels a hundred per cent right now and he’s the trainer here in St. John’s for a lot of the guys here. One name you’d know is Alex Newhook. He trains him and a lot of us guys and Maggie Connors.

“I think that for me personally, he’s helped me a lot to kind of put my body back together. And you need that. Hockey isn’t exactly the easiest on the body. You need to rebuild your body in the offseason. He’s the best at that. He’s great. So all the credit to him for how my body feels right now after being away from the game for so long.”

And while Noel has built his body and mind to aid the Growlers in a legitimate run in the 2021-22 season, he’s also aware of the opportunity that comes with signing in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, of which the Growlers are a proud affiliate.

“It’s outstanding. It’s first class and you hear so many good things,” Noel shared of the Leafs’ developmental system. 

‘Defending Champs’

“So really I’m just excited to get going. It’s a dream come true to be a part of Toronto. They were kind of in my family. There was always a Leafs game on growing up, so it’s pretty cool to be able to be a part of that organization.”

Playing alongside fellow Newfoundlander and captain James Melindy, ex-Kelly cup-runmates Derian Plouffe, Todd Skirving, Garrett Johnston, as well as the possibility of ice-time with newly minted Toronto Marlies and fellow Newfoundlanders Zach O’Brien and Marcus Power, and Noel is well aware that the Growlers, under new head coach Eric Wellwood, could be well primed for a legitimate run at Kelly Cup glory once more.

“I’m just happy to be a part of it,” he shared proudly. 

“I mean, like you said, they’re defending champs in the league, the Newfoundland Growlers and they got guys coming back. I played with Derian Plouffe and Marcus Power, Zach O’Brien, James Melindy. All these guys coming back are all Champions in the league, so I just want to kind of try to find my role on the team wherever that may be, and help the team win.”

For tickets and more information on all things Newfoundland Growlers visit nlgrowlers.com

The vacancy of the head coaching position left in the wake of the exit of Kelly Cup winner John Snowden loomed large for the Newfoundland Growlers ahead of the 2020-21 season. 

  Eric Wellwood, a pro-player turned rising coach in North America, just may be the man to fill those lofty shoes.

Brother of former St. John’s Maple Leaf and NHL vet Kyle Wellwood, Eric’s on ice career – which included two straight Memorial Cup victories with his hometown Windsor Spitfires and over three-dozen games with the Philadelphia Flyers – was tragically cut short by-way of a freak accident on April 7, 2013. 

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Transitioning from the ice to the bench, and Wellwood would become a sought-after coach in his own right, first as an assistant with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, and later as an assistant and then head coach of the Flint Firebirds, where he would lead the club to their franchise best season. 

Taking up head coaching duties with the ECHL’s Growlers, we sat down with the 31-year-old prospect of the game, talking life after the ice, his connection to Newfoundland and Labrador, lofty expectations and much more! This, is coach’s playbook with Eric Wellwood.

DISCOVERING THE ROCK 

I was (in St. John’s) for a week playing the Marlies when I played. But I mean I’ve been to a lot of cities where I see hotel rooms and I see the arena and that’s about it. Other than that, I guess my wife, every single day for the past six years, she shows me Gros Morne National Park because we like to go hiking every once in a while. That’s the other thing I know and obviously now I’ve been doing a little bit more research on the province, but I can’t say that I really know it.

REGAINING THE KELLY CUP

Yeah, I think making the decision that (regaining a title the team never lost) factored in. I think it’s always difficult. Like for instance, when I took over in Flint, I think the only thing that you could have was success with how bad it had been at that particular time. So the pressure wasn’t really there. It was more time where I can just get to know myself as a coach, which I think takes time, where this situation is the polar opposite. 

You know, going to the former champion team, I’m suspecting we’ll have a good team again as well to try to defend that. But that’s the challenge that I was looking for. I think the city, it’s nice to be in an organization and a city that expects to win. I was apart of that in Windsor. Not my first year, but our second year winning the Memorial Cup, we essentially had basically the same nucleus going back. And you had that expectation that we’re going to go win again. And I think it’s a privilege to have that pressure and I’m fortunate that I get to live in that moment again.

FROM PLAYER TO COACH

I think as I get older … and I mean, I’m still very young, so it’s not like I have a lot of life experience. But I have noticed, especially since I became the head coach of Flint, when I went into the dressing room the very first time and it felt like, not to sound morbid, but I’ve been to funerals that are more lively. These kids were just devastated. To see the impact that you can have to provide a positive experience for them. I still keep in touch with a lot of my players. And I think as I’ve been getting older, I appreciate it a lot more.

And I think when I first got into coaching I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life. I think I was so focused on just being a hockey player. And like you said, it just got taken away from you instantaneously. You didn’t go out on your own accord, or you didn’t have an impact on it in the sense of if you weren’t playing well enough then you just lose your job. That would be on you. And I’d have to live with that.

So when it all happened, I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life … But I think as I’m getting older, I’m appreciating it a lot more, the impact it can have on these people. I don’t really look at them as hockey players, I look at them as people that are trying to accomplish something that’s extremely difficult to do. And you know, to be a part of that process in a positive way, I think it’s a lot more fulfilling in my life than it was doing it as a player.

THE LEAFS ORGANIZATION

Well, I guess it’s obvious. It’s great to be a part of it and it’s great to be a part of people that in my mind are willing to take risks. I think you are taking a risk here. At times people will just take somebody with experience because of that experience and that’s a safe bet. 

I’m not sure how much you know, but the Windsor Spitfire job was up, which is my hometown team that I played for and grew up watching and I was in the running for that job. And when this opportunity came I took myself out of the Windsor job, which is something that in my lifetime I hope I get to do just because I realize this is a better spot to be. And it’s an opportunity where they really help people grow. And that’s all I’m looking for.

I’m not looking to advance my career. I don’t really have aspirations to get anywhere other than just helping the guys. But I guess my aspirations are personal growth. And this is an organization that really puts an emphasis on that. And that’s exactly what I wanted to be a part of. So I feel very fortunate that they took a risk on me, and hopefully their risk pays off.

RETURNING FAVOURITES

In the minor league pros there’s so much turnaround. To have the same nucleus come back, they already know what it takes to get to the top of the mountain. They’re great people. It’s no surprise to me how they got to the top, just the brief conversations that I’ve had with them and the interactions that I’ve had with them. And I think it’s extremely important. 

They know the city. They can help the younger guys that are coming down to us, whoever they may be, and help me get those individuals to the next level and help that individual. So I think it’s extremely important that these guys are back and I’m looking forward to working with them.

THE WELLWOOD FAMILY

We obviously became a hockey family. But my parents don’t really watch it unless we’re the ones playing. They don’t know anybody on the roster too much. They don’t really pay attention to that. We had a backyard rink that my dad would build. Now, that wasn’t for us to become hockey players, that was just because we grew up in the county and had the space. And you know, why not? We definitely didn’t grow up in a hockey family. We didn’t grow up in a family that pushed us, I should say. 

I think we fell in love with the game at our backyard rink. And I don’t want to say hockey is my love. I think sport and competition is my love. It just so happened that hockey was a sport that I chose and I think I could say the same about my brother. 

SEASON EXPECTATIONS

I know where I want this team to go. And I just always have that at the forefront of my mind. Every day it’s just working towards that goal, and I got to learn that lesson becoming a pro-hockey player, because I had to do it the hard way. I was in Windsor. I didn’t make it my first year drafted. I got to play halfway through but as a fourth liner. The next year, again, I played a fourth line role, did not get drafted.

Oddly enough I did get an invite to the Maple Leafs training camp, so I did participate in that. I knew that I wanted to get to the NHL and I knew that was the goal. And it’s little steps every day that you try to take towards that goal. 

You can’t run a marathon until you run the first mile and then the second mile and so on. And just having that realization that we want to bring the team to a certain point and to a certain competitive level and get to where we want to get to. But that’s what you’re working towards every single day and just know that you can’t get there tomorrow. Even if you do think that you’re there, that you never arrive until you actually arrive and you’ll know when you arrive. And that’s when the season’s over, hopefully you’re the last team standing.

For tickets and more information on all things Newfoundland Growlers visit nlgrowlers.com

“The Newfoundland Growlers organization regrets to inform the public, our passionate fanbase, sponsors, and community partners that the first six games of the Growlers season will be played at Coca-Cola Coliseum, home of the Toronto Marlies.

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The announcement this morning by the City of St. John’s to suspend the Growler’s home games, pending an internal workplace investigation, has significantly disrupted the operations of the ECHL, Toronto Maple Leafs, Adirondack Thunder, and Worcester Railers. Deacon Sports and Entertainment acknowledges the disrupted organizations for their understanding and appreciates their continuous support of the Newfoundland Growlers Hockey Club as we move forward.

Further information, including the process for refunds of tickets for the first six games of the Growlers season, will be communicated directly to ticket holders and shared on our website at nlgrowlers.com once it becomes available.”