Todd Skirving may have been born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, but after three seasons (one not played because of COVID) with the Growlers, he’s embraced Newfoundland as his home.  “This is kind of a second home to me. My heart’s here, so I like to think I’m an honourary Newfoundlander,” he said.  

  His heart is in the game – and in the province – so fiercely that he adds, “I don’t want to break out the news too early, but I’d like to come back next season to play again.”

Part of the attraction are his teammates. “We’re definitely fortunate. We get a lot of help from up top from the Leafs and the Marlies so we get a lot of good players and a great coaching staff… we’re a tight knit group and having the staff and the support systems that we have here, from nutrition to mental health on and off the ice, I think that just makes everyone feel comfortable and excited to play.” 

Skirving has had a great hockey season and he’s been a fan fav. His thoughts? “I always say and I tell the young guys, as long as the opportunities are coming, that’s a good thing. It’s when they’re not coming you should worry. Just take it one shift at a time and then focus on the next opportunity.” 

 The team has been blessed with not only strong players but great goalies too.  “Our goalies have been the backbone to our team this year. It allows us to play the kind of style of game we play offensively.”

Has he adjusted to the NL weather here now that he’s three seasons in? He laughed. “It’s like Thunder Bay, four seasons in one day; rain, snow, sun, clouds, and all of the above.”

 Skirving shared he has a good rapport on and off the ice with Marcus Power, James Melindy and Zach O’Brien as they’ve been playing together since their first Kelly Cup championship. “Marcus and Obie (O’Brien) are two special players. Obviously, they’re very talented, very gifted offensively, they put up a lot of goals and points and helped our team win a lot of games, but at the end of the day, they’re also good people too. I enjoy being around Obie and Marcus and our captain James Melindy.”

Melindy worked towards becoming a firefighter when the season was cancelled due to COVID, so the team wasn’t sure if he’d be back.  “I remember saying all summer long how he was the last piece to our puzzle. He is the anchor in our locker room. These players have been at the top, they’ve helped us win a championship, and they are good people off the ice and it keeps the locker room tight.”

Skirving was also close to Chris Abbott who portrayed the mascot Buddy the Puffin. “It still almost doesn’t feel real. The last couple of games, being at home again for three games and not hearing him holler? We talk about it in the locker room. I think our playoff this year is going to be for Abbo. We’re starting to come up with some slogans and whatnot. It’s definitely a big loss, not just for us and the Growlers team, but I think for the hockey community in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

 There’s a framed picture of ‘Buddy’ at home, he added, and a little display dedicated to his late friend. “It just feels like life cut short and we missed out on a lot of opportunities. I feel like we always said we’re going to grab a drink but life gets busy. He was a big Yankee fan and opening day is today, so we probably would have got together and I miss him.” 

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.” 

Legendary broadcaster Brian Rogers shares his thoughts on 30 years of pro hockey in St. John’s

Legendary broadcaster Brian Rogers has been providing colour hockey commentary for 30-plus years. His analysis and – at least his voice – is no stranger to fans of pro hockey after years of calling games for the St. John’s Maple Leafs and St. John’s IceCaps of the AHL and the ECHL’s Growlers. While Chris Ballard is now the voice of the team, along with Kelly-Anne Roberts and Ben Murphy, anytime Rogers gets the mic, ears perk up. 

“It’s been quite a ride,” he opened, reflecting back. “It’s Chris’s gig now and he does it brilliantly, but my career was very rewarding, to say the least. But I said to Glenn (Stanford) I didn’t do squat to earn it, so I don’t know why I got a (championship) ring, but he made sure I did so bless him. That’s the reason I’m here, for the bling,” he said with a laugh.

He must be recognized everywhere, we say, referring to his distinct voice. “Oh, I got a face for radio,” he joked, adding, ‘They hear my voice, and they go, ‘hey…’, but it’s not about me, it’s about us. We’re a team. It’s all about family and that’s what it is here. One big family.” 

There’s been losses in the family too this year, he added thoughtfully. Shannon (Shaq) Coady was an equipment manager for two decades with the various franchises, someone Rogers refers to as his “second son” and they were “joined at the hip.” Doug O’Leary is another loss, he added. “We called him Rerun, and he was our taxi driver and he made sure we got back and forth … and we really miss him,” he said. 

Another loss this year was Robin Short, sports writer and editor with The Telegram. “Robin Short was brilliant and we were  buddies, ” he said.

But one of the biggest losses was when Chris ‘Abbo’ Abbott (Buddy the Puffin) died. “Chris will never be replaced, personally speaking, because there will never be another Buddy like him. He was so engaging and so entertaining, and he put his heart and soul into everything he did.”

An interesting ‘Buddy’ fact from someone who was there. “Did you know the first person to wear (the Buddy suit) was Glenn Stanford? Of course he never told you that because he’s one of the most humble men you’ll ever meet. He’s the reason why I’m still here. He kept me around after my heart surgery and I was ready to pass the torch.” 

Passing the Torch

Speaking of passing the torch, while he doesn’t call games these days, he has stepped in a time or two for special occasions. While that’s always an honour, he says “it’s all in good hands.”  “Chris is doing a great job.”

Is there a game that stands out? That’s easy, he said. “Our clincher against Toledo for the Kelley Cup. It’s difficult having favourite games as they were all favourites, but we never won anything – we had our hearts broken in 91/92 in Game seven at Memorial Stadium. We should have won that game … if Andrew McKim scores on that five on three power play … and we lose.” Laughter. “Having the home team win is an unbelievable feeling. We share some special moments up there in the broadcast booth. Your eyes fill and it’s emotional. But that (Kelly Cup) win was probably my favourite moment in 30 years and to see Glenn on the ice in his hometown with everything he’s done, that was a great day.”

It’s not an easy job, Rogers added. From the pressure to pronounce names correctly because families of these kids are listening, to making sure you are not overdoing it on stats, it’s a head-in-the-game post above the ice. “Fans don’t want to hear what that kid did when he was a Pee-We while he’s got a breakaway, right? It’s all about just straight down the middle,” he said. And there’s no better view than the Bob Cole Media Center, so you better take advantage of that, he added. 

“It’s the best job being up there looking directly at the game. You can almost reach out and touch the players, and you have known many of them since they were a kid. Melindy. O’Brien. They are my boys.”

It’s “wild” that “30 years have come and gone,” he added, but it comes down to one man: Glenn Stanford. “Who’s running the ship is integral to the success of hockey. And obviously Glenn has done a pretty doggone good job. He’s the glue that made all this possible.”

CHRIS BALLARD: The Sky’s The Limit

The man who brings the game to fans around the world, Chris Ballard, gives his thoughts on the NL Gowlers

Broadcaster Chris Ballard is familiar to Growlers fans the country over as many who can’t take in a game tune in  online for free using the streaming platform Mixlr at mixlr.com/NLGrowlers. 

  Because COVID tossed a loop into last year’s season and meant some of this year’s games were played without fans in the stands, Ballard’s job suddenly became even more crucial. 

  “I definitely focus on the highs, first and foremost, just getting back after a year of COVID, and back in front of our fans … was enough of a win to keep the spirits high after a year of not playing,” he said. 

Enthusiastic fan base

A highlight this season has to be the first game back in the Mary Brown’s Centre, he added. “Things felt back to normal and seeing the numbers of fans grow over the last handful of games heading into the playoffs has been really special too … That’s been uplifting,” he said.

Ballard says his is the “dream team” of broadcasting. From Brian Rogers to Ben Murphy and Kelly-Anne Roberts, it’s been a great season. “Brian Rogers still does interviews for us and I get to work with some of the best local journalists in the province. Kelly-Anne and Ben have been doing a great job and they keep me on my toes and there’s this professionalism that they bring to the booth … I feel very grateful to work with them.”

It’s a dream job too. “I feel very fortunate that I get to be the one to bring the game to the fans. Player’s families are watching away, and fans of the game who can’t get to a game tune in. I feel very blessed to be able to have an opportunity to do that.”

 The Growlers have an “enthusiastic” fan base, he continued. “There’s a big appetite for the Growlers in this province and we like to provide something entertaining and fun and a bit of escape from the everyday.” He’s also developed a tight relationship with the players and those behind the scenes too, he added. “A lot of teams would probably say, ‘Oh, we have a really tight knit group’ but I just think the combination we have here of the Newfoundland players like (Marcus) Power, (Nathan) Noel, (Tyler) Boland, (James) Melindy and (Zach) O’Brien and other  players that are equally exciting to watch and come here from away like (Todd) Skirving and (Orrin) Centazzo, brings a really exciting brand of hockey.”

Combining the tight relationship of the team with the coaching and management staff and you have a winning formula, he said. “The vibe in that locker room is one of the best … We have a very cohesive, very positive unit and the sky is definitely the limit for our guys.”

Grit. What separates the haves from the have nots in the world of sports. Sandpaper readies for the rigours of playoff hockey far more than feather pillows, and the Newfoundland Growlers have been worn and polished down to a fine suit of armour ahead of their return chase for the Kelly Cup.

No, it hasn’t been easy.

From very public arena conflicts, to a carousel of rotating goalies, a seemingly endless bout with the injury bug, and the passing of a man considered to be the joyous symbol of provincial hockey, it has been anything but a cakewalk. But pressure, and grit, makes champions.

“It felt like three seasons for us,” shared Coach Eric Wellwood in a sitdown with The Herald. “We started the year off on a road trip, which is fun. And then you come back and when we land, we find out we don’t have our arena … We were doing our work in either my house or the assistant coach’s house. And then in December a lot of guys got COVID, we lost a lot of guys to injuries and call ups. Our team was decimated. It has been a long year, to say the least. So we’re glad that it’s coming down to the end, and the real season starts.”

Adversity perhaps looks good on the Growlers, who, after being forced to sit out the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic (being forced to watch the Cup they never lost handed to another club), have bounced back to clinch a playoff berth, with numerous players hitting career highs.

‘Outrageous goals’

NL’s own Zach O’Brien has had a career year, with 78 points (as of press time). Orrin Centazzo, Jeremy McKenna, Tyler Boland and Marcus Power have been point per game players, with Ben Finkelstein banking over 50 points  (as a defenseman!).

“I always tell them I give them outrageous goals just because I want them  to think a little bit outside the box. Double your production from best you’ve ever had. You know, a guy like O’Brien, that’s very difficult because his best production year is like a 1.3 points per game, so to go to 2.6 is virtually impossible. But he can improve it, which he has. But then you can look at a guy like Todd Skirving who’s, not only the doubling his production, his most goals, he’s got 18 already. I don’t think he’s gotten more than 18 points in a season,” Wellwood shard proudly. 

“Yeah, I’m really, really happy with it. I thought this was a year that if we have our team for most of the year we could try to break records almost.”

Back from the inaugural Cup run are team anchors James Melindy, Zach O’Brien, Marcus Power, Derian Plouffe and Todd Skirving, all of whom Coach Wellwood will lean on to help guide a re-tooled roster of largely young and hungry Cup hopefuls. 

“We have a younger team than what’s been here in the past. So there was a lot of unknowns and of course, my staff never being in this league before, we don’t know what we were getting into ourselves. I knew we had a strong team and the potential to have a really strong team. And our goals were to be in first place,” shard Wellwood. 

“I think now, from what we’ve seen all year, I think you can be a lot more confident saying you have a real good chance of being champions. It’s still very difficult to do and a lot of things got to go your way as well. There’s some type of luck involved to some extent whether it’s not getting injured or whether that shot that hits the post and goes in or goes out could be the difference.

“Once you’ve been there, you know what it takes. And we’re lucky to have these guys on our team. You’re going to get into these big games and there are going to be key moments in the games and in the series, and you’re going to know how to handle it. You’re going to have adversity. It’s guaranteed. You could go down 2-0 in the series right away to start. If you’ve been there before, you just know that’s alright. It’s a new game and you have to win four out of seven. So it doesn’t matter if you lost three in a row, you still have to win four.”

Buddy the Puffin

Looming large over the Growlers forthcoming playoff run is the memory of the late, great, incomparable entertainer Chris Abbott, who fans knew and loved for three-decades as the man behind Buddy the Puffin. 

This run to the Cup, and all thereafter, are dedicated to his life and memory.

“We are playing for him now. If we do win, it’s for him,” Wellwood shared, impassioned. “Obviously that just adds a little bit more pressure. But at the same time, I think it’s something that you use. It’s not something that you want to have to use, because you’d much rather him be around for this. But at the end of the day, it all could be used for good. And we’re going to use his memory to get us through some of the tough spots that we’re going to find ourselves in when we’re going on this journey in the playoffs. 

“It’s extremely sad,” he adds sincerely. “I only got to know the man for (a few) months and I’m sure, like anybody else that knew him, he instantly had an impact on your life. Especially for the guys that have been here for a while and the guys that are from here, that’s a huge loss to the community. Not just the hockey world, but the whole community. An absolutely amazing person and it’s tough when you lose somebody like that. I guess the best thing that we can do under the circumstances is use that energy in a good way, and that’s what we’ll be doing. And we’re dedicating this run to him.”

For playoff tickets and more  information visit nlgrowlers.com

James Melindy is a mountain of a man and stands an imposing figure on a pair of skates. The Goulds native, however,  is all charm as he talks about the support he and the team have received from local fans. 

“It’s obviously super special to come home and be able to play in front of friends and family. Since I was 14 years old I was living away from home and the only time you played in front of family was once in a blue moon if they flew to catch some games. So to be able to come home and play in front of them is super special,”  he said. Especially his parents, he added.  “They are very proud of what I’ve become and the person I’ve become, so any time Mom gets the chance to get out on the concourse and brag a little bit, she doesn’t mind doing that.” But “it’s awesome,” he added. “You’re paying your parents back finally for everything they’ve done and for the sacrifices. Seeing the smiles on their faces during games and giving that little wave during warm up means a lot,” he said. 

Melindy says he feels the passion to give back to the community too.  “Obviously, any time you’re a professional athlete or somebody that’s a role model in the community, you try to get out as much as possible and interact with fans because a lot of times, you know, they only see you on the ice.” Being able to interact one-on-one with fans is a bonus of the profession, he said.  “That part is super special for all of us, especially for  some of the local guys. Todd (Skirving) also obviously takes big pride in giving back to the community. I know how important it was when I was a kid when the St. John’s Maple Leafs were coming around to schools and helping out with the Janeway and whatnot. So we just try to keep progressing in the community and giving back in any way we can.” 

At heart, he’s still just a fan of the game, he added. “Being a little boy and going down to Memorial Stadium and watching the ‘Baby Leafs’ was all good memories. Then the Fog Devils and the IceCaps, and to have an opportunity later to come back and play against the IceCaps and to now play for the hometown team is amazing. It’s such an honor and an opportunity not a lot of people get. And to be very fortunate to have good teams here with lots of success has been a bonus. We’re just trying to keep that running and hopefully come out with another trophy again this year.” 

On the loss of Chris Abbott, Melindy paused. “We had a tough spell there with the passing of Chris, who was just an amazing human gone way too early. The arena never really feels the same since he’s been gone. He’s one of those guys that you hear him before you see him and he always brought a smile to everybody’s face and made everybody’s day better.” ‘Buddy’ was more than a mascot, he added.  

“I’ve known the mascot side of him and what he brought to the community and coming down to the game as a kid, he put smiles on our faces and those are memories a lot of people cherish, but I was lucky enough to be able to meet him on a more personal level and to get to know him as a person. There’s not many humans as good as him around, and if there was, the world would  be a lot better place, for sure.” 

As for the fans, ‘thank you,’ Melindy said.  “We know, throughout this season, it’s been a little bit difficult just because of restrictions … but there’s no better place to play than here at home with the fans. We had a great season, so that’s something that’s easy to get behind and then with Newfoundlanders on the team, we’re hoping that we’re getting a lot of support here come playoff time because it really does make a difference for us.” 

And, he added, you simply can’t beat playing the game you love on home ice. “Our families supported us and put us in a situation to be able to chase our dreams. You’ll never be able to repay how much they’ve given to us, but to be able to play games here while living across the street from my parents, and to go over and have a chat with them after games means so much.”

So does playing with b’ys you grew up with, he said. “Myself, Zach (O’Brien)and Marcus (Power) all grew up playing against each other and playing with each other so the familiarity is there and that helps new players adjust a little bit easier too,” he said. 

Newfoundland, he added, is a “different place.”  “It’s a super special place and we’re very fortunate to get a chance to play here because we get treated exceptionally well. It’s a very unique place with amazing people.”

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