Marcus Power doesn’t miss a beat. He’s excited for the playoffs and it shows.  “It’s exciting this time of year and it’s really fun to be a part of it. And we’re just hoping we can bring the (Kelly) Cup home again this year.” 

Power has been playing with (James) Melindy, (Zach ) O’Brien and (Todd) Skirving for three seasons now. Does that make a difference, we ask? “Having some familiar faces around and then us being the older guys on the team helps. We’re trying to mentor the younger guys and make sure they’re comfortable and create that winning culture. And I think we’re doing a pretty good job with that so far,” he said. 

  The fans have noticed, it seems. “We got a lot of loyal fans so that’s great to see. And we’ve had a few Saturday nights here where the place is rocking, so we’re hoping to see that in the playoffs because it definitely matters. When the building is loud and you can hear that the fans are behind you, it’s great,” he said.” 

Power had known Buddy the Puffin (Chris Abbott) pretty much all his life. The loss was “tough,” he said.“That was heartbreaking. We’d see him every morning and he was just so happy and so joyful and I would see him and you just yell out to him and he’d yelled back. He was just such a loving, joyful guy, and I can’t really put it into words how much he’s missed out here.” 

 Power had a setback this season and had sat out a few games tending to an injury. How’s he feeling? “I’m taking it day by day as this is my seventh concussion overall, so it’s been pretty hard. You do have a life after hockey so you try to do the right things and hopefully I’ll be back for playoffs.”

  While an injury is a setback, he still says he had a great season. One highlight? “The first game we played back down here (Mary Brown’s Centre). Getting back into this building was awesome. We really missed playing down here. CBS were great to us and they treated us really well, but getting back was incredible.” 

Orrin Centazzo has ‘it,’ whatever that ‘it’ is. The player from Marwayne, Alberta has been a hit with young hockey fans since day one and can often be found interacting – like handing over a puck or playing rock, paper, scissors – with kids at the plexiglass divider during warm up.  Phrases used to describe the young man with the blond curls hanging outside his helmet are, “he plays bigger than he is,” “What a spitfire,” and “can that kid ever skate.” He has spunk, attitude, and displays a kindness and sweetness that’s impossible to not adore.   We ask Centazzo what he thinks of a life lived in the spotlight. “You look out at all the signs that they have around in warm up and if your name’s on it, you try and acknowledge it and try and play rock, paper, scissors or trade a puck for something so they know you noticed,” he said with a smile. 

 He’s long has a passion for the game himself, so inspiring the next generation feels good, he added. “I start playing hockey or skating when I was two, and my dad wouldn’t tie my laces up tight to keep my strength on my ankles.” Did it help? He smiled, “I guess…”

There’s a passion in Centazzo and he says he’s glad it’s noticed.   “I am not taking any of this for granted. It’s the best game in the world and I get to play and I’m thankful for it and I’ll never take it for granted.” Centazzo’s mom and stepdad came to visit for six games. What are their thoughts? “They love it. It’s different from Alberta and the roads are confusing,” he laughed. 

As for the fans? They are the best. ”It’s such a great group of people to play for and the fanbase here? I love it.”

He also has praise for his teammates. “We have  a very skilled team. Playing with Obie (O’Brien) is crazy and playing with Skirvs (Skirving) is incredible, I mean, (Skirving) works hard. He can pass the puck like I haven’t seen before and it’s pretty easy – when you get a puck on your tape, you score.”

 Centazzo won Rookie of the Year this season. Thoughts?   “We’re excited for the playoffs. We want to bring another Kelly Cup here so hopefully we can do that and I think we’ve got the team to do it. I’m excited for the playoff atmosphere and to just continue to keep things going.”

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.” 

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

MVP – Zach O’Brien

Top Forward – Zach O’Brien 

Top Scorer – Zach O’Brien

Top Goaltender – Keith Petruzzelli

Top Defenceman – Ben Finkelstein

Top Rookie – Orrin Centazzo 

Community Player of the Year – Todd Skirving

Fans Choice Award – Todd Skirving

Unsung Hero Award – Marc Johnstone

Glenn Stanford Leadership Award – James Melindy 

Affectionately called ‘Obie,” the Growlers winger  is this year’s MVP and the team’s top scorer (78 points with three regular season games remaining as of press time).  The affable St. John’s raised hometown hockey hero opened by offering that this has been “one unique season.”

“We’ve been through a lot as a team with COVID and injuries and being in lockdown, but at the end of the day, I feel like it just brought us together as a team more. We’re like a family now and everyone plays for each other and wants each other to be successful,” he said. The team has the winning formula, he added. “It’s a really fun group of guys, a mix of young and old and I’m one of the old guys now. At 29 years old, I’m the old guy, but we have a really fun group and we’re really looking forward to playoffs,” he said. 

Not that things haven’t been tough, he admits, particularly the call up of goalie Keith Petruzzelli. “This year has been so crazy with call ups (to the Marlies/AHL) and injuries and everything but the guys (goaltenders Chase Perry and Angus ‘Beef’ Redmond) have been able to kind of step in and join our group. We try to make it as easy as possible for  them and just make them comfortable and they’ve been doing a great job so far.” 

There’s a contingent of Newfoundlanders on the team that have played together for years. Does being from ‘home’ and playing at home make a difference, we ask. “Growing up, when I moved away at 17 or 18, I never really thought I was going to be able to get the chance to play at home again. Now with players like (James) Melindy and Marcus Power, it just feels perfect. And I obviously love playing here. During the game I look into the stands and I’ll always find a friend or family member there watching every single night, which is pretty cool, and it’s definitely a blessing to be able to play professional hockey at home.” 

We ask about the come-from-away contingent of players, and O’Brien shared that “they’ve embraced this place.”

“Todd Skirving, whatever’s going on in the community, if it has to do with the Growlers, Todd is there. For him to do that, to take time out after being on a road trip for 10 days with eight games and he will come home the next day and Todd’s out doing something for the community, so he definitely deserves a shout out there, and a lot of guys follow his lead when it comes to that.”

The best part? It’s something Todd loves to do, he added.  “He’s a special person and he’s been having a great season on the ice as well. So I’m really happy for Todd and he’s a big part of this group.” 

Another big part of the team was Buddy the Puffin/Chris ‘Abbo” Abbott. “He was just always such a positive guy. Days where maybe you didn’t want to come to the rink, you’d see Abbo and hear him yelling and screaming something and you’d find a way to put a smile on your face. He was a massive part of hockey in Newfoundland, and you can see how many people he touched. He was an amazing person and he left a lot of great memories for everyone, and it’s very sad we lost him.” 

As for the games ahead (three left before the playoffs when we spoke) the team just tries “to get better every game,” he said. “Every game means a lot as we push for a playoff spot.  We got to start really dialing it in and just trying to get better every single day, whether it’s practice or a game. Do whatever it takes to win.”

This, he added, is “the best time of the year” for a player. 

“It seemed like such a long year with everything that’s gone on, so we’re just looking forward to playoffs.”

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.”