The Newfoundland Growlers’ season will not go on as their ECHL membership has ended.
The termination of the Newfoundland Growlers’ membership in the ECHL is indeed a significant event in the world of hockey. The team won’t be able to finish the 2023–2024 season, marking the second time a minor league team affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs has left the province.
The ECHL Board of Governors voted to terminate the club’s membership effective immediately due to the team’s failure to fulfill its obligations under the ECHL Bylaws. This decision was made with six games left on the Growlers’ schedule.
The team owners, Deacon Sports and Entertainment, were unable to finalize a sale of the franchise before the league-mandated deadline on April 2. However, the Trois-Rivières Lions, another team owned by Deacon, was sold and will finish the season.
The termination of the Newfoundland Growlers’ membership was a result of unforeseen challenges and discussions to salvage the future of both teams. The continuation of the Trois-Rivières Lions was approved by the ECHL, but the same did not hold true for the Growlers.
The Growlers expressed their appreciation to their fans, sponsors, partners, staff, and players for their unwavering resilience and support. ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin expressed sadness over losing ECHL hockey in the Newfoundland market and voiced hope that hockey could return to the region for its dedicated and passionate fan base.
As a result of the termination, Growlers players with ECHL contracts will become unrestricted free agents, while those with AHL contracts are ineligible to finish out the ECHL season. The Growlers have stated that refunds for the remaining three home games will be automatically processed by the box office at the Mary Brown’s Center.
This event marks a significant change in the landscape of the ECHL and the future of hockey in Newfoundland. It remains to be seen what the long-term impacts will be for the players, fans, and community.