ECHL Mailbag: Heart and Soul Growler Named Team Captain, Thunder Release Hometown Vet Shawn Weller

Skirving Named Growlers Captain

Before the Newfoundland Growlers dropped a nail-biting 5-4 loss to Worcester on home ice Thursday, the team announced that longtime team fixture Todd Skirving has been named team captain for the 2023-24 season.

Skirving, 31, has suited up for the club for all five seasons, including the 2018-19 Kelly Cup championship squad. Skirving ranks in the top five in Growlers franchise history in points (121), goals (61), assists (60) and games played (202).

He becomes the second-ever captain in franchise history, following in the footsteps of Goulds native James Melindy, who served as team captain since the club’s inaugural season in 2018-19.

Thunder Release Glens Falls Native Shawn Weller

Hometown veteran for the Adirondack Thunder Shawn Weller has been released from his standard player contract, the team announced in a statement last night.

Weller, 37, a Glens Falls native and pro since 2006, returned to his hometown from the Kansas City Mavericks in 2021-22, putting up 32 points across 73 games in two seasons with the Thunder.

In a sit-down with The Hockey News ahead of the 2023-24 season, Weller shared that this season would be his last as a pro. He did not suit up for the Thunder during their opening five games. 

Weller was a third-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, spending considerable time across the AHL, ECHL, and overseas in Germany. 

ECHL Scoresheet 

Tuesday, November 7

Adirondack Thunder 4 Final SO 3 Worcester Railers

Allen Americans 4 Final 3 Kansas City Mavericks

South Carolina Stingrays 1 Final 3 Orlando Solar Bears

Wednesday, November 8

Wichita Thunder 4 Final 2 Utah Grizzlies

Kalamazoo Wings 1 Final 3 Iowa Heartlanders

Savannah Ghost Pirates 2 Final 5 Jacksonville Icemen

Norfolk Admirals 5 Final OT 6 Reading Royals

Thursday, November 9

Tulsa Oilers 4 Final 1 Rapid City Rush

Kalamazoo Wings 1 Final 2 Iowa Heartlanders

Worcester Railers 5 Final 4 Newfoundland Growlers