The all-time franchise leader in points, goals, and games played for the Newfoundland Growlers is coming home.
The Newfoundland Growlers announced today that St. John’s native and 2019 Kelly Cup Playoff Most Valuable Player Zach O’Brien has signed a Standard Player Contract (SPC) with the club for the remainder of the 2023-24 ECHL season.
O’Brien, 31, began the season in Slovakia with HC Slovan Bratislava and appeared in 16 games, scoring five goals and adding seven assists for 12 points before deciding to re-join the Growlers for their fifth anniversary season.
He returns as the club’s all-time leader in goals (104), assists (175), points (279) and games played (206). His 87-point season from 2022-23 is the most points recorded by a single player in a single season in franchise history.
A three-time winner of the ECHL Sportsmanship Award, O’Brien was twice named to the ECHL Second All-Star Team and was named to the ECHL First All-Star Team for the first time last season.
O'Brien is a veteran of dozens of games at the AHL level, including six points in seven games with the Marlies in 2022-23.