Newfoundland Growlers to Cease Operations

Growlers players will become free agents beginning today.

The Newfoundland Growlers, effective today, will cease operations.

Dean MacDonald, Chair of Deacon Sports and Entertainment, shared with Newfoundland based outlet VOCM that they presented an offer for the sale of both the Growlers and the Trois Rivieres Lions, but the offer was declined only the Lions were salvaged.

MacDonald, broke the news on VOCM’s Tim Powers Show, sharing that players under AHL contract will either go on to play with the Toronto Marlies or their season will end. Those under ECHL contract have now become unrestricted free agents.

The Growlers won the Kelly Cup in their first ever season in 2018-19. They most recently ranked fifth in the North Division standings.

UPDATE with a full press release from the ECHL: 

The ECHL announced on Tuesday that the League’s Board of Governors has voted to terminate the Membership of the Newfoundland Growlers, effective immediately, for failure to fulfill its obligations under the ECHL Bylaws. 

“We are saddened to lose ECHL hockey in the Newfoundland market,” said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “We’d like to thank the Growlers fans and partners for their support of the team throughout their existence, and are hopeful that hockey can return to the region for their dedicated and passionate fanbase.”

The ECHL and Professional Hockey Players’ Association have agreed that as per the ECHL/PHPA Collective Bargaining Agreement, all ECHL Contracted Players on the Newfoundland roster are Unrestricted Free Agents, however no ECHL Member may sign more than two (2) Players from the free agent pool of Newfoundland Players. Any Player from this pool who signs and finishes the Season with a new ECHL Member for the balance of the 2023-24 Season shall be ineligible for that Member's Protected List and shall become an Unrestricted Free Agent at the conclusion of the 2023-24 Season. The only exception to this rule applies to Serron Noel, whose ECHL rights will revert to the Allen Americans at the end of the Season as part of the completion of a Future Consideration trade owed by Newfoundland. 

Any Player on an AHL/NHL contract who was on Newfoundland’s roster after 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 20 (AHL/NHL Recall Reassignment Deadline) is ineligible to play in the ECHL for the remainder of the Season. 

The following games on the 2023-24 ECHL regular-season schedule have been canceled:

ECHL Game #943 – Trois-Rivières at Newfoundland (Friday, April 5)

ECHL Game #954 – Trois-Rivières at Newfoundland (Saturday, April 6)

ECHL Game #965 – Trois-Rivières at Newfoundland (Sunday, April 7)

ECHL Game #974 – Norfolk at Newfoundland (Thursday, April 11)

ECHL Game #995 – Norfolk at Newfoundland (Saturday, April 13)

ECHL Game #1,007 – Norfolk at Newfoundland (Sunday, April 14)

The playoff seeding for the remaining six teams in the North Division will be determined by points percentage, as will home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Kelly Cup Finals, in the event a North Division team advances to that round.

UPDATE with statement from the Newfoundland Growlers and Deacon Sports:

Despite the efforts of our front-office, Deacon Sports and Entertainment regrets to announce that the sale of the Newfoundland Growlers could not be finalized prior to the league-mandated April 2, 2024 deadline. Due to unforeseen challenges, and while a discussion was put forth to salvage the future of both teams, only the continuation of the Trois-Rivières Lions was approved by the ECHL, and as a result, the ECHL Board of Governors has voted to terminate the league membership of the Newfoundland Growlers.

Deacon Sports and Entertainment has reached an agreement for the sale and continued operations of the Trois-Rivières Lions, pending the approval of the ECHL. The decision to sell the Trois-Rivières Lions comes after careful consideration and strategic planning to ensure the continued success and growth of the franchise.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our fans, sponsors, partners, staff, and the hundreds of players who have proudly represented the Growlers, whose unwavering resilience and support has been instrumental to our on-ice product.

Deacon Sports and Entertainment extends sincere gratitude to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montréal Canadiens for their support over the past six seasons.

Refunds for home games that have yet to be played will be automatically processed by the Mary Brown’s Centre box office. For more information about the refund process please contact the appropriate team sales department using the contact information listed below.