Newfoundland Growlers won’t finish the season as membership in ECHL terminated

The Newfoundland Growlers will not end out the 2023-2024 season, marking the second time a Toronto Maple Leafs minor league affiliated crew has left the province. 

With six video games left on the schedule, the ECHL introduced on Tuesday its board of governors voted to terminate the membership’s membership efficient instantly “for failure to fulfil its obligations underneath the ECHL Bylaws.”

In a press release posted on its web site, the Growlers mentioned crew house owners Deacon Sports activities and Leisure could not finalize a sale of the franchise previous to the league-mandated April 2 deadline. The Trois-Rivières Lions, additionally owned by Deacon, was bought and will end the season. 

“Because of unexpected challenges, and whereas a dialogue was put forth to salvage the way forward for each groups, solely the continuation of the Trois-Rivières Lions was permitted by the ECHL, and consequently, the ECHL Board of Governors has voted to terminate the league membership of the Newfoundland Growlers,” reads the Growlers’ assertion. 

“We prolong our heartfelt appreciation to our followers, sponsors, companions, employees, and the tons of of gamers who’ve proudly represented the Growlers, whose unwavering resilience and assist has been instrumental to our on-ice product.”

ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin wrote the league is “saddened to lose ECHL hockey within the Newfoundland market.”

He mentioned the league is “hopeful that hockey can return to the area for his or her devoted and passionate fan base.”

Growlers gamers with ECHL contracts will change into unrestricted free brokers. These with AHL contracts are ineligible to complete out the ECHL season. 

The Growlers assertion says refunds for remaining three house video games shall be mechanically processed by the field workplace on the Mary Brown’s Centre.

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