The Newfoundland Growlers are heading into their third ECHL season. Not as many as other teams in the league, however the City of St. John’s has seen high-level talent wear the black, brown and white. My criteria for making this list will be:
- A player must play at least 25 games in a Growlers uniform to qualify
- Must not have played in the NHL prior to joining the team
These are in no particular order, and as only one player from the team has reached the NHL, these will be my predictions on who will do the best in the future.
Scott Pooley
Scott Pooley is a 26-years-old forward who originally hails from Granger, Indiana. Pooley spent his collegiate career with the Holy Cross Crusaders in the NCAA. During his four-year tenure there, Pooley played 139 games, recording a total of 98 points. In his senior year, he played a few games in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. Doing so, he played five games where he tallied one goal.
That offseason, he signed an extension with the team and was then assigned to the Newfoundland Growlers. There, he was fifth in points, scoring 52 in 60 games played. He also led the team with a Plus/Minus rating of +23.
Pooley was a huge component to Newfoundland’s inaugural Kelly Cup championship. His crucial overtime goal in Game two against the Toledo Walleye helped put the Growlers up two games to help the team win the championship.
During the following season, Pooley bounced between the AA and AAA levels of professional hockey. As such, he appeared in a total of 47 games between the Marlies and Growlers. As such, he recorded 24 goals along with 10 assists which made for 34 points. Pooley is headed into his last year of a two-year extension which he signed with the Marlies.
Zach O’Brien
Born and raised in St. John’s, Zach O’Brien is a hometown hero. The 28-year-old forward spent his junior career in the QMJHL. He did this primarily with the Acadie–Bathurst Titan. O’Brien played 192 games in which eh recorded 260 points.
After making the jump to pro hockey, O’Brien spent most of his time in the AHL, with a few stints elsewhere. That allowed him to see time in the ECHL and DEL2 in Germany. One of the teams the forward saw time with was the St. John’s IceCaps, who are now defunct. They were the professional hockey team for the country’s east coast over the course of six seasons.
Signing with the Toronto Marlies in 2018-19, O’Brien returned to play with the Growlers where, during the season, he led the team in points. This also accounted for the playoffs where was he was named as recipient of the MVP award. Having skated in 76 games, the right-handed shooter amassed 97 points.
The following season, he recorded 25 goals along with 21 assists which made for 46 points. He did this through 41 games before playing in five with the Marlies in Toronto. O’Brien and fellow Newfoundlander, Marcus Power, have signed with EV Landshut for the 2020-21 season.
Justin Brazeau
A superstar from the get-go, the 22-year-old from New Liskeard, Ontario started his junior career in the Ontario Hockey League. He did so with the North Bay Battalion, serving as captain in his senior year. Speaking of which, the forward played in 68 where he amassed a total of 113 points.
This led the Newfoundland Growlers by over 30 points from second place, Matthew Struthers. Brazeau signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Marlies and was promptly demoted to the Growlers hockey club.
During his rookie season, Brazeau recorded 27 goals along with 28 assists in 57 games. He also appeared in one game with Toronto. With much thanks to his statistics, he would earn a spot on the ECHL’s All-Rookie Team.