ECHL Board of Governors deciding fate on two Canadian teams

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Ryan Hall
April 3, 2024 (3:08 PM)

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It appears that professional hockey will be coming to an end to the province of Newfoundland once again as the ECHL Board of Governors has agreed to terminate the league membership of the Newfoundland growlers who are an affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Over the past few decades, the province has struggled to keep professional hockey teams within Saint John's the capital of the province due to poor attendance or miss management of ownership.

This time around, the growlers failed to fulfill their obligations under the bylaws of the league.

The team began to play in 2018 -2019 and were in full affiliation of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The team itself was rather successful as they won the Kelly cup in their first year of operations.

In the remaining two seasons of active play after the pandemic, they went to the third round each time just coming up short of another Kelly cup Finals.

On the flip side of the coin, the same ownership also owns another Canadian ECHL franchise in the Trois Rivieres Lions.

They have an agreement for sale and will continue their operations within the quebec city.

ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin offered a statement to the province and the fan base of the team after the league terminated operations.

«We are saddened to lose ECHL hockey in the Newfoundland market,» said ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin in a statement. «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.»

Now the decision has been made, all contracted players on the growlers will now become unrestricted free agents but according to their rules every team within the league will only be allowed to sign two players from the Growlers.