ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Officially, the Newfoundland Growlers begin their longest homestand of the season tonight as they take on the Adirondack Thunder at Mile One Centre.
Then again, the games against the Thunder today and Wednesday might qualify as the Growlers’ shortest Mile One stay during the 2019-20 ECHL season.
That’s because after Wednesday’s contest, Newfoundland doesn’t play again for 12 days, much of that separation because of the team’s annual Christmas break. Its next game will be Dec. 30 against the Worcester Railers, the first of six more contests at Mile One.
📜 GAME PREVIEW📜
— Newfoundland Growlers (@NLGrowlers) December 17, 2019
Take a look at everything you need to know about this week's matchup against the Adirondack Thunder.
Game Preview -->https://t.co/T4SdNUZvsC#StandOnGuard pic.twitter.com/7NoJyNPKjG
The Growlers (18-10-0) continue to top the ECHL’s North Division, although after losing their last two games, during a three-game visit to Utah, but their lead is only two points over the Reading Royals.
But after making the long cross-continent back to St. John’s Sunday, the defending ECHL champs learned they were getting three key players on re-assignment from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Forwards Brady Ferguson and Scott Pooley and rookie defenceman Mac Hollowell are the players being returned.
Ferguson still leads Newfoundland in goals with 13 on the season, while Pooley had 10 goals in 12 games before being called up to the Marlies last month.
With those three arriving, the Growlers made some corresponding roster moves, putting rookie forward Trey Bradley, who was hurt in Utah, and defenceman Tommy Panico on the reserve list, while releasing defenceman Mike Crocock.
Newfoundland also placed goaltender Angus Redmond on injured reserve.
The b'ys are BACK!@GrowlersBallard caught up with John Snowden and Scott Pooley at morning skate to talk about the Adirondack Thunder.#StandOnGuard pic.twitter.com/lDFvtGO9qK
— Newfoundland Growlers (@NLGrowlers) December 17, 2019
Adirondack (11-11-5) arrives having lost five games in a row, although three of those setbacks were in extra time.
The Thunder also came to town short a goaltender.
It didn’t seem that long ago that Adirondack had a netminding glut, but Chris Neil was traded to the Florida Everblades, Canadiens prospect Michael McNiven was reassigned to the Jacksonville Icemen and when Evan Cormier was recalled to the AHL’s Binghamton Devils, it left former Growler Eamon McAdam as the only contracted goalie on the roster.
That’s why local senior hockey goalie A.J. Whiffen has been signed by the Thunder as an emergency back-up (EBUG).
Whiffen has made a bit of a career as an ECHL EBUG. He’s had some similar duty for the Growlers on a few occasions, including earlier this season, and also filled in for the Maine Mariners once during the 2018-19 campaign.
DOG BITES
Ronnie Payne (7G, 12A) tops the Thunder with 19 points. Hayden Verbeek, the nephew of former NHLer Pat Verbeek, also had 19 points for Adirondack, but was called up to the AHL's Laval Rocket earlier this month… Tonight will be Buddy the Puffin Appreciation Night at Mile One as the Growlers celebrate the colourful bird’s run as the mascot for St. John’s professional hockey teams, stretching back over 27 years…
Twitter: @telybrendan
