Report from the Rock: Growlers Training Camp Opens

For the first time since March of 2020, the Newfoundland Growlers now officially have a roster of players.

The team has announced the initial training camp roster for the 2021-22 season and in addition to the seven players signed to ECHL deals last month the roster includes 11 AHL-contracted players from the Toronto Marlies (two of whom being St. John’s locals Zach O’Brien and Marcus Power), two players loaned to the team from the Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, a local player (Kyle McGrath) on a Professional Try-Out, and newly un-retired Captain James Melindy.

Aside from O’Brien and Power, notable players assigned to the Growlers from Toronto are goaltender Keith Petruzzelli, who will likely become the team’s starter in light of the unfortunate injury to Maple Leafs prospect Ian Scott during NHL preseason, winger Jeremy McKenna, who TLN’s Nick Barden says has genuine NHL-upside and could become the Growlers’ leading scorer if he continues to make positive strides.

The third player of note is Noel Hoefenmayer, a 22-year old left-shot defenceman who played in 18 games for the Marlies last season and is projected to play big minutes. Hoefenmayer, like most of the players assigned to Newfoundland, is a development project. Should he or any of the young players make significant progress in rounding out their game at the professional level, they could be signed to NHL entry-level deals following this season.

Lastly, some news that has not been made official by the Growlers yet- Evan Cormier, a 23-year old goaltender who was attending Leafs and Marlies camp on a Professional Try-Out, has reportedly signed with the Growlers per Elite Prospects and ECHLWeek:

Cormier’s signing will likely be made official just before the first on-ice sessions on October 13th.

The complete Growlers training camp roster can be found here and we’ll keep you posted on any major changes as they develop.

After signing up for a free account, we’re going to give you a bunch of boxes with player names and you’re going to pick a name from each box until you’ve put together a super crew that you think can contend for a NationDrafts championship. Seems easy, right? It is easy and that’s not just because you’re wicked smaht. Sign up for FREE right here.