The Growler: Issue 3

LET’S CELLY 5 YEARS OF GROWLERS NATION - Jonny Tychonick

christmas traditions - SOME OF the boys FAVE christmas mEMORIES recipe - FISH SOUP KIDS CORNER

NLGROWLERS.COM

CONTENTS • JONNY T • RECIPE • CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS • RELIC • SERIES BREAK DOWN • KIDS CORNER

JONNY

20 TYCHONICK

Jonny on the Spot Growlers’ defenceman shows skill and leadership in first full pro season Defenceman Jonny Tychonick has accomplished an awful lot while wearing a Growlers uniform.

A point-per-game defenseman in the ECHL, Tychonick was an integral part of the Growlers 2023 Kelly Cup playoff run. He was second on the squad in the postseason with 16 points in 15 games and scored the most exciting goal of the season in overtime against the Florida Everblades in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final.

The six-foot, 187-pound lefty began the 2023-24 campaign picking up where he left off. He was named an alternate captain to start the season and already sits among the league leaders in points among defencemen, thanks in large part to a five-point night during the club’s recent road trip.

While the above laundry list of accolades and accomplishments certainly appears as if it would belong to a seasoned veteran with many years of pro hockey experience, in this case it does not.

It belongs to a 23-year-old kid from Calgary, Alberta living. I’m doing what I do and having fun with it. “I am who is playing in his first full season in the professional so thankful I was given the opportunity last year to be ranks, and he is enjoying every minute of it. here. That helped me have a foot forward into this year.” has certainly hit the ground running to begin “I FEEL LIKE MY SETTLING IN Tychonick the 2023-24 season. Not only does he lead all ECHL defenders in points but he also just set a new POINT WAS LAST SEASON,” rookie franchise record for points in a game by a defenceman Tychonick said from his hotel room during the club’s recent stopover in Utah. “That was the time I settled in.

Being around that environment last year really helped me to be more comfortable now. It’s just my life and what I want to do. It’s everything I ever wanted. I’m just

when he recorded a goal and four assists for five points against the Reading Royals on November 18.

While his individual performance is certainly worthy of praise, Tychonick’s team-first approach shows wisdom

beyond his years and demonstrates why he’s worthy of wearing the ‘A’ on his chest, even with only a handful of pro games under his belt.

“EVER SINCE I SET FOOT IN NEWFOUNDLAND’S LOCKER ROOM, I FEEL MY CONFIDENCE IS JUST AT A NEW LEVEL,”

“Sure, I had five points in the game, but we won the game 6-4. They still scored four goals. That’s three or four too many for me. The points don’t matter to me. I just want the team to be successful. Five points is five points, but two points that we got on the board for the team, that’s what we really needed.”

“That’s just due to the people in the organization on and off the ice. There’s so much that I am thankful for.

So what’s the key to Tychonick’s early-career success? I just love to go out there and play for the logo on the How has he been able to put up big numbers and front and play for everything that Newfoundland and become a leader on one of the ECHL’s premier Labrador has to offer. It’s been such a home to me. I am franchises as one of the younger players in the league? incredibly happy here and the love of the game is back For Tychonick, the answer lies between the ears. in full force, which is all you can really ask for.”

“It always starts with the mental side of it,” Tychonick With his head in the right place, the sky is the limit for said.

Tychonick and the Growlers this season. The path to the Kelly Cup is paved with many ups and downs and “I feel like I have really figured out that side and am able Tychonick believes the best days are ahead for this to detach myself from the noise and just go out there young Growlers squad. and play. I’m not worried about anything. I don’t care about any of the negativity or anything outside of my “We’re just finding our footing,” Tychonick said excitedly. life. I just worry about going out and playing. I feel like my confidence is really high right now.”

“I think there’s just a lot of new things with this team.

New pieces. New stuff from above. That’s a lot of But it’s not just a strong mental game that has propelled change happening. Once everything settles down and Tychonick to his hot start. He admits there’s something we find our step, it will be nothing but smooth sailing. a little special in the air in the province of Newfoundland It’s still very early. It’s a 72-game season. I have no and Labrador. worries with this team.”

“I’M DOING WHAT I DO AND HAVING FUN WITH IT.”

SEAFOOD SOUP

by Chef Jeremy Charles

WHITE FISH STOCK • Halibut bones from 1 fish • Cod bones from 2 fishs 6 onions, chooped 3 fennel bulbs, chopped

INGREDIENTS • 2 Tablespoons cold-pressed canola (rapeseed) oil • 3 leeks, cut into medium dice • 2 fennel bulbs, cut into medium dice • 2 white onions, cut into medium dice • 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced • 1 taspoon crushed red chili flakes • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds • 250ml white wine • 1.5 litre canned tomatoes, crushed and hand torn • 1.4 kg skinless, boneless cod fillet • 2 zucchini (courgettes), cut into medium dice • 20g sootoh lovage, chopped to garnish • sea salt

4 leeks, chopped 1 bunch celery, chopped 2 bunches thyme 4 bay leafs 10g peppercorns Soak fish bones overnight in ice water to draw out the remailing blood. The next day, place the bones and mirepoix into a large stockpot and cover with fresh cold water. Bring the mixture to high heat but not allow to boil. Let the stock continue on high heat, without boiling, for 2-4 hours. Skim the mixture often to remove impurities. Strain the stock.

Refrigerate overnight before use. The stock will keep 4-5 days, covered and refrigerated.

METHOD 1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leak, fennel, onion, garlic, chili flakes, and fennel seeds and sweat for approximately 30 minutes, until vegetables are translucent.

Stir white into saucepan and continue to cook until reduced by two-thirds. Add the white fish stock and tomatoes and cook for additional 4-5 minutes.

Mix the the fish and zucchini (courgettes) into the saucepn, cover the pan with a lid, and cook another 12-15 minutes until the fish is cooked through. Garnish with Scotch lovage, season to taste, and serve.

Grant Cruikshank:

GROWLERS CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Jake Hamilton:

Brock Caufield:

Jackson Berezowski:

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Todd Skirving:

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Luke Cavallin

Lincoln Erne: I have always loved Christmas for many different reasons. I love the time of year. It’s always so joyful with all holiday vibes and the lights set up on houses, not to mention it’s during hockey season. Where I’m from in Minnesota, playing pond hockey is huge in the winter and especially during holiday break. I have so many memories of spending countless hours on the pond or the outdoor rink with my friends and that’s something I love about that time of year.

Neil Shea: Dryden McKay: I got my first goalie helmet for Christmas when I was probably 10. It was a black Itech. Another favorite holiday memory was getting the Nintendo Wii the year they came out. They were really hard to get and I remember my mom waited in line for over two hours to get us one.

Christmas to me is just the best time of year and I cherish it much more now more than ever. It’s a time where the whole family is under the same roof laughing and sharing time together which happens less as you grow older.

It brings me back to being a kid a again and waking up on Christmas morning each year, always wanting the new hockey stick and best gifts. Later in the day, the whole entire extended family comes over for a party. My family also has a Christmas Eve party each year at my aunt's house that is a staple of our family and is filled with many good laughs and food. It's something I look forward to each year to be able to go home and see everyone.

kids corner

Since opening on Water Street in the summer of 2017, relic supply has established itself as the premium streetwear shop in Newfoundland. This past January we announced that relic would become the Official Retailer of the Newfoundland Growlers, and now that partnership is growing even further with Growlers gear-in-store at 181 Water St. Fans can now stop by relic seven days a week to buy jersey’s, hats & apparel. With new gear arriving weekly there will always be something new to see.

We are very pleased to announce that after Christmas relic will be providing on the spot jersey customization!!! You will now be able to buy your jersey and have it customized while you wait.

#CHAPTER

2023 | 2024 HOME SCHEDULE December

march

febRUary

april

january 2024

No Place Like Home For the Holidays

Growlers Host Mariners in Final Three Games Before Holiday Break

The Newfoundland Growlers are back at home following a long eight-game road trip and are looking forward to some home cookin’ as they host their North Division rivals, the Maine Mariners, at the Mary Brown’s Centre for the first time this season.

This trip is the Mariners only voyage to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador this season. Following these three games in St. John’s, these two teams will meet again for six more contests at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

WELCOME BACK, OLD FRIENDS

HEADING HOME ON A HEATER

The Growlers and their North Division rivals, the Maine Mariners, have not yet faced off against one another in the 2023-24 ECHL season. They will quickly become reacquainted as they meet for a busy weekend series on Friday, December 8, Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10.

While it was a long and challenging eight-game road trip for the Growlers, several players have posted some incredible individual performances and will be looking to keep the momentum going as the Mariners roll into town.

Both the Growlers and the Mariners entered the ECHL in the 2018-19 season and have been division rivals for all 40 regular season contests they have played against one another dating back to their first ever matchup on October 21, 2018. Heading into the series, the Growlers own the edge in the all-time series between these rivals with a 25-11-1-3 record against the Mariners. At home at the Mary Brown’s Centre, the Growlers are 13-5-0-0 against Maine.

It was a record-setting road trip for Growlers defenceman Jonny Tychonick, who set a new team record for points in a game by a defenceman with five (1G, 4A) on November 18 in Reading. Five points also matches the Growlers all-time single-game points record, which was last set by Ryan Chyzowski on April 9, 2023.Growlers goaltender Luke Cavallin recorded his second shutout of the season in just seven starts when he blanked the Utah Grizzlies 2-0 with 28 saves on November 25th. That already matches the

number Growlers goaltender Luke Cavallin recorded his second shutout of the season in just seven starts when he blanked the Utah Grizzlies 2-0 with 28 saves on November 25. That already matches the number of shutouts he recorded in his rookie season a year ago in 35 appearances. At the time of publication, two shutouts is tied for the league lead.

On Friday, December 8, come and celebrate the newcomers in our province as the Growlers partner with the Association for New Canadians on New Foundland night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00pm.

It’s the most highly anticipated event of the year! On Saturday, December 9 at 7:00pm, it’s the annual NTV Teddy Toss in support of the Salvation Army. Bring While Cavallin was taking care of the Growlers net, it your teddy bears to the game on Saturday night and was rookie forward Neil Shea who took care of business get ready to toss them onto the ice during the first in the offensive zone as he scored both goals to help lift intermission! All bears will be donated to those in need the Growlers to victory. this holiday season.

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF And in the final home game before the holiday break on Sunday, December 10 at 4:00pm, bust out your party THE YEAR! hats as the Growlers celebrate the first birthday of our These three games in December against the Mariners beloved Buddy Jr! are the last three home games before the team’s holiday break, so the Growlers promo team has been as busy For more information or to get your tickets, please visit as elves making sure they have filled those three games nlgrowlers.com. with plenty of holiday cheer!

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