The Growlers: Issue 2

2023•24 E-MAG

ISSUE 2

LET’S CELLY 5 YEARS OF GROWLERS NATION - TODD SKIRVING

YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST - SOME OF OUR ROOKIES FIRSTS IN PHOTOS HEALTHY EATING with jeremy charles KIDS CORNER

NLGROWLERS.COM

CONTENTS • todd skriving • RECIPE • Rookie firsts • SERIES BREAK DOWN • KIDS CORNER

todd

skirving

champ

“Esketit!”

SKIRVING’S NEWFOUNDLAND SUMMER PAVES WAY FOR EXCITING SEASON Growlers forward Todd Skirving may have had the perfect Newfoundland summer.

Coming off a career season in 2022-23, the 31-yearold Thunder Bay, Ontario native spent the majority of his offseason right here on the Rock and made sure to take in all the sights and sounds as he pondered his hockey future.

With 31 goals and 58 points last season, both career highs, it should be no surprise that Skirving drew considerable interest around the hockey world for his scoring prowess, his character and considerable office accolades.

As the offseason began during the rainy month of June, Todd had some decisions to make. Would he stay with the Growlers for their upcoming fifth anniversary season to continue his Growlers legacy? Or would he parlay his incredible season into a fresh opportunity elsewhere?

“I HAVEN’T LEFT SINCE THE PLAYOFFS ENDED,” SKIRVING SAID EXCITEDLY. “

Deciding to remain in Newfoundland to ponder his options, Skirving put on his tourist hat to make the most of his offseason. And it was that same jampacked summer here in his adopted home-away-fromhome that helped sway him back to the salty air of Newfoundland for another campaign.

I tried to do a lot of things because I don’t know when my career might end. I tried to take advantage of everything Newfoundland has to offer because I don’t know what’s next.”

And boy, did he ever take advantage of our province’s the guys here, like Luke Adam and Cody Donaghey, best season. just picking their brains a little bit. At the end of the day, everything kept pointing back to the Growlers.”

“I got to go to George Street Fest for the first time in five years. I went to a few concerts and got to see my boy Even in the midst of a fairly large roster turnover, not Alan Doyle, that was fun. Our buddy Jordan Escott got to mention a brand new coaching staff, Skirving sees married and that was a lot of fun. I went crab fishing with nothing but opportunity in this new era of Growlers a family from around the bay there. I did get seasick but hockey. the crab was really good. I got to go cod fishing again too. I picked mussels this year, I didn’t know that was a thing. I got to go to the Regatta. That was the first time that I’d been there. It really was a great summer.”

“I’M STILL PUMPED TO BE HERE,” SKIRVING SAID.

When Skirving wasn’t taking in the sights and sounds, he was spending his time training and skating with a group of local pros who were also preparing for their respective seasons.

“It’s an exciting challenge and I want to do what I can to lead the charge and keep what we’ve built over the past four years and take it into this season. The excitement is still there. I’m getting to the tail end of my career now and for me, now it’s all about winning championships.

Still considering his options, Skirving confided in some Personal stats go out the door. I had a good year last of these individuals who had either already committed year but another Kelly Cup ring would be even better. to playing overseas or had already made a home That’s the goal here again.” playing in Europe.

Skirving signed on the dotted line on August 9, capping While their pitches were tantalizing, Skirving just off a perfect Newfoundland summer for the province’s couldn’t pull himself away from Newfoundland. adopted son.

“It was definitely the first time I’ve ever really considered Well, almost perfect. the idea of making the jump to maybe play elsewhere,” Skirving said.

“My New York Yankees have been painful to watch this year,” Skirving said with a laugh.

“You have to see what’s out there. To have that kind of season and put yourself in a position to be in the “It’s definitely made the summer not as good. Every drivers seat to see what’s out there, I wanted to explore time I flip on a game, they’re winning and they blow it that and see. I talked with Zach O’Brien and some of or they’re down five or six in the first two innings.”

SKIRVING

Beef and pork Ragu

by Chef Jeremy Charles

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

• Carrot – medium dice – 250 g

1. In a rondeau over medium heat, add 4 tbsp olive oil then start by browning off your ground pork and ground beef

• Celery – medium dice – 250 g • Onion – medium dice – 500 g • Garlic – sliced garlic – 80 g • Pork – ground – 1 kg • Beef – ground – 1 kg • Fennel seed – whole – 20 g • Bay leaf – whole – 2 leafs • Tomato paste – 500 ml • 3.25% milk – 1 L • Dry white wine – 750 ml • Chilli flake – to taste • Black pepper – to taste • Salt – to taste • Olive oil – 4 tbsp • Parmesan – ground – 250 g – garnish • Bread crumbs – 3 tbsp – garnish

2. When your ground meat is fully cooked add in your carrot, onion, celery and garlic 3. Cook until all your vegetables are translucent approximately 20 minutes 4. Add in fennel seed, chilli flake, and bay leaf continue cooking 3 to 5 minutes 5. Add tomato paste and stir to incorporate continue cooking 7 – 10 minutes over medium heat 6. Deglaze the rondeau with dry white wine and cook until the wine had reduced by half approximately 10 – 12 minutes 7. Add in your 3.25% milk and continue to cook over medium low heat for approximately 20 – 30 minutes till it reached desired consistency 8. Season to taste with salt and pepper to taste

EQUIPMENT

9. Remove bay leafs

• Large rondeau

10. Garnish with parmesan and bread crumb

• Wooden spoon

kids corner

2023 | 2024 HOME SCHEDULE

#CHAPTER

2023 | 2024 HOME SCHEDULE NOVEMBER

febRUary

December

march

january 2024

april

Home for a Rest

Division Rival Railers Make Their Lone Trip to St. John’s in November

The Newfoundland Growlers may not have many home the Mary Brown’s Centre later this month. games on the schedule for the month of November, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t big games to be played The Railers’ roster features three returning players who were in the top 10 on the squad in scoring a season at the Mary Brown’s Centre this month. ago, including Anthony Repaci, Quinn Ryan and Blade The Growlers will play a total of 12 games in the month Jenkins. Also returning for the Railers this season is of November but only three of those games will be goaltender Henrik Tikkanen, who posted a .920% save played at home inside the friendly confines of the Mary percentage in six contests against the Growlers last season.

Brown’s Centre.

So let’s get you set for the Growlers’ lone November home games with a preview of what to expect from the Growlers’ North Division rivals, the ECHL affiliates of the New York Islanders, the Worcester Railers, as they come to St. John’s for a trio of games on Thursday, November 9 at 7:00pm, Friday, November 10 at 7:00pm and Sunday, November 12 at 4:00pm.

WHO ARE THE RAILERS?

Worcester has also added several key pieces to their veteran-laden roster, including forward Ashton Calder, who won the Kelly Cup with the Florida Everblades back in June, as well as New York Islanders’ 2021 3rd round pick Tristan Lennox in goal.

NO SHORTAGE OF HISTORY BETWEEN THESE DIVISION RIVALS

The Growlers and Railers have been in the same This season, the Railers’ roster features a fun division since the Growlers entered the league in 2018 combination of returning players and high-impact new and have met for a total of 38 regular season games recruits that are sure to excite when they hit the ice at over the last five seasons.

The Growlers have carved out a healthy edge in the The Growlers once again look to be a juggernaut on all-time series with a 26-10-2-0 lifetime record against home ice with a record of 4-2-0-0 through six games the Railers, including an impressive 16-4-0-0 record played at the Mary Brown’s Centre thus far this season. against Worcester at the Mary Brown’s Centre.

The Growlers’ lifetime record at home at the Mary The Growlers have won five of the last six regular Brown’s Centre is an eye-popping 101-34-4-1. season games between these two clubs dating back to January 11, 2023.

PLENTY OF PROMOS Despite the lifetime series numbers being heavily in With only three home games taking place in November, the Growlers’ favour, these teams were very evenly- all three games are jam-packed with promotions and matched last season and each earned six wins and additional entertainment. identical 6-5-1-0 records against each other in 2022-23.

On Thursday night, enjoy $5 beers all night long on SEE THEM BEFORE THEY’RE GONE Thirsty Thursday!

The Growlers and Railers will only meet for six games during the 2023-24 ECHL season, exactly half the number of times they met a season ago, meaning each and every battle between these division rivals will be can’t-miss hockey.

Pay your respects to the brave men and women of the Canadian armed forces on Saturday night as the Growlers celebrate their annual Military Appreciation night.

And on Sunday, ‘Be Prepared’ for an awesome time as This three-game trip to St. John’s is the Railers’ only the Growlers partner with Scouts Canada on Scouts voyage to the Rock this season. The remaining three Night. games of the season series will take place at the DCU For more information or to get your tickets for the Center in Worcester on March 27, 29 and 30. upcoming homestand, please visit nlgrowlers.com

HOME COOKING

This homestand against the Railers is the Growlers’ second homestand of the young 2023-24 ECHL season.

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