Growlers honouring their best for 2019-20
Johnston, Gahagen, Estephan and Brazeau collect hardware so far
There’s no formal awards ceremony, of course, but that doesn’t mean the Newfoundland Growlers are not honouring their best for the abbreviated 2019-20 ECHL season.
The Growlers are announcing year-end awards via social media, with the latest winner being Garrett Johnston Tuesday night, taking home the Marco Group top defenceman award.
Johnston, from Winnipeg, enjoyed his second season in St. John’s, playing 57 of 60 games, which was welcomed on a blueline hobbled by injuries all season.
Johnston had three goals and 23 assists, and finished the year at plus-18.
Monday night, Parker Gahagen was named the team’s Molson-coors top goalie.
Gahagen appeared in 15 games for the Growlers, going 10-4 with a 1.81 goals against average and .939 save percentage.
It was a pretty remarkable season for the 26-year-old from Amherst, N.Y., just outside Buffalo. He started in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Evansville Thunderbolts, was brought in by the Growlers in early December, and along with Angus Redmond formed a goaltending tandem that helped Newfoundland tie an ECHL record for consecutive home-ice wins (18) while moving near the top of the league's overall standings.
His performance earned him a contract promotion. Originally signed to an ECHL deal, Gahagen was bumped up to an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies in January.
This year’s story is part of an even more remarkable career history. Recruited by the U.S. Military Academy, Gahagen played collegiately for Army and was a 2017 Hobey Baker finalist as the top player in NCAA Division One hockey.
But after graduation, Gahagen eventually had to fulfill his requirements as a West Point graduate and commissioned officer. That meant he missed the better part of two seasons while on active duty.
Gahagen is still a First Lieutenant and officially on duty, but it is as part of the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program, which allows servicemen and servicewomen who are potential Olympic athletes for upcoming Summer or Winter
Games to compete in their sports or discipline.
Last week, Giorgio Estephan and Justin Brazeau won the Hickman Auto Group top forward and North Atlantic top rookie awards.
Estephan, a second-year pro from the Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes, was third in team scoring with 18 goals and 52 points in 44 games, trailing Brady Ferguson and Brazeau.
Brazeau, a first-year pro from the Ontario Hockey League’s North Bay Battalion, led the Growlers with 27 goals. He totaled 55 points in 57 games, finishing second in ECHL rookie scoring.
The Growlers’ Community Player of the Year will be announced today (Wednesday), with the Johnson Insurance MVP awarded Thursday. The Fan’s Choice Award will be announced Friday.