In light of the Newfoundland Growlers departure, will professional hockey come back to St. John’s?
With the departure of the Newfoundland Growlers this week, the latest chapter of professional hockey in St. John’s closes.
The team deserves applause for what it brought to the city and province-at-large: the Kelly Cup championship in its first year, never missing the playoffs and 271 wins over the five years of competition.
On top of that, it allowed top-notch local players to play professional hockey in their home province in front of family and friends. In total, 15 players from Newfoundland and Labrador wore black and gold.
They also proved to be an integral piece of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ three-tiered development system.
END OF THE LINE?
Still, the folding of the Growlers adds another name to the list of hockey franchises that have departed our shores. The St. John’s Maple Leafs and both iterations of the St. John’s Icecaps were called closer to home by their NHL clubs, while the QMJHL’S St.
John’s Fog Devils were moved to Quebec after three seasons.
The question becomes now, do the events that transpired this week close the book on the viability of pro hockey in the city?
The quick answer is probably yes.
The costs associated with bringing a team in and keeping it here are high, especially when you consider that in the past the home team has been responsible for the cost of travel for visitors coming in.
Then there’s the salaries of staff and the players, as well as ensuring those same people have places to stay when they’re at home.
OPTIONS
However, let’s say it could work — I think it can — and there was somewhere for the crowd at St. John’s Sports and Entertainment and the city to turn. What are the options for filling the 36 nights a year they’ll be missing with the Growlers gone.
Perhaps the most logical answer could be the return of the QMJHL, given its younger player pool and access to local talent. Travel would still be a problem — maybe Corner Brook makes more sense — but a new owner may be able to make it work.
That’s not very likely, though, given the start-up cost and the terrible results from the last go-around. Good teams tend to come in waves in Canadian major junior hockey, especially at the beginning, and it remains to be seen whether the St. John’s hockey populace would be willing to stick with a team that doesn’t win out of the gate.
The AHL is likely out of the question, at least right away, and any bridge with the ECHL is on fire or charred, for the time being anyway, but you can never say never.
I mean, the NHL could be headed to Atlanta for a third go-around, so anything is possible.
ANOTHER SPORT?
It might not even be pro hockey that fills the Mary Brown’s Centre. Maybe something like Major League Lacrosse, arena football, or even the PWHL are sports St. John’s can get behind and bring to town.
One fan floated the idea of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, an 11-team American outfit that is single-a pro hockey, establishing a team here. That one might be the unlikeliest option.
I’d hate to think St. John’s is finished as a pro hockey city. The fans here have proven that they’re passionate about the game and are willing to support a team, especially in the case of the Growlers, where they averaged some 3,700 fans a night.
It won’t be tomorrow or even next week that the city gets its next pro franchise, but I’m sure it’ll come again.
Until then, the Newfoundland Rogues are there to see, as well as local senior and junior hockey.
The sports fans in St. John’s have options. Hopefully, pro hockey is going to be one of them again soon.