N.L. Sports Notebook: Former Newfoundland Growlers will meet in the ECHL conference finals
This week sees the return of the N.L. Sports Notebook.
It contains some shorter stories on former Newfoundland Growlers, a couple of Canadian appointments and one goaltender who is turning heads in the QMJHL.
THESE GROWLERS ARE STILL IN THE FIGHT
It’s got to feel weird for former Newfoundland Growlers captain Todd Skirving.
Sure, he’s back in the ECHL Eastern Conference Finals for a third straight year, but it isn’t as a member of the team he’s played for the last five seasons.
Instead of the Growlers, Skirving is headed to the conference finals with the Florida Everblades after they eliminated the Orlando Solar Bears recently.
As it turns out, Skirving and the Everblades are used to being on opposite sides of the Eastern Conference Finals as it was Florida who eliminated the Growlers in each of the previous two years.
Skirving isn’t the only former Growler left in the ECHL playoffs.
The Toledo Walleye and Kansas City Mavericks have four former Growlers in their lineups between them. The Walleye counts Orrin Centazzo and Riley Mccourt amongst their ranks, while Kansas City have Nolan Walker and Jeremy Mckenna in their lineup.
Meanwhile, the Norfolk Admirals feature Simon Kubicek on defence.
It should also be noted that one-time Growler Justin Brazeau has become a difference maker with the Boston Bruins in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He had 55 points in 57 games with the Growlers in the 20192020 season. Through seven playoff games with the Bruins, Brazeau has one goal and one assist.
MERCER’S WEARING CANADA’S COLOUR
Bay Roberts forward Dawson Mercer is the sole player from this province suiting up with Canada at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships.
It’s his second time wearing the red and white.
Through two games (both Canadian wins), Dawson has already found himself on the scoresheet after he scored once in the team’s 5-1 win over Denmark.
This Mercer stops pucks Speaking of Mercers, Dawson’s younger brother Riley Mercer is starring for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL’S Gilles-courteau Trophy Finals.
A goaltender with the club, Riley as his team up 2-0 in the finals over the Baie Comeau Drakkar after posting a pair of shutouts in the first two games of the series.
In Game 1, he posted a 43 save shutout. Riley followed that up with a 33 save performance in Game 2.
The series now shifts to Drummondville for at least the next two games. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night (results not known prior to deadline).
Riley isn’t the only Newfoundlander in the finals. He is joined by St. John’s defenceman Matteo Rotondi on the Voltigeurs, who has six points this postseason.
The Drakkar can count North River’s Jabez Seymour in their lineup.
SWIMMING AGAINST THE BEST
The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Swim Trials got underway on Monday at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre and will run until May 19.
At the trials there are some 857 athletes from 151 clubs across Canada vying to represent the country at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games being held in Paris this summer.
Of those competing, there are four swimmers from this province trying to secure their spot. At the top of the list is arguably longtime Canadian paralympic national swim team member Katarina Roxon.
The Kippens native is vying for her third straight Paralympic Summer Games. She previously won gold at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and bronze at the 2020 Games held in Tokyo.
Kilbride swimmer Chris Weeks is also hoping secure his spot on the Olympic team. He spent this swim season tearing through the pool for the Memorial Sea-hawks.
Weeks was not only the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men’s rookie of the year and the men’s swimmer of the year, but he was also the Usports men’s rookie of the year.
Also swimming at the trials are Darcy Butler (Mount Pearl Marlins) and Aidan Carroll (St. John’s Legends).
POMEROY SHORTLISTED FOR CANADA
Placentia’s Jordan Pomeroy was among eight players identified as core pieces for the Canadian senior men’s softball team that will compete at the 2024 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup group stage that is earmarked for Prince Albert, Saskatchewan later this summer.
He was one of eight core players selected for the roster by Softball Canada.
Pomeroy continues a proud tradition of softball players from this province starring for the national team on the international stage.
It remains to be seen if Pomeroy will be joined by others from this province, although you have to figure the likes of Sean Cleary, Ryan Boland, Jason Hill, Colin Walsh, amongst others will be in the mix.
The final eight spots will be selected after an development camp this weekend in British Columbia.
Sticking with softball, Shea Heights umpire Kearney O’keefe is off to her first international assignment later this year.
O’keefe has been asked to work the 2024 WBSC Europe Women’s Softball European Championships being held in the Netherlands in September.