The OFFICIAL podcast of the ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Newfoundland Growlers. Hosted by play-by-play broadcaster Chris Ballard, every week Chris sits down with Growlers players, staff and special guests to discuss ALL THINGS GROWLERS. We're talking about news and notes, stories from the road, behind-the-scenes action and everything else YOU want to hear about. Episode highlights include a Feature Interview, fan Q+A and a special 'Growlerville' feature, highlighting the great hockey communities from around Newfoundland and Labrador.
Episode 14 - Defenseman Evan Neugold | On Discovering Hockey in Singapore, Choosing Hockey Over Golf and Surviving Snowmageddon
On Episode 14 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris sits down with self-proclaimed late-bloomer Evan Neugold. The pair discuss Evan's childhood journey which included stops in Washington, Singapore and Minnesota before finally settling in his home state of Connecticut.
Evan talks about failing to make his high school hockey team until his junior year and how an unfortunate bus accident during his SPHL days helped convert him from a forward to one of the ECHL's premier rearguards.
His path through the ranks of professional hockey isn't your typical one, as he paid out of pocket to earn his first look with an ECHL club.
In this week's Growlers Nation Q+A, Evan talks about how the Jellybean Row houses inspired his cross-continent move to Newfoundland and Labrador and how Newfoundland legend Adam Pardy helped shape his career.
Oh, and his recipe for a recovery shake might just be the best in professional hockey.
12 Feb 2020
Episode 13 - Forward Trey Bradley | On Finding Ice in Florida, Growing Up With an All-Star Father and Preferring the Snow to the Heat
On Episode 13 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris caught up with rookie speedster Trey Bradley. In this episode, Trey looks back on his days in the American junior hockey system, including playing on a line with Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor and former Growler J.J. Piccinich with Youngstown in the USHL. He explains how an arena malfunction may have helped his USHL squad to a Clark Cup title.
The pair went on to break down Trey's college career at Colorado College in following his brother's footsteps and what it meant to beat rival Denver in one of the oldest rivalries in all of college hockey, the Battle for the Gold Pan.
Trey opens up about growing up with NHL All Star and former Toronto Maple Leaf Brian Bradley as a father and how he was instrumental in helping Trey sign his first professional contract with the Toronto Marlies.
Ever hear Trey or his linemates Riley Woods and Justin Brazeau refer to teammate Todd Skirving as their father? Find out why in this week's episode.
29 Jan 2020
Episode 12 - Forward Aaron Luchuk | On Winning the Memorial Cup, Signing His 1st NHL Contract and Being Traded to the Leafs
On Episode 12 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris sits down with Growlers forward and second-year pro from Kingston, Ontario Aaron Luchuk. In this week's episode, the two chat long about Aaron and the 2017 Memorial Cup Champions, the Windsor Spitfires and their unbelievable run for junior hockey's ultimate prize, including a 44-day (!!) break between the end of the playoffs and the beginning of the Memorial Cup.
The pair chatted about the major milestone moves in Aaron's career, including signing his first NHL contract, being traded from Windsor to the Barrie Colts during his junior days as well as from the Ottawa Senators to his childhood favourite team the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In this week's Growlers Nation 'Growlerville' Q+A, Aaron fills us in on his experience with Newfoundland Weather, why he hasn't yet tried Jiggs Dinner and why he wasn't able to find storm chips in his local grocery store.
15 Jan 2020
Episode 11 - Angus Redmond - On His Junior Days in the BCHL, How He Earned His Nickname and His NL Experience
In Episode 11 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris sits down with netminder Angus Redmond. They discuss his junior days playing in his home province of British Columbia in the BCHL and his transition into his one stellar season in the NCAA with Michigan Tech where he made 38 (!!) straight starts. Angus shared his thoughts on why he loves playing in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and working with the Growlers coaching staff, why he chooses Bauer goalie equipment and when he first got his nickname 'Beef'. Angus opened up about his experience through his many stops in the ECHL and why he considers the Growlers to be the hardest working team he's ever played on.
2 Jan 2020
Episode 10 - Forward Scott Pooley - On his Kelly Cup Experience, His Relationship with his Hockey Family and Empty Netters
Happy New Year! In Episode 10, Chris kicks off 2020 with high-scoring forward Scott Pooley. The two sit down and discuss Scott's favourite moments of the Kelly Cup run, including his overtime winner in Game Two of the Kelly Cup Finals. Thanks to a question from a teammate, Scott explains how he became a sniper, both against goaltenders and into the empty net. Scott opened up about how his experience playing junior in Fort McMurray, Alberta helped prepare him to begin his pro career in Newfoundland and shares some insight as to what NCAA jerseys are hanging in the Pooley family basement, from Scott's collection and from his father Paul, an NCAA legend himself.
12 Dec 2019
Episode 9 - Forward Justin Brazeau - On His Transition to the Pro Ranks, His Minor Midget Growth Spurt and Learning Math Through the Game of Crib
In Episode 9 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris sits down with 6' 6" (almost 6' 7") rookie sensation Justin Brazeau. The two chat about Justin's sizzling junior career with the OHL's North Bay Battalion, growing up in New Liskeard, Ontario and watching QMJHL games in nearby Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Justin shared his thoughts on perfecting his skating with the help of Leafs skating guru Barb Underhill and lets us know why he and his linemates Trey Bradley and Riley Woods have come to call Todd Skirving 'Dad'.
28 Nov 2019
Episode 8 - Defenseman Alex Gudbranson - On His Hockey Family, His Affinity for Coffee the Growlers Brotherhood
In Episode 8 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris caught up with Growlers defenseman Alex Gudbranson. The boy chat about the tight-knit 'Brotherhood' that led the Growlers to the first professional hockey championship in Newfoundland and Labrador history and how and why it was hard to leave the Rock following the club's Kelly Cup run. Alex sheds some light on how he grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan growing up just outside Ottawa, Ontario and his deep family roots in the game of hockey and playing with his brother NHLer Erik Gudbranson. Of course Alex had to explain how he grew his famous moustache, and as a fan of the television show 'The Office', he shares his thoughts on who is the 'Michael Scott' of the Growlers locker room.
14 Nov 2019
Episode 7 - Forward Riley Woods - Ranking Movember 'Staches, His First Chel Rating and The Team's Loudest Snorer
In Episode 7 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris sat down with rookie sensation Riley Woods, where the pair chatted about playing junior hockey in his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan, his former WHL teammate and former Growler Hudson Elynuik, his first pro road trip and what squares he has left on his rookie 'bingo' card. In this week's Growlerville segment, Chris and Riley continued their conversation about his Newfoundland experience during Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp, his 'Screech In' experience and his favourite Newfoundland tunes.
30 Oct 2019
Episode 6 - Growlers Goaltender Patrick Munson | On His Bumpy Road Through the NCAA, Beginning His Pro Career in England and Comparing Alaska to Newfoundland
In Episode Six of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris sat down with goaltender Patrick 'Packy' Munson to talk about his late arrival to Growlers training camp, his pre-game routine in the Bob Cole Media Centre at Mile One, playing junior hockey in Fairbanks, Alaska, his journey through three schools in the NCAA, how he watches his fellow goaltenders on television, his affinity for goalie gear and how he broke his hand in his sleep.
In this week's Growlerville segment, Chris caught up with Nick Mercer, multimedia journalist with the Central Voice to talk about the thriving hockey communities of Bay Roberts and Harbour Grace, the rivalries and the local legends that keep the passion of hockey alive and well in Conception Bay North and the impact that local Stanley Cup champion Danny Cleary has had on the community.
23 Oct 2019
Episode 5 - ECHL Hall of Famer and Corner Brook legend Darren Colbourne | On the Growlers Inaugural Season, Tearing up the ECHL and An Arena Collapse?
In Episode Five of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris caught up with Corner Brook, NL native and ECHL Hall of Famer Darren Colbourne. The two discuss how the ECHL has changed since the 'red line days', comparing ECHL hockey to Newfoundland senior hockey, the Growlers' impressive inaugural season, each of Darren's stops in the ECHL and how close he got to playing the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club during his time in Augusta. In this week's 'Growlerville' segment, Darren talks about the hockey pride in his hometown of Corner Brook, THE senior hockey destination in the province.
16 Oct 2019
Episode 4 - Defenseman Joe Duszak | On Cracking Jokes, his Superstitious Nature and Long Island Bagels
On Episode 4 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris catches up with rookie defenseman Joe Duszak to talk about the New York Yankees, his second love of broadcasting, his childhood best friend Toronto Marlies sniper Jeremy Bracco, being courted by the Maple Leafs as a college free agent and his simple tastes in food.
In this week's Growlerville segment, Chris waxes poetic about his one-time home and Newfoundland and Labrador senior hockey mecca, the great town of Clarenville.
9 Oct 2019
Episode 3 - Forward Giorgio Estephan | A Foodie, a Gamer and a Sniper on the Ice
In Episode 3 of the Growlers Nation Podcast, Chris caught up with Giorgio Estephan, one of ten returning players from last season's Kelly Cup Championship squad. The two chatted about last season's big championship, the upcoming 2019-20 season, his love of food, his first days on skates at the West Edmonton Mall and which of his teammates are best at Fortnite.
In this week's Growlerville segment, Growlers' Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations and Alternate Governor Trevor Murphy stopped by to talk about the sense of pride and community in his hometown of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador.
3 Oct 2019
Episode 2 – Forward Todd Skirving | His Day with the Kelly Cup and Being a Community Ambassador in St. John’s
Growlers broadcaster Chris Ballard tees up Episode Two of the Growlers Nation Podcast with the pride of Thunder Bay, Ontario and all-around good fella Todd Skirving. Bals and ‘Warty’ talk about turning the page from the Kelly Cup season, his experiences at Toronto Marlies Training Camp and what motivates him to be the community leader he is. In this week’s ‘Growlerville’ feature, the boys highlight the capital city of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
26 Sept 2019
Episode 1 - Captain James Melindy | Kelly Cup Recap, Goulds Rulez and a Haunted Hotel
Growlers play-by-play broadcaster Chris Ballard kicks off the inaugural episode of the Growlers Nation Podcast with a Feature Interview with Growlers captain James Melindy. Tune in as they recap the entire Kelly Cup Playoffs as well as answer some fan questions, including a story of a haunted hotel in one of the road cities. In our first 'Growlerville' feature, Melindy highlights his hometown of Goulds, Newfoundland and Labrador.
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