Growlers are be guaranteed to be blue on Dec. 7
Team will be wearing St. John’s Maple Leafs-inspired alternate jersey for game against Worcester
There is nothing about the Newfoundland Growlers’ regular jersey that would indicate the ECHL’S team’s affiliation with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The gold, black and white colour scheme is entirely different than the famous blue and white of the Leafs. The logo, featuring the face of a Newfoundland dog, is unique to the Growlers’ uniform, which doesn’t feature a Maple Leafs logo or emblem on the shoulders.
That will all change on Dec.
7 at Mile One Centre, where the Growlers will take on the Worcester Railers wearing their first-ever alternate jersey, a throwback that pays homage to the American Hockey League’s St. John’s Maple Leafs.
The Growlers’ third jersey is inspired by the garb worn by the AHL Leafs during the 1991-92 season, the first of the team’s 14year stay in St. John’s.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs have shaped the hockey community here in Newfoundland and Labrador so much over the years and we are proud to be able to celebrate the past, present and future of hockey in this province with these beautiful jerseys,” Growlers majority owner Dean Macdonald said in a press release.
Other teams have made the debuts of throwback jerseys time-capsule events, with music, entertainment, and even ticket prices matching those of the year in question, and the Growlers are said to be considering something along those lines. The plans also include having AHL Leafs alumni in town for the Dec. 7 game.
As of now, it will be the only contest that will see the Growlers wearing the Leafs-inspired jersey, although that could change. However many games are involved, it’s expected the game-worn jerseys will be used in raffles, auctions and/or giveaways.
The original plan was for the third jersey to be introduced a week from now when the parent Leafs will be in St. John’s and Paradise for the start of their training camp. However the Growlers expedited the unveiling after becoming aware of a preview screenshot of EA Sports’ NHL 20 video game that shows the Growlers with both their regular and new throwback jerseys. The uniforms and rosters of minor-league teams are included in NHL 20, which is to be officially released next week,
Fans can get their close-up first look at the actual alternate uniform from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15 during a community barbecue in Paradise that’s being held in conjunction with the Maple Leafs’ training camp activities in the town.