FTB: Growlers get going

Good morning Toronto Maple Leafs fans!

Tonight the youngest member of the Maple Leafs family begins their season. Its hockey night in Newfoundland!

The ECHL Newfoundland Growlers are kicking off their fifth season with a three game series against the former Leafs ECHL team Reading Royals

The 'dogs are in search of their second Kelley Cup after winning it in their inaugural season. They have a new head coach with forme NHLer Matt Cooke behind the bench, taking over from Eric Wellwood who moved up to the Toronto Marlies before taking time off for personal reasons.

There are big expectations coming off last seasons 48-22-2 record, and making the Eastern Conference Finals the past two seasons, losing both series to the Florida Everblades.

Day one Growler Todd Skirving is back again this season, and 2021 6th round Leafs pick Vyacheslav Peksa is sharing the net with returning goalie Dryden McKay and Newfoundland Senior goalie Doug Pippy.

The Growlers have also released a digital magazine previewing the upcoming season:

Opening weekend is highlighted by the Newfoundland Sports Hall of Fame "Kitchen Party" on Saturday night and Sunday is "Jamarama Night", so all fans are invited to wear their pyjamas to the game, and there are even Growlers onesies for sale with $5 from each sold going to Janeway Children's Hospital. Sadly they do not come in adult sizes.

Game time is 7PM NDT, 5:30PM Toronto time, and you can stream it at the below link:

The Maple Leafs played the Florida Panthers last night, and uh. Yeah.

No one gets to tell Auston Matthews what to do.

Auston Matthews LOL pic.twitter.com/4kFrVIPBi9
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 19, 2023

Have you ever forgotten your jersey when going to a game? Not wanted to drop a couple hundred on one? No worries, jersey rentals are coming!

https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/wild/meet-the-guy-with-a-truck-full-of-rentable-wild-jerseys-near-xcel-energy-center

What the heck are the Sharks doing?

After informing Labanc’s camp that he’ll be placed on waivers today, #sjsharks have reversed course and Labanc is now expected to make his season debut tonight.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 19, 2023

Stan Smyl will forever be a Canuck, and he's happy to stay with the team in his new role.

Attendance issues? But when the team arrived I was told over and over and over and over and over and over that these are the best ever fans to cheer for a hockey team, the market is strong and it was all evil Gary Bettmans fault the original Jets left and no other possible reason. How dare you TSN. How dare you besmirch the good fans of Winnipeg.