The Newfoundland Growlers are the ECHL’s Kelly Cup champions, capturing the province’s first professional sports championship.
The Growlers defeated the Toledo Walleye 4-3 to win the best-of-seven series 4-2 and bring home the Kelly Cup in their inaugural season.
◾️KELLY CUP CHAMPIONS ◾️
YES B'Y
Someone call GEORGE STREET 'cause the KELLY CUP is getting SCREECHED IN TONIGHT!#StandPROUD pic.twitter.com/4eXBi0pWQZ
— Newfoundland Growlers (@NLGrowlers) June 5, 2019
Fans at Mile One were rocking with a deafening energy, making as much noise as possible in support of the home team, while waving the white “Stand Proud” rally towels placed on every seat.
(Photo by Amy Fitzpatrick.)
It was the most electric and energetic crowd the Mile One has seen in a long time.
It was a fast-paced, back and forth first period that saw a couple of penalties on each side. It was the Growlers who struck first with just over a minute left, when Matt Bradley fired one in off a pass from Zach O’Brien. The Growlers jumped out to a hot start in the second, when Josh Kestner hammered home a rebound in front, giving the Growlers a 2-0 lead just over a minute into the second frame.
MATT BRADLEY SCORES!!!
1-0 Growlers with 1:29 in the first.
The roof just blew off this place. @VOCMNEWS #StandPROUD pic.twitter.com/B7O3EokYoW
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphyVOCM) June 4, 2019
We have a good goal!
2-0 Growlers!
CROWD = BUZZING @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/HCYtn8ghIc
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphyVOCM) June 4, 2019
The Walleye were quick to pull back within one, responding with their first of the night just moments later. Giorgio Estephan restored the Growlers two-goal lead with just under ten minutes left in the second, blowing the roof off the Mile One once again.
(Photo by Amy Fitzpatrick.)
The Growlers didn’t stop there as an explosive second period saw the home team go up 4-1. The Walleye drew within two, scoring just over 5 minutes in, making it a 4-2 game. However, that would prove to be it, as the Walleye wouldn’t find the back of the net again.
The crowd was electric as the final seconds ticked off the clock, crowning your Newfoundland Growlers as Kelly Cup champions in their inaugural season.
THE NEWFOUNDLAND GROWLERS ARE KELLY CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!! @VOCMNEWS
— Ben Murphy (@BenMurphyVOCM) June 5, 2019
(Photo by Amy Fitzpatrick.)
(Photo by Amy Fitzpatrick.)
