The Newfoundland Growlers have a new head coach.
Eric Wellwood becomes the third person to take the reins of the Growlers, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ ECHL affiliate.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to coach in this league with a top-notch organization as the next head coach of the Growlers,” said Wellwood. “I can’t wait to get to St. John’s and meet the staff, players and the fans.”
🚨 WELCOME TO THE ROCK 🚨
Eric Wellwood has been named head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers, becoming the third head coach in franchise history. #StandOnGuardhttps://t.co/tYozStXVgL
— Newfoundland Growlers (@NLGrowlers) August 20, 2021
The 31-year-old Wellwood joins the Growlers after three seasons with the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League where he began as an associate coach before taking over as head coach in the 2018-19 season. The following year he led the club to its best season in franchise history.
Before that, the Windsor, Ontario native spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Oshawa Generals (OHL), where he was part of the winning Memorial Cup team in 2014-15.
As a player, Wellwood was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Draft. He would go on to skate in 31 NHL regular season games and 11 playoff games with the Flyers in addition to 164 American Hockey League games with the Adirondack Phantoms.