The Newfoundland Growlers have a new head coach.
Matt Cooke becomes the fourth boss behind the bench in the franchise’s five-year history.
The 45-year-old brings with him more than a thousand games of NHL experience over a 16-year career with Vancouver, Washington, Pittsburgh and Minnesota. He’s also won two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh and has more than 100 playoff games under his belt.
Cooke, meanwhile, will have a little local expertise to assist him this season.
Bonavista native, former NHLer, and former Growler Adam Pardy has been named development coach for the club.
The 39-year-old had a 14-year career in the NHL, with stints in Buffalo, Calgary, Dallas, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Nashville. He last played professionally in 2019 when he won the Kelly Cup with the Growlers in the team’s first year.
The team returns to the Mary Brown’s Centre to open the 2023-24 ECHL season on Friday, Oct. 20, hosting the Reading Royals.