Outer Cove native, Dan Cadigan, is turning heads and earning high praise from coaches following the opening weekend of the Newfoundland Growlers hockey season.

Cadigan, who is an RNC officer and captain of the Outer Cove Marines of the Avalon East Senior Hockey League, earned his way into the opening weekend roster with an impressive performance at training camp.

He followed that up with an even more impressive opening weekend against the Reading Royals, according to his coaches, helping the Growlers win all-three games while playing on the top defensive pair.

Growlers Head Coach Matt Cooke says Cadigan’s play was one of the biggest surprises for the team.

He says they respect Cadigan’s full time job as an RNC officer, but it’s clear Cadigan wants to take advantage of the opportunity, practicing with the team all week. That’s something Cooke says the team welcomes with open arms.

Player Development Coach and long-time NHL defenseman, Adam Pardy, says it was no accident that Cadigan was playing against the other team’s top line.

Pardy says what Cadigan exudes as a person is everything they’re trying to teach the younger players about work ethic and being a good teammate.

He jokes that as they go home to take a pre-game nap, Cadigan is heading to work, something he says is “pretty amazing”.