Super Newfs getting back up to top speed in third season with Growlers

Newfoundland natives Zach O’Brien and Marcus Power came into the 2021-22 season second and third respectively for all-time regular season points in franchise history, trailing only former Growler Brady Ferguson.

Following a relatively slow start to the year for the Super Newfs — a nickname for the pair coined by team broadcaster Chris Ballard — a hot five game stretch on the team’s most recent road trip where the two combined for 17 points has Power tied with Ferguson for 2nd place on 121 all-time points, with O’Brien leapfrogging the pair into first place with his 135 total points.

A first pro hat trick for Power on November 24 against the Adirondack Thunder and a four-goal outing from O’Brien vs. the Worcester Railers on November 27 stand as the two crown jewels of the Growlers five game unbeaten run away from home. It was the collective effort of the group however, not his lines personal milestones, that O’Brien spoke to following his five-point game.

“We’ve got a pretty young team and to have a lot of road games at the start of the season is tough,” said O’Brien on Sunday evening in Worcester. “For guys to play the way they’ve been playing, it’s really impressive and we’re just looking to keep building on this.”

As assistant captain and one of the core leaders of this Newfoundland team, it’s not surprising O’Brien opted to give kudos to his teammates rather than pat himself on the back following both his own four goal performance and Power’s hat trick four nights prior — all this while acknowledging his contributions to the cause in a tongue in cheek fashion.

“I was definitely happy for him, he’s had quite a few two goal games in his pro career for sure, so for him to get a hat trick it was pretty special,” said O’Brien of Power’s three goal night last Thursday night in Glens Falls. “When I saw the goalie come out, I was kind of force feeding him a little bit, maybe a couple risky plays but I’m happy he was able to finish it and hopefully a few more of those for him to come this season.”

Line mates since their major midget days with the St. John’s Fog Devils AAA team, O’Brien and Power both found themselves looking for a playing opportunity last season when the Growlers opted out of the 2020-21 season due to ongoing complications surrounding the pandemic.

Naturally, the pair of St. John’s products packed their bags and headed to Germany together where they suited up for DEL2 outfit EV Landshut, finishing as the two top scorers for their club and inside the league wide top 10 for the 2020-21 campaign.

Returning from a successful stint overseas and back in their hometown in search of bringing a second Kelly Cup to the city in 2022, you can expect O’Brien and Power to continue breaking individual franchise records along the way.

The Growlers opened a six-game homestand with a 4-2 win over the Reading Royals on Wednesday night at Mary Brown’s Centre. A point from Marcus Power on Friday would see him move solely into second place on the team’s all-time scoring list.Single games tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased online via nlgrowlers.com/singletickets, at the Mary Brown's Centre Box Office in person, or by phone at 709-576-7657