Home Ice Advantage
By Pam PardyAs Todd Skirving prepared to suit up for his fifth season with the Newfoundland Growlers, an ECHL franchise of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he admitted to experiencing a somewhat healthy case of the jitters. âItâs always exciting, or maybe it is nervous energy, whatever you want to call it. Just getting to that first game and getting on the ice with the guys and just seeing what we know and seeing how we play, and just kind of seeing what we got to offer is exciting. Itâll be interesting to see how we stack up early on because we obviously want to win some games,â the Thunder Bay, ON, native told Downhome at the start of the 2023-24 season.Since then and up to presstime, the Growlers have won five of their first 12 games and Skirving has been named team captain. Heâs only the second in Growlerâs franchise history, following in James Melindyâs skates.Fans have known #15 since the Growlers won the Kelly Cup in 2019, an adrenalin-fuelled way to finish the franchiseâs first season. After six seasons in the ECHL, and the last four with the Growlers, Todd admits heâs âat the tail endâ of his on-ice career and heâs taking things âyear by year⦠Iâm just really excited to see how this season goes,â he says with a smile. Todd finished out last season second in the club with 31 goals. Heading into the new season, he was a returning player and experienced teammate with a bunch of new faces. Though he wasnât yet captain, he sounded like one back in October. âThe players that we have are skilled players and now itâs just trying to take them under my wing and help them out as much as possible - help make them comfortable out in the community and in the locker room, and then hope that translates into comfort on the ice, too,â he said.The Growlers have a new head coach this season, Stanley Cup champion Matt Cooke, who says about Todd, âHeâs been making me feel at home ever since I got here. Heâs probably the biggest leader in any room - he does everything he can on the ice and off the ice.â He adds, âObviously, [Todd] is a guy that considers himself from Newfoundland now. Heâs really ingrained himself into the community and thatâs just who Todd is. Heâs a guy thatâs willing to do whatever it takes to be successful.âOver the years, Todd has become as much of a fan favourite off the ice as on for his contributions to the community. From clearing snow for a neighbour, to donating time and talent to a worthwhile cause, Todd is there when called upon. âWhen you give to other people, it helps create a better environment at the rink, a better environment in the community, and creates a better world in general. Thatâs all Iâm trying to do,â he says. For the last two years, heâs been heavily involved in prostate cancer awareness. He partnered with graphic designer Paul Loder, The Newfoundland Embassy and Saltwater Designs to create and sell a specially designed Skirving T-shirt (the âSkirvyâ), with proceeds benefitting the Newfoundland and Labrador Prostate Cancer Support Groups. âWe wanted to make sure all the money raised was put right back into the province of Newfoundland,â he says proudly.Like hundreds of thousands of men worldwide, Todd also takes part in Movember (a global moustache growing challenge to raise awareness and funds for menâs health issues). It became even more personal last year when his father, Rod Skirving, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.âDadâs doing better, but itâs all about raising awareness and allowing people to feel comfortable having those important conversations,â says Todd.Todd, a multi-time nominee for the ECHL Community Service Award since arriving in St. Johnâs in 2018, concludes by saying that heâs just happy to be playing the sport that he loves in a place he has come to adore. Having that âCâ on his chest makes it all the sweeter. âI am ecstatic to be continuing my professional hockey career here in Newfoundland, a place thatâs truly become a second home.â
