The expectation is Adam Pardy will be the Newfoundland Growlers’ first-ever captain, but we may have to wait a little longer before we actually see him with a ‘C’ on his jersey.
Party has been wearing a red no-contact jersey in practice, the result of what Clowe describes as “a small issue” that kept him out of Thursday’s starting lineup.Pardy, who is dealing with an undisclosed injury, didn’t dress for the Growlers’ inaugural ECHL exhibition game against the Brampton Beast Thursday night in Stephenville. And according to head coach Ryane Clowe, the 34-year-old defenceman from Bonavista might even be questionable for the Growlers’ regular-season debut at Mile One Centre a week from now.
“The other thing is we’re trying to get Adam up to speed as far as his conditioning goes. He was a late signing … he wasn’t sure whether he was going to play this season.“But we wanted to make sure he’s on this trip and skating,” said Clowe. “We hope he’s ready for opening night and we think he will. But we’ll see.
The Growlers finish off their exhibition schedule with games against the Beast in Deer Lake tonight and in Clarenville — about 110 kilometres from Bonavista — on Sunday afternoon.
“So I really want to make sure he’s ready to go. I don’t think it’s a necessity for him to play the preseason, especially when there are decisions we have to make on other guys.”
Nobody wore a 'C' for the Growlers Thursday. Newfoundlanders James Melindy, the defenceman from Goulds, and forward Zach O’Brien of St. John’s had assistant captains’ ‘A’s’, as did veteran rearguard Eric Gudbranson.
Twitter@ telybrendan
