The Newfoundland Growlers, affiliated with 13 Stanley Cup winning Toronto Maple Leafs, came out of the move of the IceCaps to a different arena and the team owner wanted to find another franchise with the AHL or another league.
They are members in the North Division of the Eastern Conference and are affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League and Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. 13 (191718, 192122, 193132, 194142, 194445, 194647, 194748, 194849, 195051, 196162, 196263, 196364, 196667) Danny Williams, who ran the IceCaps and owned the team's intellectual property, stated his intentions to find another franchise with the AHL or another league. Among the names considered for the new franchise were Shamrocks, Storm, Regiment, and Newfoundland Growlers. The team announced its name as the Newfoundland Growlers on May 22, the name in reference to the Newfoundland dog, specifically the World War I mascot of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, Sable Chief. In July 2016, the Montreal Canadiens, who owned the franchise used by the club, confirmed the relocation of the team to the newly constructed Place Bell arena in Laval, Quebec, for the start of the 201718 season. 
