The St. John's Junior Caps are moving into N.L.'s biggest hockey barn — or coop

Steve Callahan, head coach of the St. John's Junior Capitals, says the team is already getting support from businesses since announcing its move into the Mary Brown's Centre for next year. (Mark Cumby/CBC)

With the Newfoundland Growlers moving out, the St. John's Junior Caps are moving in.

The team will play at the 6,000-seat Mary Brown's Centre in downtown St. John's next season — a bit of an upgrade in size and amenities, compared with its previous home barn at Twin Rinks, capacity 565.

Head coach Steve Callahan says the timing of the departure of the Growlers lined up perfectly as an opportunity for them to showcase their team and the league.

"It opened up the door and we've been able to secure a real, good, positive schedule that allows us to be able to start our season this year at an incredible facility," Callahan told CBC News on Wednesday.

The Growlers left behind 35 to 40 vacant evenings at the Mary Brown's Centre, St. John's Sports and Entertainment CEO Brent Meade told CBC News at the arena Wednesday.

Now the overseeing body is trying to fill that gap.

St. John's Sports and Entertainment CEO Brent Meade says there's lots of support behind the Junior Caps but they're still looking for an anchor tenant for the arena. (Mark Cumby/CBC)

The deal with the Caps isn't a traditional tenant deal. Meade said the team is renting the ice for the 14 regular season games it has on the schedule next year, most landing on Friday nights.

It's unclear right now what amenities will be available to ticket holders and the team itself.

"It's not a replacement for the Growlers," Meade said. "We will continue to look for an anchor tenant that can get us back to those 35 to 40 nights a year, but we're really excited to do this with the Caps, to try it and see what we can come up with here."

Early support

The chance to play in an arena of that size isn't lost on coaches or players, who say they're not planning to throw it away.

Forward Zac Hawco is entering his final year with the club, making next season that much more special.

"It's kind of surreal, actually. You grow up coming to games here and what might be some of our last year playing, to get to play here is really, really cool," he said. "It's a big deal."

Zac Hawco, who plays forward for the Caps and is entering his final season with the team, says he's excited to play in the much bigger venue. (Mark Cumby/CBC)

Callahan and team management have been pounding the pavement to drum up support for the team.

He said businesses in the downtown St. John's core are already getting behind the team — notably, the Newfoundland Embassy, which was the hub for Growlers fans before and after home games.

"This is a growing process. Would we love to come here on a Friday night and see the place jammed and everyone having a great time? Absolutely," Callahan said.

WATCH | Hockey returns to the Mary Brown's Centre next year:

"We're being approached. It's a lot of new starts. People are excited about it, which is great, and it's something that we want to see flourish as well."

The St. John's Junior Caps won the league's championship this year.

Hawco said the move is a little bittersweet since some teammates are aging out and won't be back to experience the big arena next season.

"The guys who are leaving, who were over-agers last year, if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have this opportunity," he said. "We won last year, they were a huge, huge reason for that. Without them we wouldn't get to play here."

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