It may be a little bit of a stretch, but it can be said a former member of the Newfoundland Growlers has played in the National Hockey League.
That's defenceman Timothy Liljegren, who made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Leafs' loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Saturday night in Toronto.
The 20-year-old Swede appeared in one game for the Growlers last season on what could be technically deemed a conditioning assignment from the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies. However, after Liljegren suffered a knee injury in that game against the Maine Mariners, he returned to Toronto.
Goaltender Eamon McAdam, who was with the Growlers in 2018-19, did dress for a game with the Maple Leafs as an emergency backup early last season, but did not play. That makes Liljegren officially the first ex-Growler to appear in the NHL.
Liljegren was returned to the Marlies on Sunday.
Twitter: @telysports
