[2] The search for a new professional hockey team for St. John's began after the Montreal Canadiens announced in July 2016 that their affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League (AHL), would move to the newly constructed Place Bell arena in Laval, Quebec for the start of the 2017–18 season.

[3][4] From that point two rival groups formed: the operators of the St. John's Edge basketball team, which played at the Mile One Centre, who wanted a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) franchise for the arena; and another, led by local businessman Dean MacDonald and Glenn Stanford of the former IceCaps, who were looking for an ECHL team.

[5][6] The ECHL franchise was conditionally approved but was delayed in late January 2018 after the dispute with the St. John's Edge ownership group over arena rights went to arbitration.

[7] After the lease issue was settled, the ECHL officially approved St. John's application on March 13, 2018, placing the team in the North Division of the Eastern Conference for the 2018–19 season.

[11] John Snowden was added as assistant coach on July 19 after serving in the same capacity for the Maple Leafs' previous ECHL affiliate, the Orlando Solar Bears.

[13] In January 2019, Clowe stepped down due to health concerns and was replaced by assistant coach John Snowden.

[25] However, the operations of the arena was continued to be criticized by DSE and tickets were not being sold a week before their first scheduled home game of the 2021–22 season.

[26] On October 27, 2021, citing workplace harassment of arena employees, the city voted to evict the team, which elicited the threat of a lawsuit from DSE.

[nb 1] Contrarily, all Growlers players under an AHL or NHL structured contract were deemed ineligible to play the six remaining games of the 2023–24 ECHL season.