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Brampton Beast Game Preview: Getting Ready to Roar

By Omar L |
BRAMPTON, ON - MARCH 21:A reminder on the doorway leading to the ice. The Brampton Beast hockey club, playing out of the Powerade Centre, is in its first year in the Central Hockey League. (Jim Rankin/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
BRAMPTON, ON - MARCH 21:A reminder on the doorway leading to the ice. The Brampton Beast hockey club, playing out of the Powerade Centre, is in its first year in the Central Hockey League. (Jim Rankin/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

The Montreal Canadiens ECHL affiliate Brampton Beast will open their season Saturday night against the Adirondack Thunder.

The Montreal Canadiens have already been playing for the last few weeks. At the AHL level, the Laval Rocket has worked themselves out to a 3-0 start. Now it’s time for the ECHL to get things going. The Brampton Beast are set to open their season against the Adirondack Thunder.

It was a year of success for Brampton last year. The team made their way to the playoffs after finishing second in the North Division with a 40-24-8 record. With a lot of returning players and some new faces, the hope will be that last season won’t be a one-off.

Although Brampton’s top scorers David Vallorani and David Pacan won’t be around, they still have a number of skilled players. In particular captain Brandon Marino and Brandon MacLean who each had 72 and 55 point seasons respectively.

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The new faces on the team won’t be too new if you’ve followed players in the Habs system. Thomas Ebbing, Jordan Boucher, and Michael McNiven will be in the line-up as well. McNiven has shown a lot of growth in the few years since signing with the Montreal Canadiens. Andrew D’Agnostini will get some looks in net for the Beast, but McNiven truly has a chance to be the number one goaltender for the team.

Ebbing also has the potential to be a top scorer on the team. You wouldn’t expect that by looking at his college numbers, but his play at the Rookie Tournament could be a sign of what is yet to come for him.

It’s always dangerous to underestimate an opponent, but Brampton has had a lot of success against the Thunder in the past. Last season they were 5-0-1 against them. If that doesn’t instil confidence, then I don’t know what will. Hopefully the Beast can get their season going the right way with the win. They definitely have the pieces to do it.

Next: How David Schlemko Will Spend His Saturday

How do you think the game will go? Let us know what you think down below.

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