by Mike Ries, Staff Writer, AHL Report

BRAMPTON, ON. — The Brampton Beast played their last game of a four game home-stand on Sunday looking to bounce back from a 5-3 loss on Friday night to Kalamazoo Wings. The loss to the Wings was the first game of the season for the Beast without recording a point. It was also the first game this season that ended in regulation time.

Goaltender Zach Fucale has looked more impressive with every start with the Beast. As long as he remains assigned to the ECHL, he should help Brampton continue to march up the standings. With Fucale and veteran Bryan Pitton, the Beast have one of the most formidable goaltending tandems in the ECHL. Pitton is the former 2006 fifth round, 133rd pick overall of the Edmonton Oilers.

First year Beast player, David Pacan has excelled in his short time with Brampton this season. The veteran of the ECHL (253 games played) is power forward who brings much needed size to the Beast at the forward position. To date, Pacan is tied for second in points on the team, recording eight points in six games.

Another first year Beast player David Vallorani, who spent the last two seasons in Europe, is currently the team leader in points. The diminutive forward is solidly entrenched on the top line for Brampton.

The final game of the homestand saw the Brampton Beast take on the Fort Wayne Komets at the Powerade Center. The Komets are the only independent team in the ECHL and play what can only be described as old time hockey. It is a heavy style that is fast becoming the norm in professional hockey featuring former Pittsburgh Penguin goaltender Eric Hartzell.

Despite outshooting the Komets by a wide margin the Beast only held a one goal advantage at 3-2 after 40 minutes. The Beast held on for a well deserved 5-4 overtime victory. Brampton has averaged four goals a game early into their season.

Brampton now heads out on the road for a pair of games against Elmira Jackals before returning home to face the Wheeling Nailers this will be a tough test for this team as they play those games in consecutive nights.