Brampton Beast Media Release
BRAMPTON, ONTARIO – The Brampton Beast, ECHL affiliate of the St. John’s IceCaps and Montreal Canadiens, announce today several transactions ahead of the second half of a six-game road trip, starting with a game against the Manchester Monarchs on Wednesday, March 23.
The Beast have signed towering defenseman Travis Armstrong to a player contract. The 6’5” rearguard from Smiths Falls, Ontario is considered to be a versatile player with leadership qualities and offensive upside.
He spent four years in the NCAA with Finlandia University between the 2011-12 and 2014-15 seasons, suiting up for 89 total games and recording 13 goals and 31 assists. He served as team captain for his final two seasons of NCAA eligibility and recorded his best season of college hockey in 2013-14, when he picked up seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in just 24 games played. Following the end of his college career, he played four games for the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings, recording one assist and two penalty minutes.
He spent this season in the SPHL as an assistant captain with the Louisiana IceGators, collecting a goal and 11 assists in 50 games played.
In a separate transaction, the Beast have also signed Oakville native and recent Clarkson University graduate Patrick Megannety to a player contract.
The 23-year-old just completed his final year in the NCAA at Clarkson University, where he was the team’s assistant captain. The 5’11” lefty is described as a consistent two-way player and played 142 career NCAA games between the 2012-13 and 2015-16 seasons and picked up 22 goals and 35 assists with 34 penalty minutes.
Prior to joining Clarkson, he spent two full seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with the Georgetown Raiders, winning an OJHL championship in 2011-12 after posting a stellar season in which he posted 46 points in 40 games played.
In a separate transaction, the Beast have also signed OHL standout goaltender and Brampton native Michael Giugovaz to a player contract.
From 2012-13 to 2015-16, he suited up for five different OHL teams, including the Peterborough Petes, Belleville Bulls, London Knights, Windsor Spitfires and most recently, the Guelph Storm.
The 2012-13 OHL Second All Rookie Team member played a total of 153 games in the Ontario Hockey League and posted his best season with the London Knights in 2014-15, appearing in 47 games and recording a 3.59 goals against average and a .898 save percentage.
To make room for the new recruits, the Beast have returned defenseman Christian Weidauer to the Peoria Rivermen of the SPHL and have released forward Kyle Rankin.
Weidauer spent 22 games with the Beast this season and recorded two assists, while Rankin did not record a point in six contests with the club.