BRAMPTON, ON — On May 28, 2105, the Brampton Beast of the ECHL, announced that the Montreal Canadiens and the St. John’s IceCaps would be their NHL and AHL affiliates respectively. On October 16th, the Beast began their second season in the ECHL, the first as a partner of the Canadiens organization. The Beast have started the season with a record of 0-4-1 through their first five games.

The Brampton Beast have six Habs prospects on their roster with Stefan Fournier and Mark MacMillan signed to contracts by the Canadiens. MacMillan was inked to a two-year entry-level contract by GM Marc Bergevin on April 12, 2015.

Travis Brown, Angelo Miceli, Eddie Pasquale and Josiah Didier are all signed to AHL deals (one-year, two-way) by the St. John’s IceCaps.

Angelo Miceli – Center (3 GP, 1 G, 1 A)

Angelo Miceli was a star for the Canadiens at both of the development camp and their rookie camp back in September, shortly after the rookie camp, Miceli was signed by the St.John’s IceCaps to an AHL/ECHL deal. Miceli scored his first professional goal in his second career AHL game. After the IceCaps third game, he was assigned to the Brampton Beast where he would be getting more ice-time and being able to work on his game more with this being his first professional season.

You can find my feature on Beast forward Angelo Miceli here.

Mark MacMillan – Right Wing/Center ( 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A)

Mark MacMillan was the Montreal Canadiens 4th round pick from the 2010 NHL draft. MacMillan played with the BCHL’s Alberni Valley Bulldogs in his draft year, upon being drafted, MacMillan spent the next four seasons at the University of North Dakota. During MacMillan’s time at the University of North Dakota, he won and was nominated for several athletes, along with being named an Assistant Captain in his final season which was cut short due to an injury. MacMillan is a 6’0 versatile forward who is now looking to make an impact in his first professional season. He has only played in 2 of the 4 Brampton Beast games so far this season but he will figure in more and as he adjusts to the professional game, points will come.

Josiah Didier – Defenceman ( 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A) 

The Littleton, Colorado native was drafted in the 4th round of the 2011 NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens, he played for the University of Denver for 4 years before playing 8 games for the Canadiens former AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, he notched 1 point in those games. Didier stands at 6’3 and weighs 218 pounds. So far the hulking rearguard has 2 points in 2 games with the Beast. Didier is your typical defensive defenceman, he plays physical, he excels at blocking shots and playing on the penalty kill.

Stefan Fournier – Right Wing (2 GP, 0 G, 0 A)

Stefan Fournier was signed as a free agent by general manager Marc Bergevin on July 6th, 2013, he was signed to a standard three-year entry-level deal by the Canadiens. Now in the final year of his ELC, Fournier looks to impress Canadiens management by having a strong start to the season in the ECHL, he will be getting lots of ice-time to produce in Brampton. He is a big body who isn’t afraid to hit and play a physical game. If Fournier doesn’t produce this season, this may be his only shot with the Canadiens organization.

Travis Brown – Defenceman (4 GP, 2 G, 0 A)

Travis Brown was originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks as a 5th round pick in the 2012 NHL draft. In August of 2015, Brown signed an AHL/ECHL deal with the St.John’s IceCaps, the same deal Angelo Miceli signed. Brown has had a strong start to the season for the Beast, he has notched 2 goals in 4 games, even though he is a minus-1 on the season. Brown is a product out of the WHL, he split time through 4 seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Victoria Royals, he had very good junior numbers as well. Brown was also one of the prospects the Montreal Canadiens had at the rookie tournament, Brown will see more ice time in Brampton and has time to better his game, he is a good addition to the Beast who figure to be competitive this season.

Edward Pasquale – Goalie (Record 0-2-1, 4.42 GAA, .866 sv%)

Edward Pasquale is a 25 year old goalie who has spent most of his professional career with the St.John’s IceCaps. Pasquale has posted better numbers in the AHL then he has the ECHL however he was the goalie that was sent to the Beast in favor of Zach Fucale and Dustin Tokarski splitting time with the IceCaps. Pasquale was originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers-now-Winnipeg Jets franchise in the 4th round of the 2009 NHL entry draft. Pasquale is set to get the brunt of the starts with the Beast this season.

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The Brampton Beast hope to have a competitive season as it is their first as an NHL affiliate. The 6 Canadiens prospects look to be a big part in the Beast’s success this season. For anyone wanting to check up on how the Canadiens organization prospects are doing, Beast games are always a good time and now with some potential NHLers in the fold, there shouldn’t be a reason not to go if you’re in the area. Angelo Miceli and the Brampton Beast play next on Friday October 30, 2015 against the Tolledo Walleye at 7:15 pm.