Whatever happens will happen but it is obvious the Brampton Beast will be playing hockey as they are going full speed ahead. Unlike the St. Charles Chill who have said nothing about their franchise in a couple of months the Beast are very active. I came across the article below from the Brampton Guardian (bramptonguardian.com) written by Frank Juzenas which includes some information on how traveling teams will play in Brampton. Stay tuned!
- By FRANK JUZENAS
Brampton Beast creating a buzz
BRAMPTON BEAST.
It was standing room only on Saturday morning at the council chambers in Brampton City Hall as the Beast, an expansion team in the Central Hockey League, unveiled its logo. The more than 300 people in attendance also got a chance to ask questions of team owner Gregg Rosen, president Cary Kaplan and newly-named head coach and Brampton native Mark DeSantis.
The fans got a sample of the entertainment promised by the team as a spectacular laser light show preceded the unveiling of a fierce creature holding a hockey stick. Many in the audience stood and cheered when the chosen logo, an entrant selected from a contest on a world-wide logo design website was revealed. The winner was conceived by Indonesian designer Andreans Endhi.
Kaplan said team colours would be silver, black and white with a bit of red. He mentioned there would be a similar laser show prior to each Beast home game. In response to a question from the audience Rosen said a red Maple Leaf will be on the uniform shoulder, representing the first Canadian team in the CHL.
The team also held a draw among four entrants who had submitted the name Beast for the Name the Team contest with the first prize a trip for two to the Stanley Cup finals. Joseph Stephen won the contest and will be taking his eight-year old son Alexander, who will be playing AAA hockey next season in Brampton, with him. The other three finalists will receive Beast jerseys.
Next to come is the team mascot and Kaplan said there will be a Name the Mascot contest, with entrants restricted to those under age 18.
Kaplan promised the team will be active in the community.
“We will not miss a significant community event in Brampton,” he said.
He said 50/50 draws will be held each game with a different charity receiving the proceeds.
The Beast will play a 33-home regular season schedule at the Powerade Centre. With visitors travelling from as far away as Texas, Arizona and Colorado the Beast will usually host teams for three games in three days.
Rosen, who shook hands and greeted everyone as they came into the event, said he will be encourage fans to approach and talk to him about the team as the season progresses.
DeSantis, who was recently named the Coach of the Year in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Fayetteville (NC) FireAntz, said he would be holding a free agent camp at a date to be announced and said his priority is to get players who have character.
Rosen said the team has had discussions about NHL affiliation with a number of teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Montreal Canadiens.
Kaplan expects the season will likely open around Oct. 18 and the Beast will have the distinction of playing the league’s first game of the new season at home.
I recently asked one of the players how close he was to reaching veteran status. The answer was, "It depends." He didn't indulge in conjecture regarding a possible move to ECHL, but his discussion of the ECHL's more restrictive veteran rules made it clear that the possibility is on the players' minds.
ReplyDeleteI found the lack of merchandise in the team store very strange as well. I know a week or so ago the jersey rack was full and now all they have left are those orange practice jerseys and a few Santa themed ones. I wonder if they pulled the remaining stock to have the CHL logo removed or something like that.
ReplyDeleteShould be a very interesting few weeks......