The Montreal Canadiens now have a farm club in Toronto.
The Habs announced Thursday that its ECHL affiliate has been switched from the Wheeling Nailers to the Brampton Beast.
Habs' oft-injured former second round draft choice Dalton Thrower will start the season with the Brampton Beast, whose roster also includes 40-year-old journeyman David Ling, who once played a single game with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Beast will play in the 5,000 seat Powerade Centre, former home to the junior Brampton Battalion, just west of downtown Toronto in the Greater Toronto Area. Their season starts October 16 and tickets are available from around $16 to $28.
The East Coast Hockey League is the second-tier minor pro level below the AHL. Current NHL players who have played at the ECHL level include P.A. Parenteau, David Desharnais, Jaroslav Halak, Devan Dubnyk, Braden Holtby, Mark Streit and Michael Ryder.
The Canadiens recently moved their top-level minor AHL affiliate from Hamilton to St. John’s N.L., and some believe that the team will eventually be relocated again to Laval.
We're excited to be a part of the family ☺️ @IceCapsAHL @CanadiensMTL
— Brampton Beast (@BramptonBeast) May 28, 2015