BRAMPTON, Ontario - The Brampton Beast, ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, announced that captain and all-time team points leader Brandon Marino has re-signed with the club for the 2017-18 season.
A native of Riverside, Calif., Marino is coming off another sensational year in the ECHL. In 72 games with the Beast, Marino reached the 20-goal plateau for the third time in his ECHL career, netting 20 goals while adding 52 assists.
Marino became the club's all-time points leader in a contest against the Orlando Solar Bears at the Powerade Centre on March 23, recording an assist on Connor Crisp's goal for his 101st point in a Beast uniform, one more than reigning points leader Jason Pitton.
The Beast captain was instrumental in the club's success in their inaugural run through the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs last season. In a decisive Game 6 against the Reading Royals in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Marino scored two goals in the third period to lead Brampton to a 3-1 victory and its first-ever playoff series victory.
Prior to joining the Beast, Marino found himself atop the ECHL's scoring race in 2013-14 as a member of the Fort Wayne Komets, putting up 88 points (30g-58a).