ECHL Brampton Beast

Beast Sign Former Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets Forward David Ling

Published on December 29, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Brampton Beast News Release


BRAMPTON, ON - The Brampton Beast announced today the signing of veteran forward and former NHLer David Ling.

Ling, a Quebec Nordiques draft pick in 1993, spent time with both the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets during his NHL career, in addition to playing 533 games over nine seasons in the AHL, where he scored 157 goals and 470 points (0.88 points per game) to go along with 1355 penalty minutes.

The experienced forward joins the Beast after spending the majority of the past six seasons playing abroad, in Europe and the KHL, in addition to 56 games with the AHL's Providence Bruins in 2010-11. Two years ago, Ling led the entire EIHL, where Jason Pitton was playing at the time, in scoring with 89 points (34 goals, 55 assists) in 52 games. Last season he led his Italy-A team with 22 playoff points in 16 games.

"I wasn't going to play this year, then a month or two went by and I realized I really missed it," said Ling this afternoon. "The location and the opportunity to play in Brampton were both key reasons I signed here. I've always been an offensive player and I am just as confident in my abilities now."

Ling will provide a boost to the Beast's rapidly improving offense as well as veteran leadership to a young dressing room given his 19-year professional hockey career. The native of Halifax, Nova Scotia knows what it takes to win and will be an integral part of the Beast both on and off the ice.

"With the experience I have I feel I can help the younger players," said Ling. "Both Mike MacIsaac and Mathew Maione, they're a lot younger than me but I've watched them both play, and I've seen Mike in hockey school in the summer. I played with Phil Oreskovic in Toronto when I was with the Marlies and he was a rookie. It's actually fun playing with the younger guys that you've watched since they were kids. It's a great opportunity to help them develop."

"Having played over several seasons in the NHL, and having a long history of success in the AHL, Europe, KHL and the Kingston Frotenacs in the OHL, David Ling has shown leadership on and off the ice for nearly 20 years," said Beast President and General Manager. "Most recently he was the EIHL scoring champion in 2013. To have a player of David's calibre join the Beast gives us a huge boost going into the New Year."

Fans of junior hockey may remember Ling from his days as a Kingston Frontenac, where the emerging star scored 275 points (115 goals and 160 assists) over three seasons and became the only player in Frontenac's history to win the OHL's Red Tilson Trophy as the league's Most Outstanding Player.

Ling will be making his Brampton Beast debut tomorrow night when the team welcomes the Toledo Walleye to the Powerade Centre at 7:00 PM. The Beast will be wearing specialty ugly sweater jerseys that will be live auctioned following the game. On Wednesday, December 31, experience a Frozen themed game with performances from the ice princesses and a special tea party for kids prior to puck drop. Tickets are still available for both games and can be purchased at bramptonbeast.com.

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