BRAMPTON, Ontario – The Manchester Monarchs fell to the Brampton Beast, 6-5, in a shootout Saturday night at the CAA Centre in the first game of the 2018-19 season.

The Monarchs (0-0-0-1) were defeated the Beast (1-0-0-0) despite leading 4-1 in the second period.

The Monarchs opened the scoring at 5:04 of the first period on the first goal of the season and first professional goal by Zeb Knutson. Nick Moutrey centered the puck to Tony Cameranesi, who took a shot on Brampton goaltender, Jake Paterson, creating a rebound in front of the crease. Knutson jumped on the loose puck and netted the first goal of the season for Manchester.

Brampton answered quickly, at 9:43 of the first period on the first goal of the season for Erik Bradford. Macoy Erkamps took a shot from the blue line that was knocked down in front, where Bradford gathered the rebound and slid a shot past the right pad of Monarchs goaltender, Charles Williams, to tie the game, 1-1.

Manchester regained the lead at 15:51 of the first period when Ryan Kujawinski scored his first goal of the season. Spencer Watson stole the puck in the left corner and centered a pass to Kujawinski, who was all alone in the slot and snuck a shot through the pads of Paterson, to make the score, 2-1.

The Monarchs added a third goal at 18:53 of the first period on the first goal of the season for Sam Kurker. Eric Schurhamer ripped a shot from the left point, that Kurker tipped in front of the net and past Paterson, to give the Monarchs a 3-1 lead.

Manchester scored another at 6:31 of the second period on the first goal of the season by Cameranesi. After receiving a breakout pass from Moutrey, Cameranesi skated into the zone on a breakaway and snapped a shot over the shoulder of Paterson to make it 4-1, Manchester.

The Beast cut the lead in half at 9:19 of the second period on the first goal of the season by Jordan Henry. Jackson Leef skated the puck into the zone on a two-on-one and took a shot from the left circle, where Henry one-timed the rebound past the pad of Williams, to make the score, 4-2.

Brampton made it a one-goal game at 11:46 of the second period on the first goal of the season by Jonathan Racine. Racine fired a one-timer from the blue line, that found the top left corner, over the shoulder of Williams, to make the score, 4-3.

The Beast tied the game at 5:25 of the third period on the first goal of the season for Nathan Todd. Bradford connected on a pass to Todd at the top of the circles, where Todd took a stride towards the slot and found the top shelf with a shot to make it a 4-4 game.

The Monarchs took the lead on a power-play goal at 17:30 of the third period on the first goal of the season for Spencer Watson. Rob Hamilton wristed a shot from the point, that was tipped in front by Watson and past Paterson, to make it a 5-4 game.

The Beast tied the game at 18:34 of the third period on the first goal of the season by David Pacan. Pacan gathered a rebound off a shot by Henry, and flipped the puck past the glove of Williams, to tie the game, 5-5.

The Beast put away the Monarchs in the sixth round of the shootout, with Nathan Todd scoring the winner in the sixth and final round.

The Monarchs return to the ice Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m., when they finish the two-game series with the Brampton Beast. Manchester returns home on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. to face the Newfoundland Growlers. For tickets to Opening Night, Season Memberships and group tickets, please contact the Monarchs front office at 603-626-7825.

Visit us at ManchesterMonarchs.com, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram: @MonarchsHockey, and like us on Facebook for additional information.

NOTES:

Zeb Knutson scored his first professional goal.