IceMen Re-Sign Josh Beaulieu

[chilly666]

EVANSVILLE, IN.--- As they commence closer to their debut in the ECHL in the league's 25th Anniversary Season, the Evansville IceMen, proud affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League and the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, continue to make considerable progress in forming their new roster for the upcoming 2012-13 season.

On this date, the IceMen General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm has announced the return of another premiere performing standout from Evansville's 2011-12 second place finishing squad of the CHL with the agreement to terms of left wing JOSH BEAULIEU. Adhering to club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

An extraordinary late summer 2011 acquisition from CHL league member club Rapid City, BEAULIEU (BOH-LEE-oo), 25, will be on the launching pad for his sixth pro season and his second attired in the Evansville coat of arms. The wiry 6-1, 190lb port side star enjoyed his best season-ever as a pro in his IceMen maiden voyage of 2011-12. His career-high of 48-points in 58-games were composed of a team second-best 24-goals along with 24-assists and 79-PIM. The Comber, Ontario product displayed an uncanny touch-in-the-clutch for the Coach Kromm kinetic contingent as he delivered a team-high 5-GWG while his 5-multiple goal games were the second most maestroed for the hometown team. Included in his offensive production numbers as well were 5-FG, 4-PPG, 2-SHG and 10-PPA.

Beaulieu's calling card was his superior consistency as evidenced by his 10-game point streak; 10(7-6-13) fashioned from 12/17/11 to 1/14/12 and a 5-game streak consisting of 5(4-6-10) with the latter skein paralleling the initial five games of the campaign. In fact, the Beaulieu name will be forever etched in Evansville pro hockey lore, history and immortality as he scored the first-ever goal in Ford Center hockey history at 2:42 of the first period on the power play in the IceMen home opening night 3-1 victory verdict over their principal archrivals, the Fort Wayne Komets. Moreover, he made connection on the fourth fastest two goals by an individual player when he fired a pair of strikes 4:56 apart at 12:01 and 16:57 of the first period on 1/6/12 in fueling an IceMen 6-2 domination at then-conference rival Bloomington.

GM/Coach Kromm is thrilled to have one of his top sparkplugs back for his club's ECHL coming-out-party. "Bo had an outstanding season for us last year. He is a gritty two-way forward who plays hard every night and plays with lots of energy and emotion. He is a model of consistency as he brings the same level of intensity to the team and the game every night. He is a real character player all the way for us."

The former fifth round draft choice of the NHL Philadelphia Flyers originally was obtained by the IceMen in a straight two-player trade with the Rapid City Rush in late summer 2011. In the 2010-11 campaign in 65-games with the Rush, he registered 26-points on 11-goals, 15-assists with 79-PIM and solid +5 rating.

The rugged forward actually launched his pro career in the AHL where he gained seasoning with the Flyers top AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms from 2007-09 and later the Adirondack Phantoms in the 2009-10 campaign. In three AHL seasons, he saw significant action, playing in 136-games.

To amplify on his masterful initial season in Evansville, Beaulieu's scoring numbers of 58(24-24-48) far surpassed his statistical profile of his first four pro seasons combined of: 201(17-21-38).

Prior to progressing into the professional ranks, Beaulieu enjoyed a solid four-year career in the major junior `A' with the OHL London Knights.

Today's signing of left wing JOSH BEAULIEU increases the total to five players in the IceMen fold for the 2012-13 ECHL season. He joins defensemen MATT GENS, PHILIPPE PLANTE; center TODD ROBINSON, right wing DAN GENDUR.