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 Tulsa Oilers

Beausoleil Signs for 7th Season as Oilers Add Four to Roster

September 18, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Tulsa Oilers News Release


TULSA, OK - One of the most popular and longest-tenured Tulsa Oilers players of all-time is returning for another season on BOK Center ice. On Thursday the Oilers announced the re-signing of veteran forward Michel Beausoleil who enters his 7th season in Tulsa and 14th season of professional hockey. The team welcomed back Beausoleil (BOH-suh-lay) at an afternoon press conference and also announced the signing of forward Bobby Watson and defensemen Jason Cohen and Victor Beaulac.

"Tulsa is my home and I love playing here in front of these fans," stated Beausoleil. "It would be hard for me to imagine playing anywhere else or finishing my career anywhere else. The people here have been so good to me and I want to bring them a championship. I'm looking forward to this season because I think we can do something very special."

"There have been many changes and many ups and downs during my time in Tulsa but Bobo (Beausoleil's nickname) has been the one constant," remarked Oilers Head Coach Bruce Ramsay, who heads into his 6th season behind the bench. "He's been the face of our franchise for many years and our fans absolutely adore the way he plays. He still possesses a great shot and a good scoring touch and doesn't show signs of slowing down."

Last season Beausoleil, 5-foot-10, 190-pounds, put up his best numbers as an Oiler by compiling 31 goals and 37 assists while appearing in all 66 games. The Montreal native reached the 60-point plateau for the 6th time in his career and recorded his highest point total (68) since the 2007-08 campaign when he registered 82 points for the Flint Generals (IHL). Beausoleil, 34, first arrived in Tulsa in 2008 and finished second on the squad in scoring with 61 points in 63 games. The right-winger has put up at least 20 goals and 20 assists in four consecutive seasons and ranks 4th on the Oilers all-time list of games played with 337 appearances. A veteran of 796 professional games, Beausoleil also stands 5th in Oilers' goals (122), and assists (164), and 4th in franchise points (286). He is the only player on the Oilers' current roster who has played a part in every single season at the BOK Center and is one of only two players on the team (Ryan Cramer) to have participated in both of Tulsa's last two playoff runs.

Watson, who hails from the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow, is attempting to become the first local player to appear in an Oilers regular season game since Tulsa native Alec Hines suited up as a player-assistant during the 2006-07 season. After spending a majority of his junior career with the Tulsa Rampage and Tulsa Jr. Oilers, Watson got his first taste of pro hockey last season when he played 19 games for the Bloomington Thunder (SPHL). The 21-year old tallied nine points in his first six games and finished his stint in Bloomington with six goals, five assists, and 16 penalty minutes. In 2012-13, Watson led the Jr. Oilers in assists (50) and points (71) and helped lead the team to the WSHL playoffs in its inaugural season.

"Most people don't think we can find good hockey players in our own backyard but Bobby has proven that he deserves this opportunity and I'm excited to see him compete in training camp," Ramsay said. "He has a tremendous amount of speed and skill and I think he provides a great amount of hope and inspiration for all the young hockey players in Tulsa. So many of those kids grow up and dream about being Oilers and now he has the chance to make that dream a reality."

Cohen is making his way to Tulsa after playing for three teams in three leagues during the 2013-14 season. The 6-foot-1, 196-pound defenseman began his first full season as a pro by appearing in 22 games with the Lousiana Ice Gators (SPHL) before getting a call up to the ECHL with the Alaska Aces. After four games in his home state, Cohen, who hails from Anchorage, closed the season with the CHL's Denver Cutthroats. In 59 total games last season, the 25-year old blue-liner notched nine goals, 21 assists, and 17 penalty minutes. Prior to turning pro, Cohen played one season at American International College and finished his collegiate career with three years at the University of Wisconsin-Stou. During his last year of college hockey, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound Cohen registered five goals and 13 assists.

"Jason got some great experience last year and there's no doubt he's very capable of excelling at this level," commented Ramsay. "I was impressed when I watched him play with Denver. He's a smart defenseman who moves the puck efficiently and I think he can be a very reliable, consistent presence for us on the blue line."

Beaulac, a 21-year old from St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, registered 71 points (21 goals, 50 assists) in 62 games with the Smith Falls Bears (CCHL) in the 2013-14 season. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Beaulac was the top-scoring defenseman for Longueuil College-Francais (QJAHL) in 2012-13 when he tallied 12 goals and 50 assists while playing alongside Marc-Olivier Phaneuf, a recently signed Oilers forward.

"It's hard to ignore the kind of numbers Victor put up during his junior hockey career," said Ramsay. "You don't see that kind of offensive production from too many defensemen and it's always good to have guys like Victor on your team that can join the rush and contribute on the power play."

The signing of Beausoleil, Watson, Cohen, and Beaulac pushes the Oilers' current roster to 27 players. Tulsa opens training camp on Monday, October 13 at the Oilers Ice Center (6413 S. Mingo Rd.) and will play exhibition games against the Allen Americans on October 17 and the Wichita Thunder on October 18. The Oilers and Americans clash in the regular season opener on Friday, October 24 with Tulsa's first home game set for Sunday, October 26 at 4:05 p.m. at the BOK Center.


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