Coyotes ink three Calder Cup finalists

The Phoenix Coyotes, parent club of the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, announced on Saturday that they have signed right wing Mathieu Beaudoin, defensemen Garrett Stafford and Nolan Yonkman and goaltender Matt Climie to contracts.

As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Climie, 27, appeared in 43 games with the Texas Stars (AHL) last season, posting a record of 21-17-3 with a 2.46 goals-against average (GAA), a .919 save percentage (SV%) and three shutouts to rank in the top 10 among AHL goaltenders in GAA and SV%.

Climie helped lead Texas to the 2010 Calder Cup Finals last season by posting a 7-6 record with a 2.71 GAA and .916 SV% in 15 postseason appearances, including both of the Stars’ wins in the Finals vs. Hershey. He also played in one NHL game with the Dallas Stars last season.

Climie, who played three years of collegiate hockey at Bemidji State University (2005-2008) has appeared in four career NHL games and 49 career games in the AHL, also reaching the Calder Cup conference finals with Houston in 2009.

Beaudoin, 26, played in 72 games for the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League (AHL) last season, recording 19-25-44 and 22 penalty minutes (PIM). He also collected 4-3-7 in 22 playoff games while helping Texas reach the Calder Cup Finals. In 2008-09, Beaudoin registered 11-9-20 in 44 AHL games with San Antonio, Milwaukee and Houston before notching 8-9-17 in 20 playoff games for Houston, where he ranked second on the team in postseason scoring.

A native of Rock Forest, Que., Beaudoin has appeared in 127 career AHL games with seven teams and has collected 30-34-64. Prior to his professional career, Beaudoin played four seasons at Ohio State University.

Stafford, 30, recorded 7-25-32 in 60 games for the Texas Stars (AHL) last season before adding 4-6-10 in 21 playoff games while helping to guide the Stars to the Calder Cup Finals. The Los Angeles native posted 11-34-45 in 2008-09 for Grand Rapids to rank seventh in scoring among all AHL defensemen.

In 497 career AHL games, Stafford has collected 69-202-271 while playing for Texas, Grand Rapids, Worcester and Cleveland and has topped the 40-point mark in four of his seven seasons. He has also appeared in five NHL games with Detroit and Dallas.

Yonkman, 29, appeared in 76 games for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL last season, recording 2-7-9 and 170 PIM. He also played in seven playoff games last season. In 2008-09, Yonkman was named captain of the Admirals. A native of Punnichy, Sask., the 6-foot-6, 253-pound Yonkman has appeared in 50 career NHL games with Washington, including a career-high 38 games for the Capitals in 2005-06.

He has also played in 408 career AHL games with Portland, Hershey and Milwaukee and has collected 13-41-54 and 716 PIM.