The Springfield Falcons announced on Thursday that the parent Edmonton Oilers have signed defenseman Rick Berry to a standard American Hockey League contract.
Berry is entering his 10th professional season after spending the 2006-07 campaign with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he collected three goals and 15 assists for 18 points and 155 penalty minutes in 76 games played.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound native of Birtle, Man., was second among all Bridgeport defensemen in games played last year and he was second on the Sound Tigers in penalty minutes.
“Rick will add a physical element to our blueline during the upcoming season,” said Falcons president and general manager Bruce Landon. “He also brings nine years of pro experience into our dressing room, which will add a solid veteran presence to our roster.”
Berry is a veteran of 374 career AHL contests, collecting 25 goals and 72 assists for 97 points and 763 penalty minutes. He has also appeared in 197 career NHL contests seeing time with the Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
Berry was originally drafted by Colorado in the third round (55th overall) in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
