Willsie inks deal with Washington

The Washington Capitals, parent club of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, announced today that they have signed right wing Brian Willsie to a two-way contract for the 2010-11 season.

A Belmont, Ont., native, Willsie led the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters with 26 goals last season and added 31 assists for 57 points, ranking him third on the club in scoring. He also saw action in four NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche last season as well.

Willsie began his professional career with Hershey in 1998-99. He scored 19 goals in his first full season with the Bears, and scored 86 goals for the Chocolate and White between 1998 and 2003. Willsie put home a career-high 29 goals while skating for the Bears during the 2002-03 campaign, leading the team in goal production that season.

The 6-1, 202-pound forward has totaled 298 points (144-154-298) in 397 career AHL games for Lake Erie, Portland, and Hershey.

Willsie, 32, brings 380 games of NHL experience to the organization heading into 2010-11, scoring 52 goals and 108 points in action with the Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, and Colorado Avalanche.

His NHL career high for goals came with Washington during the 2005-06 campaign, when he potted 19 lamp-lighters in the District.