Hurricanes Sign Plymouth Defenseman Beau Schmitz To Entry-Level Contract

The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Beau Schmitz to a three-year, entry-level contract Monday. Schmitz, who played for the Peter Karmamos-owned Plymouth Whalers during his OHL career, was invited to play with the Hurricanes in the Traverse City prospect tournament each of the past two seasons. He set career highs in goals (14), assists (40) and points (54) with the Whalers this season, and was also tied for thid in the OHL in plus/minus at plus-37. He becomes the ninth current player in the Hurricanes' organization to have played for the Whalers.

The release from the team is after the jump.

‘CANES SIGN BEAU SCHMITZ TO ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT

Defenseman posted a plus-37 rating in 2011-12 for OHL’s Plymouth Whalers

RALEIGH, NC – Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed free-agent defenseman Beau Schmitz to a three-year, entry-level contract. The deal will pay Schmitz $525,000 per year at the NHL level, or $50,000 per year at the minor-league level, as well as a $50,000 signing bonus.

"Beau had an exceptional overage season with Plymouth," said Karmanos. "His game matured both offensively and defensively, and we are excited to add a character individual like him to our organization."

Schmitz, 21, completed his fourth season of major-junior hockey in 2011-12, leading all Plymouth Whalers defensemen in goals (14), assists (40) and points (54). He ranked tied for third among all Ontario Hockey League (OHL) skaters with a plus-37 plus/minus rating, while playing in 62 of Plymouth’s 68 regular-season games. The Howell, MI, native served as the Whalers’ captain in 2011-12, after spending 2010-11 as one of the team’s alternate captains. He was named the OHL Player of the Week for Dec. 26-Jan. 1, when he posted four goals, one assist (5 points) and a plus-8 rating – including a hat trick on Dec. 31 at Windsor – in Plymouth’s three games.

In four seasons with Plymouth, Schmitz (5’10", 193 lbs.) scored 35 goals, earned 116 assists (151 points) and accumulated 350 penalty minutes in 244 career OHL regular-season games. He played for the Hurricanes’ squads at the NHL Prospects’ Tournament in Traverse City, MI, in 2010 and 2011.