(Team Press Release) The Lubbock Cotton Kings of the Central Hockey League (CHL) are excited with the return of defenseman Jason Beatty, who re-signed with the Cotton Kings on Wednesday for the 2006/2007 season. It would be an understatement to say we are pleased with Jasons signing, said Chris Dashney, Cotton Kings Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations. He is a force to be reckoned with on the blueline and he has developed into a solid defenseman for us. I am glad our fans can look forward to him patrolling the ice for another season.
Beatty, a native of Sturgis, Saskatchewan, returns to the Cotton Kings for his third season of pro hockey. Last season, Beatty posted a goal and 11 assists for 12 points in 55 games. He served 120 penalty minutes, which ranked third on the squad, and he ranked as the third Best Fighter in the CHLs Best of the Best Poll. In February, Beatty became just the third player in franchise history to receive an in-season call-up, as he joined the American Hockey Leagues (AHL) San Antonio Rampage (top affiliate of the San Antonio Rampage. Beatty combined for six games over two separate call-ups with the Rampage. The 23 year-old defenseman turned pro with the Kings in 04/05 and contributed 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points in 60 games, along with 125 penalty minutes (ranked second on the squad). He had 15 major penalties as a rookie to rank tied for third among CHL defensemen and rank tied for fifth among CHL rookies. His pro career totals include 5 goals and 15 assists for 20 points and 247 penalty minutes in 121 games.
Prior to joining the Kings, the 61 210-pound blueliner spent his entire junior career in Yorkton, Saskatchewan with the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Leagues (SJHL) Yorkton Terriers. From 00/01-03/04, Beatty combined for 27 goals and 64 assists for 91 points and 621 penalty minutes in 227 games spanning four seasons. He received a trio of team accolades with the Terriers, including the teams best defenseman and most popular player honors.
The signing of Beatty places the Kings with six players announced for the 06/07 season. He joins goaltender Brett Koscielny, defenseman Chris Barth and forwards Paul McBrien, Jaydyn Murray and Brian Sutherland on the 06/07 roster. With 121 games of professional experience, Beatty qualifies as a developmental player (128 games or less played). Each CHL team must have at least five developmental players on their roster.