MONSTERS SIGN DEFENSEMAN KEITH AULIE TO PTO CONTRACT

COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Keith Aulie #36 of the Columbus Blue Jackets poses for his official headshot for the 2016-17 season on September 22, 2016 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Keith Aulie

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Monsters, announced Tuesday that veteran defenseman Keith Aulie signed a 25-game professional tryout contract (PTO) with Cleveland. A participant in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 2016 training camp, Aulie appeared in two preseason games for Columbus this year, posting two penalty minutes and a -1 rating.

Last season, Aulie supplied 1-0-1 with 11 penalty minutes and a -6 rating in seven appearances for the AHL’s Springfield Falcons and logged 1-4-5 with 12 penalty minutes and a +3 rating in 23 appearances for HIFK in Finland’s Liiga, helping his club claim Liiga’s Silver Medal.

A 6’6”, 223 lb. left-handed native of Rouleau, Saskatchewan, Aulie, 27, was selected in the fourth round (116th overall) by the Calgary Flames in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and posted 4-10-14 with 196 penalty minutes and a -13 rating in 167 career NHL appearances for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers spanning parts of five seasons from 2010-15.

In 145 career AHL games played for the Abbotsford Heat, Toronto Marlies, Norfolk Admirals, Syracuse Crunch, Oklahoma City Barons and Springfield, Aulie registered 9-17-26 with 174 penalty minutes and a -8 rating spanning parts of six seasons from 2009-15. A 2010-11 AHL All-Star, Aulie helped Norfolk claim the 2012 Calder Cup as AHL Playoff Champions.

Prior to his professional career, Aulie contributed 12-49-61 with 278 penalty minutes and a +15 rating in 234 WHL appearances for the Brandon Wheat Kings spanning four seasons from 2005-09 and served as Brandon’s captain during the 2008-09 season. Additionally, Aulie helped Team Canada claim the Gold Medal at the 2009 IIHF U20 World Junior Championships.

Eighth-year pro appeared in 167 NHL games for Toronto, Tampa Bay and Edmonton.