The Syracuse Crunch announced today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Kris Beech to a one-year, two- way National Hockey League – American Hockey League contract. As per club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Beech, 26, collected 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points and 46 penalty minutes in 64 games last season with the Washington Capitals. He tied for fifth on the club in goals and was seventh in points, while setting a new career high in points. He has accumulated 19 goals, 37 assists, with 109 penalty minutes in 173 career games with Washington, Nashville and Pittsburgh. He was the Capitals’ first pick, seventh overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

The Salmon Arm, British Columbia native collected 210 points (75g, 135a), with 373 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus/minus rating of plus-33 in 239 career American Hockey League games with Hershey, Milwaukee and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He tallied 55 points (28g, 27a) with 48 penalty minutes in 59 playoff games, while leading Hershey to the 2006 Calder Cup championship. In 240 games with Calgary of the Western Hockey League, he amassed 256 points (91g, 165a) with 329 penalty minutes and added 32 points (10g, 22a) with 82 penalty minutes in 33 career playoff games, including a WHL championship in 1999.

The Blue Jackets will participate in the annual Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan September 7-12. The club will open its seventh training camp in Columbus with physicals and strength & conditioning testing on Thursday, September 13 and on-ice workouts on Friday, September 14.

Season tickets for the 2007-08 season are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Crunch office at (315) 473- 4444 or by stopping by the Crunch office in the War Memorial at Oncenter. The Crunch’s home opener is Saturday, October 13 when they face-off against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Get your seats now!