Solar Bears add experienced defenseman Phil Beaulieu

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced today the signing of defenseman Philip Beaulieu to a contract for the 2025-26 season.

Beaulieu, 30, joins the Solar Bears following four successful seasons in the ECHL with the Allen Americans (2020-2022), Worcester Railers (2022-2023), and last season with the Kalamazoo Wings. In 183 career ECHL games, the Duluth, Minnesota native has scored 89 points (16g-73a) for nearly a half point per-game pace, while earning 94 penalty minutes.

The 5-foot-11, 194-pound rearguard played his college hockey at Northern Michigan University (2016-2020) earning multiple honors in his time with the Wildcats. During the 2017-18 season, Beaulieu was named Second Team All-American and WCHA Second All-Star Team. The following season, he was named WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and WCHA First Team All-Star. His senior season, Beaulieu was named team captain and received WCHA Second All-Star Team honors.

Solar Bears 2025 Preseason Roster:

FORWARDS: Anthony Bardaro, Tyler Bird, Andrew Bruder, Tyler Drevitch, Carson Focht, Cole Kodsi, Peter Laviolette III, Aaron Luchuk, Jarid Lukosevicius, Keanan Stewart, Alex Tonge

DEFENSEMEN: Nick Anderson, Luke Bast, Phil Beaulieu, J.C. Brassard, Logan Britt, Davis Bunz, Tony Follmer, Cody Schiavon

GOALTENDERS: Jon Gillies, Ethan Langenegger