TESSIER SIGNS

The Connecticut Whale announced the resigning of forward Kelsey Tessier, returning to Head Coach Ken Gernander one of his most versatile and hardest working players for a second season on the XL Center ice.

Tessier had a very strong rookie campaign for the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate. While playing mostly in a third and fourth line capacity on both wing and at center, Tessier put 10g, 18a for 28pts on his stat sheet in 75 games.

Here is the official release:

WHALE RE-SIGN FORWARD KELSEY TESSIER

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Had 10 Goals and 28 Points in 75 Games as a Rookie

HARTFORD, July 6, 2011:  Connecticut Whale general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the team has re-signed forward Kelsey Tessier for the 2011-12 season.

As a rookie in 2010-11, Tessier led Whale first-year pros in assists, and finished second among team rookies in points and goals, with 10-18-28 in 75 games.  The 5-9, 177-pound native of Fredericton, New Brunswick also totaled 19 penalty minutes and a +2 rating.

Prior to joining the then-Hartford Wolf Pack on an AHL contract, Tessier played four seasons of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action with the Quebec Remparts and the Moncton Wildcats.  In 249 career QMJHL contests, he amassed a total of 103 goals and 141 assists for 244 points, along with 189 PIM.  After being traded by Quebec to Moncton late in the 2009-10 season, Tessier helped to lead the Wildcats to a QMJHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup, finishing second among all league skaters in playoff points, and third in postseason goals, with 14-16-30 in 21 games.

Tessier, 21, was a fourth-round pick (110^th overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.