BRAMPTON, Ontario - The Brampton Beast, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens and AHL's St. John's IceCaps, announced that the club has signed defenseman Mike Folkes to a contract for the 2016-17 season.
Folkes, 27, returns home to Ontario after completing a season abroad with the Manchester Storm in the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom. The Burlington, Ontario native served as the club's alternate captain last season and suited up in 56 contests, scoring five points (1g-4a) to accompany his rugged 85 penalty minutes.
No stranger to the ECHL, Folkes started his professional career with the Utah Grizzlies in the 2013-14 season. In his first season with the Grizzlies, he played 44 games and picked up four points (1g-3a) and 78 penalty minutes. He continued with the Grizzlies throughout the 2014-15 campaign and picked up another six assists and 48 penalty minutes in 38 games.
Prior to turning pro, Folkes started his collegiate career with Ohio State University where he picked up three assists and 28 penalty minutes in 35 games during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. Folkes made the move to CIS hockey in the 2011-12 season and suited up for the Carleton Ravens where he posted eight points (4g-4a) in 27 games. He served as an alternate captain for the Ravens during the 2012-13 season, when he notched six assists and 46 penalty minutes in 28 contests.
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