Solar Bears sign Bast, Beaulieu

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning, announced the signing of defensemen Luke Bast and Philip Beaulieu to contracts for the 2025-26 season.

Bast enters his first professional season after four collegiate years with University of North Dakota (2021-23) and University of Minnesota-Duluth (2023-25). The Red Deer, Alberta native appeared in 15 games during the 2024-25 season for the Bulldogs, scoring one assist and adding two penalty minutes.

The 24-year-old also played four seasons of junior hockey for the Waterloo Black Hawks (2019-21) in the United States Hockey League and the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (2017-19). Bast helped the Bandits win the 2018-19 AJHL championship by scoring 35 points from the back end and adding nine points in 15 games in the playoffs. Following the 2017-18 campaign, Bast was voted AJHL South Division All-Rookie Team.

Beaulieu joins the Solar Bears following four successful seasons in the ECHL with the Allen Americans (2020-22), Worcester Railers (2022-23) and last season with the Kalamazoo Wings. In 183 career ECHL games, the Duluth, Minnesota native has scored 89 points (16g-73a).

The 30-year-old played his college hockey at Northern Michigan University (2016-20), 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.