Oilers Claim Boulerice Off Waivers from Avalanche

The Edmonton Oilers announced on Tuesday that they have claimed right wing and enforcer Jesse Boulerice off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche. Boulerice had been playing with the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, since the start of the 2008-09 season. Prior to playing with Lake Erie, Boulerice had been invited to the Chicago Blackhawks training camp this past September on a tryout. The waiver claim comes on the same day the Oilers placed enforcer Steve MacIntyre on injured reserve with an upper body injury. Last season, Boulerice played in five games with the Philadelphia Flyers, going pointless and accumulating 29 penalty minutes. He gained some unwanted notoriety last season after being suspended 25 games for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler in the head on October 10, 2007. In five NHL seasons, Boulerice has scored eight goals and two assists for 10 points and 333 penalty minutes in 170 games with the Philadephia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, and St. Louis Blues. With MacIntyre out indefinitely, Boulerice's physical presence will be a welcome one to the Oilers. Boulerice will share the duties of protecting the Oilers' star players with Zack Stortini until MacIntyre returns. After that, Boulerice will likely be demoted to the minors.