Tough guy forward Cody Bass is staying in Ottawa.

The Senators announced Thursday they signed the Owen Sound, Ont., native to a one-year, two-way contract.

The 23-year-old spent last season with the Binghamton Senators, Ottawa's AHL affiliate. He had five goals, six assists and 109 penalty minutes in 57 games with Binghamton. Bass missed 17 games with an injury and six with a league suspension.

He started the 2008-09 NHL season with Ottawa but was a healthy scratch for two games before he was sent down to the AHL. In 18 games with Binghamton that season, Bass had two points and 39 penalty minutes.

Bass was recalled to the Senators three times, recording no points and 15 penalty minutes in 12 games before he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in late December.

He made his NHL debut during the 2007-08 campaign, putting up two goals, two assists and 19 penalty minutes in 21 games. Bass played in all four of Ottawa's playoff games, scoring one goal and adding six penalty minutes.

He was Ottawa's fourth-round pick, 95th overall, in the 2005 draft.