It’s been a wild month for Port Hope’s Owen Beck since being drafted by the Montreal Canadians.
The 18-year-old who plays for the Mississauga Steelheads was drafted in the second round by the Canadians.
Beck is a six-foot centre who registered 21 points and 30 assists in 68 games with the Steelheads last season.
Born and raised in Port Hope, Beck played for the Quinte Red Devils U15 AAA in 20218-19, Quinte Red Devils U16 AAA 2019-20, two games with the OJHL’s Cobourg Cougars and since then with the Mississauga Steelheads.
While Beck was with the Northumberland Nighthawks, the team won the OHF Championship in their Major Peewee year.
On Thursday, August 18, 2022, Beck was back at the Cobourg Community Centre helping out at the St. Pats Northumberland Hockey Development.
Maggie Moore is the owner of the Northumberland St. Pats Hockey said that it was great having Beck out as they were conducting evaluations for the Fall/Winter full-ice programming for children under nine-years-old age group.
The development camp is held twice a week and the players will do full ice skills for one hour, then the next hour will have a full-ice scrimmage.
“We’re really proud to have him here,” said Moore.
“He skated with St. Pat’s in some summer tournaments.”
Moore said Beck is extremely humble, but “probably one of the hardest working gentlemen I know and he gets great grades as well. He’s just a very dedicated person for his future – great family as well.”
Beck had no problem talking with the youngsters and signing autographs and posing for photos.
“It’s really great seeing all the kids that want to learn and want to grow up and play hockey for many years to come. It’s great being back.”
It’s been just over a month since being drafted, but Beck will never forget that feeling.
“It was chills. My stomach kind of dropped when I heard my team and my name being called by Montreal. I was overflowing with excitement and joy and getting to share that moment with my family and a couple of my friends.”
Since being draft, he’s done a lot of travelling.
“Everything has been super exciting from the draft to the development camp. Went out to Calgary for a bit for the World Juniors camp. It’s been super exciting and super busy.”
Beck is no stranger to hard work and realizes there is a lot ahead of him.
“I got to where I am due to hard work, but it doesn’t end there.”
“Need to make the team in a year or two. It’s not an easy thing to do. You’re going in against the best players in the world in camp. And trying to earn a spot is very difficult in the NHL. So the work definitely starts now.”
Beck is headed back to Montreal for September 14 for rookie camp. Which he’ll then be bussed down to Buffalo for the rookie tournament where he’ll face other prospects from other teams including Toronto, Buffalo, Detroit and Ottawa.
Beck realizes it’s another step further towards his dream of playing in the NHL, but he’s not there yet.
“It’s playing under pressure day-in and day-out. But pressure’s a privilege and it’s something I’m honoured to be apart of.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
