Montreal Canadiens: Owen Beck Scores Hat Trick In OHL

The Montreal Canadiens had a couple of players head back to junior prior to the start of their junior seasons. One has stood out at his last two camps, but given his age, he was unable to play outside of junior unless he had a definite spot on the NHL roster. Owen Beck, 19, failed to crack the Habs roster, although he was a standout.

Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton and, in some form, Martin St. Louis felt it was the right decision to have Beck play out his final year of junior before turning pro. He has professional-level translatable traits, he is a stud in the faceoff dot, and he can skate like the wind. This season he will have a clear gameplan from Adam Nicholas, which followed the end of his offseason plan.

Development remains at the top of management’s priority list, and because of that, the Canadiens will have clear plans tailored to each player. Beck has a well-developed defensive game, but his offence is what he appears to be trying to improve. Saturday night, the Petes clashed with the Oshawa Generals, and Beck took the chance to show what he could do offensively.

Beck, the Canadiens 2022 second-round selection, scored a hat trick, and each goal was earned because of his high hockey knowledge. He processes everything at full speed, and his excellent positioning earned him many chances. But he showcased his improved ability to finish plays, and it was a great game for his confidence.

Goal Number One

His first goal of the game came at 16:51 of the first period, he finished off a nice pass from Jonathan Melee. The pass never happens, however, without Samuel Mayer’s great play to squeeze his man against the boards to force a turnover.

Melee slid a great pass across to Beck, who tucked it in behind Generals goaltender Jacob Oster.

Goal Number Two

Beck got a penalty shot opportunity after he was hooked from behind before he could get in alone 1-on-1 against Oster. Generals defenseman David Bedkowski got caught flat-footed and had no choice but to reach in, respecting Beck’s speed.

Beck skated in, and showed off some fancy stickwork, before slipping the puck five-hole for his second tally of the game.

Goal Number Three

Beck benefitted from a great play along the boards by Melee, to pin his man, and then dig the puck out. Connor Lockhart grabs the puck from Melee, and he immediately sends it cross-crease to Beck.

Beck received the puck on his tape and ripped it short-side on Oster, with a slingshot-type shot, to put the finishing touches on his hat trick.

While it was a disappointing finish, Beck would be the first one to say that the hat trick doesn’t matter because the team lost. But it was an impressive showing for Beck, who is more known for keeping the puck away from his net. So without getting ahead of ourselves, Beck had a great night and followed up a strong camp, where he was the second-best prospect, just behind Joshua Roy.

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