Owen Beck

Owen Beck (born February 3, 2004) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 33rd overall, by the Canadiens in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Early years As a youth, Beck played with the Northumberland Nighthawks of the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) and won the league championship during his peewee year. Thereafter, he joined the Quinte Red Devils AAA ranks for two seasons beginning in 2018, and also briefly played with the Cobourg Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).

Junior Mississauga Steelheads (2021–2023) Beck initially committed to join the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the 2020–21 season but did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Making his OHL debut the following season, he appeared in 68 games and recorded 21 goals and 30 assists, ranking third on his team in scoring. He, along with teammate Luca Del Bel Belluz, were likewise selected to participate in the annual CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. At the end of the season, Beck was named to the league's Second All-Rookie Team. He also earned laurels for his academic performance at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School, receiving the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL's scholastic player of the year and then being named CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. As a result of his performance, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked him tenth among North American skaters in advance of the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Peterborough Petes (2023–2024) Returning to major junior to continue development with the Steelheads for the 2022–23 season, Beck recorded 17 goals and 41 points in just 30 games before being traded to hometown club, the Peterborough Petes, on January 7, 2023. After just seven games with the Petes and with the Canadiens suffering an excess of injuries, Beck was unexpectedly recalled from the OHL on an emergency basis on January 27, 2023. He made his NHL debut in a road game versus the Ottawa Senators on January 28, before returning to the OHL ranks.

Beck's point production declined during his first half-season with the Petes, which was attributed to both personal usage in a defense-oriented shutdown role as well as own struggles with the team's new expectations generated by the trade. He would later admit that "when things don't go your way right way with those expectations things can be tough on you mentally." He took a second major penalty in Game 5 for slew footing defenceman Jackson Edward, and, as a result, was suspended for two games, the theoretical remainder of the series. In his absence, the Petes defeated the Knights in Game 6 to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup, the first championship for Peterborough since 2006. Beck was subsequently named to the OHL Third All-Star Team.

The Petes would qualify for the 2023 Memorial Cup in Kamloops as representative of the OHL, facing off against host Blazers (WHL), the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), and the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL). Initially, the second game of Beck's suspension was to apply to the team's round-robin game against the Thunderbirds. However, as the Memorial Cup fell under the jurisdiction of the NHL's Department of Player Safety, they reviewed the OHL's ruling and deemed that he would be able to play in the tournament, instead having to serve the second game if he returned to the OHL the following season. Beck recorded a primary assist on the Petes' overtime-winning goal against the Blazers to reach the tournament semi-final where they were ultimately eliminated by the Thunderbirds.

Saginaw Spirit (2024) With Peterborough beginning a rebuild as they entered the 2023–24 season, Beck continued to play for the team until rejoining Team Canada for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. Upon his return to the OHL, he was dealt to the Saginaw Spirit, who were to be the hosts of the 2024 Memorial Cup. Making his Spirit debut on January 10, 2024, he had two goals and four assists in a rout of the Windsor Spitfires, tying the Saginaw team record for most points in a single game. Collectively, Beck had 18 goals and 33 assists in 32 regular season games with the Spirit, before recording 14 points across 17 playoff games. The Spirit reached the playoff semi-finals, but were eliminated by the London Knights. Beck was named to the OHL's Third All-Star Team for a second time. Being one of two Spirit players to have participated in a previous Memorial Cup (alongside Jorian Donovan), he said that "to be in this tournament two years in a row is pretty special." On June 2, Saginaw defeated league rivals London 4–3 to capture the team's first Memorial Cup in history, with Beck registering two goals in the championship game to earn Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy honours as tournament MVP.

Professional Montreal Canadiens (2024–present) In October 2024, Beck was assigned to the Laval Rocket, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Canadiens, to begin the 2024–25 season in his first year of professional hockey. After posting nine goals and 25 points through 37 AHL games with the Rocket, Beck was recalled by Montreal prior to their game versus the New York Rangers on January 19, 2025. Following a scoreless two-game stint with the team, he was reassigned to Laval on January 22. Two days later, Beck was named to the AHL All-Star Classic for the first time in his career. After being recalled by the Canadiens yet again in late February, he would record his first career NHL point thereafter, an assist, on a second period goal scored by linemate Alex Newhook against the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre on February 27.

Splitting time between the AHL and NHL ranks to begin the 2025–26 campaign, Beck appeared to have scored his first career NHL goal on December 11 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, only for it to be overturned due to a coach's challenge for offside on teammate Josh Anderson prior to the scoring play. He would instead record his first NHL tally in the Canadiens' next matchup with the Penguins on December 20.

International play

Beck was invited to participate in the selection camp process for Canada's national junior team for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, but was not selected as part of the initial roster. However, after forward Colton Dach was injured in his country's final group stage game, he was called up to join the team during the knockout stage. Canada ultimately defeated Czechia in the gold medal game, with Beck managing one assist in three appearances, describing the experience as "something that I'll never forget."

In December 2023, Beck was again invited to the junior national selection camp in advance of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. He was the lone returning member of the 2023 team to make the roster, and was subsequently named an alternate captain. However, Canada would be eliminated in their quarterfinals matchup by Czechia and did not secure a podium finish.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM2019–20 Cobourg Cougars OJHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2021–22 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 68 21 30 51 14 10 1 5 6 4 2022–23 Mississauga Steelheads OHL 30 17 24 41 20 — — — — — 2022–23 Peterborough Petes OHL 30 7 18 25 15 22 8 8 16 18 2022–23 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2023–24 Peterborough Petes OHL 25 16 14 30 4 — — — — — 2023–24 Saginaw Spirit OHL 32 18 33 51 14 17 4 10 14 8 2024–25 Laval Rocket AHL 64 15 29 44 49 13 2 4 6 2 2024–25 Montreal Canadiens NHL 12 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2025–26 Laval Rocket AHL 58 13 20 33 28 5 3 2 5 4 2025–26 Montreal Canadiens NHL 15 1 0 1 6 — — — — —NHL totals 28 1 1 2 6 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2023 Canada WJC 3 0 1 1 0 2024 Canada WJC 5th 5 1 0 1 2Junior totals 8 1 1 2 2

Awards and honours Award Year RefOHL Bobby Smith Trophy 2022 Second All-Rookie Team 2022 Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2024 Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy 2024 AHL All-Star Game 2025