Team Canada has officially announced that forward Owen Beck will join the roster! The 18-year-old forward was initially invited to camp but was one of the cuts that didn’t make the final roster. Owen is a versatile player that can play down the middle and on the wing. After being drafted in the 2nd-Round by the Montreal Canadiens, Beck looks like a promising player for the Habs long-term. Beck will officially join Team Canada for the knockout stages and look to provide a spark!
This season Beck is playing in the OHL with the Mississauga Steelheads. Through 30 games, Beck has 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points! The Peterborough native plays a fast game, mostly known for his speed. Owen does well in creating plays and making space for his linemates at a high pace using his quickness. One thing I also really like about Beck’s play is how strong he is on breakouts. As a long-term outlook on the player, he’s a prospect I really think will find success. His ability as a possession player, Beck doesn’t necessarily give up pucks and has that speed to drive play. Owen is always giving his linemates an option to pass too, which makes me see a lot of Brayden Point in his play. Obviously not an exact comparison, but the two do similar things well. Beck was a player that shot up most draft boards as we got closer to the draft. I wasn’t shocked at his early selection in the 2nd round.
Overall this move was made because of an injury to forward Colton Dach. Colton left Team Canada’s 5-1 win over Sweden last night with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. It has been confirmed that Dach will be out for the remainder of the tournament. Obviously, this is a bit of mixed emotions, heartbroken for Colton while being excited for Beck and his opportunity. In terms of the lineup aspect, I’d expect to see Owen perhaps on a line with Caedan Bankier and Adam Fantill, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they play him with Nathan Gaucher and Zack Dean. Team Canada will take on Team Slovakia on January 2nd in the quarterfinal of this year’s tournament!
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