The Selkirk College Men’s Hockey program has announced a playing commitment from goaltender Marcus Beesley to attend Selkirk College and compete for the Saints beginning in the 2013-14 BC Intercollegiate Hockey League season.
The Prince George resident joins the Saints after wrapping up his junior career in the West Kootenays with the KIJHL’s Nelson Junior Leafs. He compiled a record of 15 wins, 24 losses and two ties during the 2012/13 season, which he split between the Leafs and the Kamloops Storm. Beesley posted a 3.33 goals-against average and .907 save-percentage in 43 regular season appearances.
Over three seasons in the KIJHL, he has an overall record of 38-46-2 with a 3.48 goals-against average and .898 save percentage.
The 20-year-old also brings a half-season of BCHL experience, having posted six wins in 13 appearances as a member of the Prince George Spruce Kings during the 2011-12 campaign.
Beesley plans to enroll in Selkirk’s Business Administration program.
“Marcus is an athletic goaltender with strong fundamentals who adds another great option for us in goal,” says Saints head coach Jeff Dubois. “We had the opportunity to keep tabs on him after he was dealt to Nelson at the trade deadline and liked what we saw both on the ice and in getting to know him better away from the rink.”
“We carried three goalies last season and each of them performed very well when given the opportunity to contribute. We expect that Marcus will immediately compete for playing time alongside Myles (Hovdebo) and Chris (Hurry) next season.”
“I’ve heard so many great things about the school and especially the hockey team, so when it came time to make a decision for next season the chance to win a championship and better myself as a player and student made Selkirk an easy choice,” says Beesley, who describes himself as a butterfly goaltender who is strong positionally and mentally tough.
“On the ice, I’m looking to establish myself as a goaltender who can play a lot of games at this level and be very successful. This will hopefully help bring the team to the ultimate goal of repeating as league champions. I also intend on having a good first year academically, learning as much as possible and getting to know my own abilities better.”
Beesley is the second goaltender and sixth player overall to commit to the Saints for the 2013/14 season. He joins forwards Darnell Dyck (Langley, BCHL) and Garrett Kucher (Osoyoos, KIJHL), defencemen Stefan Gonzales (Aldergrove, PJHL) and Ryan Procyshyn (Delta, PJHL) and netminder Myles Hovdebo (LaRonge, SJHL).