Jay Beagle Explained

Jay Beagle
Birth Date:16 October 1985
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:215
Position:Centre
Shoots:Right
Played For:Washington Capitals
Vancouver Canucks
Arizona Coyotes
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2007
Career End:2022

Jay Beagle (born October 16, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who last played for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). As an undrafted free agent, Beagle joined the Washington Capitals's organization for the 2007-08 season. He eventually made his NHL debut on February 11, 2009, and joined the team full time during their 2010–11 season. He concluded his tenure with the Capitals after winning his first Stanley Cup, where he became the first player to win the Kelly Cup (ECHL), Calder Cup (AHL), and the Stanley Cup (NHL). Following his Stanley Cup win, Beagle left the Capitals organization and joined the Vancouver Canucks. In July 2021, Beagle was acquired by the Coyotes in a multi-player trade.

Early life

Beagle was born on October 16, 1985, in Calgary, Alberta,[1] to parents Al and Sue Beagle.[2] He grew up in Calgary alongside his younger siblings Steve and Jen,[3] and worked in his father's auto garage during high school.[2]

Playing career

Junior

Growing up in Calgary, Alberta, Beagle played for the Simons Valley minor-hockey association and won the 2003 Air Canada Cup as a member of the Midget-AAA Calgary Northstars.[4] After being released from his tryout with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League,[5] he then played for the Calgary Royals of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2003 to 2005.[1] During the 2003–04 season, he ranked third on the team in goals and second in power-play goals, earning the Royals’ Top Rookie Award and Most Inspirational Award.[3] While playing with the team, Beagle also changed tires in the garage and wired houses for an electrical company to earn money.[2]

Beagle then played for the University of Alaska Anchorage's men's ice hockey from 2005 until 2007. While playing for the Seawolves, Beagle recorded 20 points in his sophomore season and 10 points in his rookie season.[1] As a youth, he began playing the position of a defensive forward but focused his skill as a two-way player during college. He specifically focused on penalty killing and playing defensively.[6]

Professional

Following his sophomore season, Beagle chose to leave college and pursue a career playing professional hockey. He also explained that he was "struggling in school a little bit to juggle hockey with school and weight training."[7] His father Al began calling ECHL teams urging them to try out his son. He eventually earned a tryout with the Idaho Steelheads for the 2006–07 season.[4] Beagle played eight games with the team to conclude their regular season and helped them make their Kelly Cup run. While playing in Las Vegas during the playoffs, Beagle met Steve Richmond, Washington Capitals’ director of player development, who offered him a tryout at their development camp.[2] Beagle scored one goal and two assists for the Steelheads during their 18-game playoff games to win the Kelly Cup championship.[8]

Washington Capitals

The following year, Beagle played 64 games for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League scoring 37 points.[1] His first AHL goal, a shorthanded goal, came during a game against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on November 5, 2007.[9] By December, Beagle was tied for fourth in the league in rookie goal scoring with nine.[10] He later praised the coaching of Bruce Boudreau for his increased offensive ability during the season, saying "[h]e pushed me hard and made sure he got 100% out of me every practice and every game."[7] Beagle subsequently signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Capitals for the 2008–09 season.[11]

Following the signing, Beagle attended the Capitals summer camp[7] and training camp prior to the 2008–09 season.[12] He competed with the Capitals during their pre-season game, playing alongside Oskar Osala and Andrew Gordon. In his pre-season debut, Beagle played 16:11 minutes and had one shot on goal.[13] He was eventually re-assigned to the Bears to begin the season and played 25 games for the team before being recalled to the NHL level[14] due to an injury to Alexander Semin.[15] Upon returning to the Bears, Beagle helped the team qualify for the 2009 Calder Cup playoffs and win the Calder Cup by recording one goal and three assists.[8]

On November 17, 2009, Beagle recorded his first NHL point, an assist on Matt Bradley's game-winning goal in the team's 4-2 win over the New York Rangers, and on November 23, he scored his first NHL goal, an unassisted tally against the Ottawa Senators.[16] At the conclusion of the season, Beagle signed a two-year contract to remain with the Capitals organization.[17]

In the 2010–11 season, Beagle began the year with the Hershey Bears before he was recalled from the AHL on December 15, 2010.

During the Capitals exit interview, teammate Brooks Laich urged the coaching staff to give Beagle a regular role with the team. However, on October 13, 2011, Beagle suffered a concussion during a fight against Pittsburgh Penguins' Arron Asham and he missed 31 games to recover.[18]

On July 5, 2012, Beagle was signed to a three-year extension with the Capitals. Beagle continued his tenure with the Capitals in further signing another three-year extension worth $5.25 million on June 29, 2015.[19]

When the Washington Capitals won the Stanley Cup on June 7, 2018, Beagle became the only player to have won championships in the ECHL (2007), AHL (2009 and 2010) and NHL (2018).[20]

Vancouver Canucks

Having left the Capitals as a free agent after 11 seasons within the organization, on July 1, 2018, Beagle signed a four-year, $12 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[21] In his first month with the team, Beagle suffered a broken forearm during a game against the Florida Panthers[22] and missed 24 games to recover.[23]

Arizona Coyotes

On July 23, 2021, Beagle was traded, along with Loui Eriksson, Antoine Roussel, a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 seventh-round pick, to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland.[24]

Personal life

Beagle is a Christian.[25] Beagle married his high school sweetheart Ashley in 2009,[26] and together they have two sons and a daughter.[27] During the summer, Beagle runs a ball hockey camp in his hometown.[28]

Career statistics

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02Calgary Northstars AAAAMHL40446
2002–03Calgary Northstars AAAAMHL362024443413718
2003–04Calgary RoyalsAJHL58102737100
2004–05Calgary RoyalsAJHL64284270114
2005–06University of Alaska AnchorageWCHA31461040
2006–07University of Alaska AnchorageWCHA3610102093
2006–07Idaho SteelheadsECHL8281041812322
2007–08Hershey BearsAHL641918374150112
2008–09Hershey BearsAHL47459371813416
2008–09Washington CapitalsNHL3000240000
2009–10Hershey BearsAHL6616193525212790
2009–10Washington CapitalsNHL71122
2010–11Hershey BearsAHL34861426
2010–11Washington CapitalsNHL312138
2011–12Washington CapitalsNHL4141523121124
2012–13Washington CapitalsNHL482681471014
2013–14Washington CapitalsNHL6245928
2014–15Washington CapitalsNHL6210102020141454
2015–16Washington CapitalsNHL57891724123032
2016–17Washington CapitalsNHL8113173022130004
2017–18Washington CapitalsNHL797152216232688
2018–19Vancouver CanucksNHL573101318
2019–20Vancouver CanucksNHL55268381711210
2020–21Vancouver CanucksNHL301458
2021–22Arizona CoyotesNHL3311227
NHL totals64658861442501029122136

Awards and honours

AwardYear
ECHL
Kelly Cup champion2007
AHL
Calder Cup champion2009, 2010
NHL
Stanley Cup champion2018[29]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jay Beagle . Elite Prospects . June 14, 2021.
  2. News: Prewitt. Alex. Capitals forward Jay Beagle visits his dad's auto shop in Calgary. May 21, 2018. The Washington Post. October 24, 2014. https://archive.today/20210615021424/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/capitals/capitals-forward-jay-beagle-visits-his-dads-auto-shop-in-calgary/2014/10/24/62e473f0-5b7c-11e4-8264-deed989ae9a2_story.html?noredirect=on. June 15, 2021.
  3. Web site: Jay Beagle . University of Alaska . June 14, 2021.
  4. News: Gilbertson . Wes . Calgary-raised Jay Beagle takes long road to Stanley Cup final . June 14, 2021 . . June 1, 2018.
  5. Web site: Raby . Ben . Jay Beagle's journey comes full circle as Capitals eye Stanley Cup in Vegas . . June 14, 2021 . June 6, 2018.
  6. News: Sernoffsky . Dan . Bears rookie Beagle loves the pressure . June 14, 2021 . York Daily Record . March 11, 2008. newspapers.com.
  7. Web site: Vogel . Mike . Time CAPSule - Beagle's Climb to NHL . National Hockey League . June 14, 2021 . February 5, 2019.
  8. Web site: Jay Beagle . Hockeys Future . June 14, 2021.
  9. News: For the record . June 14, 2021 . The Daily News . November 6, 2007. newspapers.com.
  10. News: Front runners . June 14, 2021 . The Daily News . December 18, 2007. newspapers.com.
  11. Web site: Capitals Sign Forward Jay Beagle to Entry-Level Contract . National Hockey League . June 14, 2021 . March 26, 2008.
  12. Web site: Capitals Announce Rosters for Rookie Camp and Training Camp . National Hockey League . June 14, 2021 . September 13, 2008.
  13. Web site: Vogel . Mike . Another Rung on the Ladder . nhl.com . National Hockey League . June 14, 2021 . October 6, 2008.
  14. Web site: Capitals Recall Jay Beagle from Hershey . National Hockey League . June 14, 2021 . February 11, 2009.
  15. Web site: SO bounce helps skidding Rangers overcome Green's record-tying performance . ESPN . June 14, 2021 . February 12, 2009.
  16. Web site: MIKE FISHER SCORES OT WINNER IN SENATORS 4-3 TRIUMPH OVER CAPITALS. thehockeynews.com. May 21, 2018. November 23, 2009.
  17. Web site: Capitals Sign Jay Beagle, Andrew Gordon, Andrew Joudrey, Patrick McNeill and Zach Miskovic . National Hockey League . June 14, 2021 . July 15, 2010.
  18. Web site: Wharnsby . Tim . Undrafted underdog Jay Beagle proving worth for Washington . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . June 14, 2021 . May 8, 2012.
  19. Web site: Nelson. Kristen. Capitals sign center Beagle to three-year contract. NHL.com. May 21, 2018. June 29, 2015.
  20. Horka . Tyler . Capitals Rally Past Golden Knights in Game 5 to Win Stanley Cup . June 7, 2018 . Sports Illustrated . June 7, 2018.
  21. Web site: Canucks sign Jay Beagle . nhl.com . National Hockey League . March 22, 2021 . July 1, 2018.
  22. Web site: Poupart . Alain . Canucks rally to deny Panthers first win . nhl.com . National Hockey League . March 22, 2021 . October 14, 2018.
  23. Web site: Woodley . Kevin . Wild at Canucks preview . nhl.com . National Hockey League . March 22, 2021 . December 4, 2018.
  24. Web site: Report: Ekman-Larsson, No. 9 Pick Involved in Blockbuster Canucks, Coyotes Trade. TSN.ca. 23 July 2021. 23 July 2021.
  25. Web site: Masisak . Corey . From afterthought to 'franchise guy': The remarkable rise of Capitals center Jay Beagle . 26 December 2022.
  26. Web site: Jory . Derek . Canucks Report: Silver lining . National Hockey League . June 14, 2021 . October 15, 2018.
  27. Web site: Todd . Bijan . Jay Beagle's kids make ultra-cute sign for his 600th game . NBC Sports . June 14, 2021 . February 12, 2021.
  28. News: Sumner. Ben. Caps' Jay Beagle talks family, hunting, and improving his game. May 21, 2018. The Washington Post. March 1, 2015. https://archive.today/20210615033810/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capitals-insider/wp/2015/03/01/caps-jay-beagle-talks-family-hunting-and-improving-his-game/. June 15, 2021.
  29. News: The Washington Capitals, after years of frustration, win the Stanley Cup . . 2018-06-07 . 2018-06-07.