Leaf netminder inks letter of intent with BCIHL Champs
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Marcus Beesley decided it was prudent to spend his remaining time in junior hockey in the Kootenays with the Nelson Leafs.
The Prince George native isn’t straying to far from the Heritage City after inking a commitment letter with defending B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League champion Selkirk Saints.
“Marcus is an athletic goaltender with strong fundamentals who adds another great option for us in goal,” said 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.”
Beesley joins the Saints in the fall after wrapping up his junior career in the West Kootenays with the KIJHL’s Nelson Leafs where he compiled a record of 15 wins, 24 losses and two ties during the 2012/13 season.
Beesley split between season with the Leafs and the Kamloops Storm. posting 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.
“We carried three goalies last season and each of them performed very well when given the opportunity to contribute,” Dubois explained.
“We expect that Marcus will immediately compete for playing time alongside Myles (Hovdebo) and Chris (Hurry) next season.”
Beesley plans to enroll in Selkirk’s Business Administration program.
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).
Beesley is the second Nelson Leaf to sign with a BCIHL club.
Nelson defenceman Cameron Weir of Kelowna signed letter of intent to play for Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack.
Weir spent the previous two seasons with the KIJHL Princeton Posse.
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