Athlete Spotlight: Drew Beasley
And that’s by no accident.
The junior standout was among the top returning point producers from a season ago and he’s picked up right where he left off.
“Drew has a great (shot) release and he hides it well, said Legacy coach Ryan Faragher. “He changes the positioning of the puck and adds a lot of deception on his release with the positioning of his hands and movement of his body. He rarely shoots the puck just for the sake of shooting. He picks his target with great accuracy and shoots with purpose.”
A quick release and accurate shot is half of the equation. Scorers also have to read the play and get in position to find the scoring areas and Drew can.
“You kind of look for those soft spots in the offensive zone where you can get open and get a shot off,’’ said Beasley. “I’ve just always been able to anticipate where the play is going and get open. My linemates have done a good job of finding me in open areas.”
Getting a chance to skate alongside skilled linemates in Marcus Butts and Stryder McMahon makes a difference. That line has developed good chemistry and seem to know where each other is going to be in the offensive zone. They have put a lot of pucks in the net so far. “I think the fact they can make plays at a higher speed make them effective,’’ Faragher said.
Beasley’s first season with the Sabers was impressive, putting up 39 points in 26 games. He finished second on the team in scoring and was a key part of the team’s postseason run that included a West Region Tournament championship and a second consecutive state tournament berth.
However, there is more to the standout’s game then what shows up on the score sheet. Beasley takes his defensive responsibilities seriously.
“That’s something our coaches preach a lot…owning your role in the D-zone,’’ Beasley said.
That includes winning one-on-one puck battles along the boards; blocking shots and getting sticks in the passing lanes; and clearing pucks to relieve pressure.
“In our zone he’s playing his best when he is strong on the walls and can make exits with speed which creates a lot of open ice for him,’’ Faragher said.
Building a successful season doesn’t begin on the first day of practice. It starts several weeks ahead, and Beasley put in the time during the off season to build muscle and speed through weight, dryland training and on-ice development from former coach Mario Lamoureux. He also worked on his shot, shooting pucks on a net in his home. A lot of pucks!
“You can always improve your accuracy,’’ he adds.
It’s paid off. Beasley’s 14 goals through January 7 was most in the state along with his 28 points in 12 games.
Beasley has his sights set on playing hockey at another level in the future and he knows to be successful in advanced leagues he has to be able to be a complete player who can excel without the puck in addition to scoring.
“For any player to make it to next level they should continue to work on all areas of their game,’’ Faragher said. “With Drew I think continuing to get strong and being a reliable two-way player will give him a good chance for a look at the next level.”
The success so far from Beasley and his linemates hasn’t gone unnoticed by the opposition. Teams are trying to be more physical and limit their puck possession. “It’s been harder to find open ice,’’ Beasley said. “They know the areas we want to go.”
As one of the veterans in the lineup he has a bigger leadership role this season. In addition to leading by example, he’s also not afraid to speak up and inspire his teammates to keep working at their goals.
And those include a conference regular season title, another state tournament berth.
A good first half has put the team in a good position to attain those goals.
“We have a good group and a lot of talented players who can contribute,’’ he said. “It’s important to continue to improve.”
Photo by Loralyn Joyce
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