SOUTHAVEN, Miss-- In Southwestern Ontario in the city of Brantford on a cold Saturday afternoon it is game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. In goal is a young Kevin Beech who stops shot after shot in the overtime until his team finally scores the game winner. Beech once again is a Stanley Cup winner. It is the dream of every Canadian boy growing up playing hockey to win the Stanley Cup and for Kevin Beech his dream is still alive. 

Youngstown Steelhounds. Photo courtesy of Kevin Beech.

Born in London, Ontario then moving to Brantford, Beech began his hockey career like any other Canadian boy on the outdoor rink and playing minor hockey.

"When I was 6 I started playing hockey, but not as a goalie,” Beech said.  “I played forward for a couple of years and at that age if you could skate you were going to get 3 to 5 goals a game and I was able to skate pretty good."

It wasn't until Kevin was 9 years old that playing goal seemed more appealing than playing forward and taking shifts because the goalie got to play the whole game.

"When I was 9 I had to make a decision (about) what I was going to be and I liked that the goalie got to play the whole game,” Beech said. “It was the most important position. I also wanted to be like my older brother Jeff who was a pretty good goalie growing up."

Kevin credits his family as having the biggest influence in his life with helping him and supporting his dream to play professional hockey.

"My parents, brother and sister have supported me in hockey since I was kid,” Beech added. “I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for them."

Kevin's parents are like any other parent with a child in hockey. They log countless miles driving to arenas for games, going to out of town tournaments and making sure that they are at all games and practices. This has not gone unnoticed by Kevin who appreciates everything they have done for him in his pursuit to play pro hockey.

"I do not know how many miles my parents have put on vehicles driving all across Ontario for hockey games,” Beech said. “They would always be at my hockey games."

Even during the summer he never gave his parents a break because he played summer hockey and attended hockey schools.

"I never really gave them a break in summers either,” Beech said. “I played summer hockey and then (went to) a goalie school or two. They never once tried to discourage playing hockey so much or traveling all over for me. They have really supported me in my goal to play professional."

Kevin's dream to play professional hockey came a step closer when he was drafted by the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League in 2002.

Sudbury Wolves. Photo courtesy of Kevin Beech.

His experience playing in Sudbury was an enjoyable one.

"Sudbury is a great hockey city,” Beech said. “The fan support is unbelievable.”

Beech has some special memories while playing in a Wolves uniform.

"Being born in London and having extended family there I was only able to play one game in London while with the Wolves,” Beech said. “It was a 3-2 shootout win. I managed first star in that game and stopped (Patrick) Kane, and (Sam) Gagner in the shootout. That was a special win for me with lots of family and friends there."

As with any hockey team there are highs and lows and for Kevin the low point came when he was traded. But he was happy that he got the chance to play for Coach/General Manager Mike Folingo before being traded and called him the biggest influence on him in a Wolves uniform.

"I would call him a player’s coach,” Beech added. “He treats you very well (and) at the same time makes sure you put the work needed to be successful. I learned a lot from him about hockey in general. He also has so much passion for the game that you want to play for him and do well."

With the high points come the low points and it was the trade that caught him off guard.

"I was traded at the deadline in my overage year,” Beech said. “It was something that caught me off guard and I had a tough time dealing with it when it happened. Sudbury was like a second home to me at the point in my 4th season."

Kevin was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2005 NHL entry draft and he realized how close he was now to his dream of playing in the National Hockey League.

Tampa Bay Lightning. Photo courtesy of Kevin Beech.

He had a quick stint in the American Hockey League with the Springfield Falcons in 2006-07, then found himself with the CHL’s Laredo Bucks and Youngstown in 2007-08. He now finds himself guarding the goal for the Mississippi RiverKings of the CHL.

Though the pro game is faster than the junior game, some players have to adjust for the quickness at the higher level. But for Kevin his game has not changed that much since his junior days.

"I really haven't had to change my game to much,” Beech said. “I think professional (hockey) is all about being consistent though, which was an issue for me in juniors. The game is 90% mental they say and I believe that. I believe I am more mature now and have come a really long way to being ready every night instead of being ready to go most nights. That is the main difference I believe in what I changed and what was needed to be successful at this level."

Hockey players have this thing for playing golf in the off season and for Kevin it is no different. He likes to hit the links in the summer and even go back to Sudbury to visit his billet Elsie with whom he billeted for four years in Sudbury.