Montreal Canadiens prospect, Owen Beck is the recipient of the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy awarded to the Memorial Cup MVP

Owen Beck wrapped up his major junior hockey career perfectly, winning the Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit and taking home Memorial Cup MVP.

After losing in the Memorial Cup semifinal last year with the Peterborough Petes, Owen Beck got his redemption this year with Saginaw. The Spirit went out and acquired Beck from Peterborough as soon as he returned to the OHL after representing Team Canada at the World Juniors.

Saginaw loaded up at the OHL trade deadline for their Memorial Cup run. It cost the team a pretty penny to go out and trade for the Montreal Canadiens' second-round draft pick, trading away their first-round pick from the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, Aiden Young, along with three draft picks — one third and two second-round picks.

Beck put up 65 points in 49 combined regular season and playoff games with Saginaw. He gave the Spirit terrific depth at the center ice position, and showcased his complete 200ft game and his ability to be a difference-maker in big games. He’s been one of the best shutdown centers over the last two years in the OHL.

Beck scored the opening goal in the Memorial Cup Final, which sent the home crowd fans out of their seats with a ruckus cheer. It was a scrambled draw in the faceoff circle to the right of London’s goaltender Michael Simpson when Beck found the loose puck and quickly snapped a shot over the glove of his former Peterborough Petes teammate.

Then later in the first period, Knights forward Landon Sim clipped Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh with a chicken-wing elbow and was given a game misconduct, sending the Spirit to a five-minute powerplay. 

On the ensuing man advantage, Josh Bloom puts the puck perfectly in the wheelhouse for Beck who powders his one-timer over the blocker of Simpson for his second of the period. Beck finished the game with those two goals, three shots, and an incredible 19 for 24 in the faceoff department.

Beck finished the tournament with four goals, five points, and went 69% on faceoffs. His impact on this Saginaw team will never be forgotten and he has certainly put himself on the radar as someone who could make Montreal's opening night roster for the 2024-25 season. 

The Saginaw Spirit captured their first Memorial Cup in franchise history, and they are the first OHL team to win the tournament since the Windsor Spitfires did in 2017.