Boise, ID (6/8/18)— Former Steelhead Jay Beagle made history on Thursday night, as the Washington Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights to earn their first Stanley Cup Championship in their 43-year history.
Beagle became the first player in professional hockey history to win a Stanley Cup, a Calder Cup in the American Hockey League, and a Kelly Cup in the ECHL. He will also be the first Steelheads alumnus to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup.
The Calgary native began his professional career with the Steelheads in 2006-07, joining late in the season following a two-year NCAA stint with the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Beagle notched two goals and ten points in eight regular-season games for Idaho and a goal and three points in 18 playoffs games as the Steelheads captured their second Kelly Cup title.
Beagle joined the AHL’s Hershey Bears the following season and won Calder Cup titles in 2009 and 2010. He has played 471 NHL regular-season games since the 2008-09 season, and 556 games including playoffs, all with the Capitals.
He appeared in 23 of Washington’s 24 playoff games during this year’s post-season run, posting two goals and eight points and notching two assists during the Cup Final.
Beagle was not the only Steelheads alumnus in the Cup Final. Vegas goaltender Maxime Lagace did not see game action, but he was with the Knights during the Final and did appear in eleven games with the Steelheads in 2015-16.
Kael Mouillierat and Steven Oleksy were the first Steelheads to be a part of a Cup-winning team when they were called up by the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mouillierat, a Steelhead from 2009 to 2013, and Oleksy, in Idaho from 2009 to 2012, were with the Penguins for their Cup victory, but did not play in the post-season and are not listed on the Cup.
In 21 seasons, the Steelheads have produced 25 players that have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.
Photo: Getty Images
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