The London Knights have locked up a familiar name with a hometown twist, signing first-round pick Ryan Beaulieu.
Beaulieu, a London native and second-generation Knight, went 14th overall last month to the same organization where his father, Josh, was part of the Memorial Cup-winning group in 2005. The 16-year-old has spent his hockey life around the city, and now he’s officially in the fold with the team he set his sights on from the start.
“It’s unreal,” the defenceman told The Free Press after being selected by his hometown team. “It’s just a dream come true for me and my family to follow in my dad’s footsteps and (my U16 coach) Danny Syvret, too.
It’s everything I’ve been dreaming about since the start of the season. As soon as I saw the Knights got (pick) 14, I said that’s my goal.”
Beaulieu also comes with a strong résumé from a big season with the Jr. Knights.
The Aquinas student captained one of the city’s most successful U16 AAA minor hockey teams in organizational history, then backed it up with production all over the ice. He put up 13 goals and 47 points in 28 games for the Alliance-champion squad, added six goals and 19 points in eight playoff games, and then matched the OHL Cup scoring record for defencemen with 11 points in six games at the tournament.
The six-foot, 187-pound blueliner also got a taste of older competition, appearing in five games as an affiliate with the St. Thomas Stars of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. He attended London’s rookie camp last month before the signing became official.
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