NORTHWEST NOTES: May 22, 2020

Chiefs’ Beckman named

WHL Player of the Year

CALGARY, Alberta — Spokane Chiefs forward Adam Beckman on Thursday was named Western Hockey League Player of the Year.

Beckman is the first Chief to earn the award since Ray Whitney in 1991. The honor also marks the third straight year the award has been bestowed to a player from the U.S. Division.

Beckman, a Minnesota Wild prospect, recorded 107 points (48 goals, 59 assists), including 16 power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and nine game-winning goals in 63 games. The lone player to reach the 100-point mark, Beckman was the WHL’s top scorer for the 2019-20 regular season. Last month, he was named to the Western Conference First All-Star Team.

A 6-foot-1, 174-pound product of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the 19-year-old Beckman led the WHL in goals, was tied for third in assists and led the league in overall scoring. His 1.70 points-per-game led all WHL skaters. Beckman also ranked second in power-play goals among all WHL skaters.

Beckman was selected by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. In 132 WHL regular season games, Beckman has recorded 169 points (80 goals, 89 assists), and 12 points (8 goals, 4 assists) in 15 WHL playoff games.

The Wild chose Beckman in the third round, 75th overall, of the 2019 NHL Draft.