A San Jose Sharks draft pick is playing for the Langley Rivermen.
Goaltender Mason Beaupit, 20, was acquired by Langley shortly after the Wenatchee Wild of the WHL reassigned him to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in early October.
With the signing of Beaupit, the Rivermen expect to add experience and steadiness in the crease, and someone who is able to play closer to home, and in front of his family every game.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Rivermen as they were one of the teams I grew up watching, so I am very excited to be a part of this organization,” said Beaupit.
“The first couple of weeks with the guys have been amazing,” he added.
The 6’5” Beaupit grew up in Cloverdale playing with Valley West Giants of the BC Elite Hockey League. He has played his last four seasons in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs, Winnipeg Ice and Wild.
Beaupit was also drafted in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, in the fourth round, 108th overall.
To begin the 2022-23 season he played in nine games with Spokane before being traded to the Winnipeg ICE (now Wenatchee Wild). Beaupit played in 22 games with the Manitoba-based team, helping them make it all the way to the 2023 WHL Finals against Seattle.
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Shortly after the Beaupit deal, on Nov. 1 Rivermen GM Burt Henderson announced the club has traded Andrej Kovacevic to the Cowichan Valley Capitals in exchange for future considerations.
Kovacevic, 19, is in his fourth year in the league, and comes to Cowichan committed to play NCAA Div. 1 at Quinnipiac University when his BCHL time ends. This season the Vancouver-born forward had a goal and three assists in nine games played.
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On Friday, Nov. 17, Rivermen visit Chilliwack for a 7 p.m. game before returning home to play the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at George Preston Sat nov 18th when the team unveils new jerseys Puck drops at 7:15 p.m.
Rivermen are currently eighth in the nine-team BCHL coastal conference, with five wins in 18 games.