by Tim Morris
It was the best surprise Christmas gift that Ottawa Junior Senators defensemen Samuel Beaulne could have received. It was kind of like hitting the lottery.
Beaulne, who had rarely played many meaningful hockey games past mid-season before—let alone competing for a league championship in the post-season—was going from a struggling squad to a team that was sitting atop the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) after one phone call.
Placed on waivers by the Rockland Nationals, Beaulne was headed to Waterloo to continue his junior hockey career there when he received a call from the Junior Senators informing him that the team was interested in bringing his talents to the nation’s capital. The catch, he only had 20 minutes to make up his mind before the waiver period ended. The answer was a no-brainer for Beaulne.
“When Ottawa called, I jumped at the opportunity to join a very successful, winning team,” he said.
Coming in, Beaulne expected his experience with the Junior Senas to be completely different from anything he had seen playing for teams that were stuck in the lower half of the standings—and it certainly was.
“The camaraderie is the best I’ve ever seen,” Beaulne explained. “The coaches push you and the practices are intense.
“The leaders push you and sometimes there’s tough love. It’s really just constructive criticism. Everyone wants you to get better.”
Playing for the defending three-time Bogart Cup champions made hockey fun again for the lefty-shooting defenseman. In 17 matches with OJS, Beaulne has scored a goal and added five assists. That goal turned out to be a game-winner against Carleton Place.
“Going from a struggling program to a winning program you go to the rink every day with a smile on your face,” he pointed out.
That smile got a bit wider for Beaulne in March with the start of the CCHL playoffs.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” he said. “I’ve never been on a playoff contending team or been on a team where every game is meaningful.”
For his part, the 19-year-old native of Orléans, Ontario, just wants to play his role. “I’m here to win a championship,” said the 5-10, 163-pound blueliner.
“I’m an offensive defenseman,” said Beaulne in describing his game. “I’ll throw my body as much as I can but I like the puck on my stick in the offensive zone. I’m comfortable passing the puck and creating plays.”
Coach Kyle Makaric said of Beaulne, “He’s very dynamic. He’s got good puck skills and he escapes very well. He’s the kind of player who can change the game with one offensive play.”
While offense may be his forte, Beaulne knows defense is a must in Ottawa. He began playing the game at the age of five and credited playing forward in his formative years for making him an effective two-way defender.
Playing up front made him comfortable with the puck on his stick bringing it up ice and into the offensive zone to make plays. It also made him aware of what moves forwards like to make which helps him defensively anticipate those moves ahead of time.
Beaulne gave other sports a try growing up but it was hockey that won out.
“I played other sports but when it came time to focus on one it was hockey,” he noted. “I love skating, going to the rink and the camaraderie of the sport.”
Now, he has been rewarded for that decision by playing for a team competing for the Bogart Cup.
