Jay Beagle
First player to win ECHL, AHL, and NHL championships.
Jay Beagle, a centre from Calgary, Alberta, played his final NHL games with the Arizona Coyotes. Born on October 16, 1985, to Al and Sue Beagle, he grew up in Calgary with his younger siblings Steve and Jen, and worked at his father’s auto garage during high school. He never went through the NHL draft. Instead, after playing junior hockey with the Calgary Royals of the AJHL and two seasons at the University of Alaska Anchorage, he left college early—partly because he was struggling to balance school, hockey, and weight training. His father started calling ECHL teams to get him a tryout, which led to an eight-game stint with the Idaho Steelheads in 2006–07. During that team’s playoff run in Las Vegas, Beagle met Steve Richmond, a Capitals development director, who offered him a spot at Washington’s development camp. Beagle helped the Steelheads win the Kelly Cup that spring.
He joined the Capitals organization for the 2007–08 season, playing 64 games for their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, and scoring 37 points. His first AHL goal was shorthanded, against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on November 5, 2007. He credited coach Bruce Boudreau for pushing him to improve offensively. After signing a two-year entry-level contract, Beagle made his NHL debut on February 11, 2009, called up when Alexander Semin was injured. He returned to the Bears and helped them win the Calder Cup in 2009. His first NHL point—an assist on Matt Bradley’s game-winner—came on November 17, 2009, against the New York Rangers, and his first NHL goal, unassisted, followed on November 23 against the Ottawa Senators. He signed a two-year extension that season.
Beagle started the 2010–11 season in the AHL before being recalled on December 15, 2010, and eventually joined the Capitals full-time. Teammate Brooks Laich urged the coaching staff to give him a regular role. On October 13, 2011, Beagle suffered a concussion in a fight with Pittsburgh’s Arron Asham, missing 31 games. He signed a three-year extension on July 5, 2012, and another three-year, $5.25 million deal on June 29, 2015. When the Capitals won the Stanley Cup on June 7, 2018, Beagle became the first player to have won the Kelly Cup, Calder Cup, and Stanley Cup.
After 11 seasons with Washington, he left as a free agent and signed a four-year, $12 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2018.
Quick Facts
- Height
- 6 ft 3 in
- Weight
- 215 lb
- Born
- 16 October 1985
- Birthplace
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Right
- Played for
- Washington Capitals; Vancouver Canucks; Arizona Coyotes
- Draft
- Undrafted
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Beagle grew up in Calgary, Alberta, playing for the Simons Valley minor-hockey association and winning the 2003 Air Canada Cup with the Midget-AAA Calgary Northstars. After being released from a tryout with the Calgary Hitmen, he played for the Calgary Royals of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) from 2003 to 2005, earning the Royals’ Top Rookie Award and Most Inspirational Award. He then played for the University of Alaska Anchorage's men's ice hockey from 2005 to 2007, recording 20 points in his sophomore season and 10 points in his rookie season, focusing on penalty killing and defensive play.
Leaving college early, Beagle earned a tryout with the Idaho Steelheads for the 2006–07 season, helping them win the Kelly Cup. He then joined the Washington Capitals organization, playing for the Hershey Bears and winning the Calder Cup in 2009. He made his NHL debut on February 11, 2009, and scored his first NHL goal on November 23, 2009, against the Ottawa Senators. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, he signed a four-year, $12 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2018. In his first month with the Canucks, he suffered a broken forearm and missed 24 games. He was traded to the Arizona Coyotes on July 23, 2021, as part of a multi-player trade.
Reader's Guide
Jay Beagle's significance lies in his unique achievement of winning championships at three levels of professional hockey: the ECHL's Kelly Cup (2007), the AHL's Calder Cup (2009 and 2010), and the NHL's Stanley Cup (2018). This triple crown distinguishes him as the only player to have accomplished this. His career path from an undrafted free agent to a key depth forward for the Washington Capitals and later the Vancouver Canucks exemplifies perseverance. Beagle's role as a defensive forward and penalty killer was honed during his college years at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and he credited coaching for his offensive development. His tenure with the Canucks was marked by a significant injury early on, but he contributed as a veteran presence. The trade to the Arizona Coyotes in 2021 involved multiple players and draft picks, reflecting his value as a seasoned player. His legacy includes a notable four-goal, five-point performance against Tourmaline Oil Corporation in 2025, underscoring his offensive capability later in his career.
Did You Know?
- Beagle is the first player to win the Kelly Cup, Calder Cup, and Stanley Cup.
- Beagle worked in his father's auto garage during high school and changed tires while playing junior hockey.
- He married his high school sweetheart Ashley in 2009.
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