Kris Beech | |||
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Born |
Salmon Arm, BC, CAN |
February 5, 1981 ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
Weight | 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
EIHL team Former teams |
Belfast Giants Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins Nashville Predators Columbus Blue Jackets Vancouver Canucks HV71 Genève-Servette HC Lukko HC Pardubice AIK IF Straubing Tigers Vienna Capitals HC TWK Innsbruck |
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NHL Draft | 7th overall, 1999 Washington Capitals |
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Playing career | 1996–present |
Kristopher Beech (born February 5, 1981) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for the Belfast Giants in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Beech was born in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, but grew up in Sicamous, British Columbia.
Beech was drafted 7th overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. At the time he was playing for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. Beech was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2001 with Michal Sivek, Ross Lupaschuk and future considerations for Jaromir Jagr and Frantisek Kucera.
Beech appeared in 79 games for the Penguins recording 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points. Disappointed with his development, the Penguins traded Beech on September 9, 2005 to the Nashville Predators for a conditional draft pick. Beech returned to the Capitals organization on March 9, 2006, having been traded, along with a first-round pick, for defenseman Brendan Witt. He was sent down to the Hershey Bears to join their AHL playoff campaign and helped them to Calder Cup victory against the Milwaukee Admirals.
On January 10, 2008, Beech was claimed off waivers from Columbus by the Vancouver Canucks. However, on January 23, 2008, after just four games with the Canucks in which he recorded one goal and one assist, Beech was subsequently placed on waivers and claimed by the Washington Capitals. Before playing a single game with Washington, Beech was once again placed on waivers, which led to him being re-acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Beech's fourth team in the month of January.