Beamish still bullish on Penn State
Former Niagara North Star Liam Beamish is having a solid season with the Sarnia Sting. Photo: MARK MALONE, POSTMEDIA NETWORK.
Liam Beamish has made a smooth transition to the Ontario Hockey League.
The 18-year-old Beamsville native began the 2024/25 season with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League before moving to the Sarnia Sting where he was able to take advantage of a rule which came into play in November permitting the eligibility of Canadian Hockey League players for NCAA hockey programs, effective Aug. 1, 2025.
“It’s been unreal,” Beamish said. “It was perfect. All the guys there and the whole environment, it was super welcoming and made me feel like a part of the team right from the get-go. I have amazing billets here as well and it helped that I knew a bunch of the guys on the team as well going in so I’ve been pretty comfortable, which is really helpful.”
Beamish, who was drafted by the Sting in the eighth round (151st overall) of the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, is slated to go to Penn State in the fall of 2026 on a full scholarship and said he is still committed to the Nittany Lions.
“It’s definitely something that we really like, me and my family,” he said. “We thought that you can kind of get the best of both worlds here with this decision, this move (to Sarnia).”
Beamish said Penn State gave him their blessing to play at the OHL level.
“They’re happy with where I’m at right now. They just wanted me to go somewhere where I would play and develop, prepare for me to come in to play for them,” he said. “They’re giving me all the time that I need to develop into a player that they want me to be.
“I think that’s where I’m going in my career. I mean, if something were to happen with a pro contract, maybe, but I think that’s the way I’m going towards.”
Beamish is currently rated as the 190th North American skater by NHL Central Scouting for the 2025 NHL draft.
Beamish has been logging significant ice time with the Sting playing on their top line and has put up good numbers for a rookie with seven goals and 18 assists and an impressive plus-15 in 22 games.
“I think it’s a bit different from the BCHL,” he said. “It’s a similar pace but the BCHL is more of a defensive league and maybe a little less skilled than this league. This league is full of top-level talent and draft picks that they have every year. It’s a little bit more skilled and there’s a lot more scoring for that reason, but it’s a really good league and a lot of great players in here.”
Beamish played his minor hockey with the Niagara North Stars where he was captain in his U16 season.
He spent last year with the Fort Erie Meteors, playing a vital role in their first Golden Horseshoe championship as a rookie.
Beamish loved his season in black and orange.
“It was huge. They gave me every opportunity that I could ask for, especially being a young kid being able to adapt to junior hockey that quickly, that really helped because of the opportunities that they gave me,” he said. “Just to have that feeling of confidence from a coaching staff and teammates, it really helped me be able to handle a bigger role, which I feel like I can bring to teams now.”
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