In the Spring of 2024, Lucas Beckman had the best seat in the house for the worst feeling in the rink. He was a 16-year-old, not even technically in his rookie season (he suited up for just seven regular season games) and had just watched his Baie-Comeau Drakkar fall in a four-game sweep to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Final.
It’s a feeling that has stayed with him as he first moved up to the starting role in Baie-Comeau, then moved on to Chicoutimi in January. Now with a second shot at a QMJHL playoff title with the Saguenéens, Beckman maintains perspective.
“I got to see what it took,” he says of his earlier brush with a potential championship.
“Unfortunately, we lost, and there were a lot of guys on that team that, for them, it was their last chance to win, not just as juniors, but in their hockey careers. Seeing that and feeling that and now getting another opportunity, this time playing at 18, is really special. It’s not something to take for granted.”
The Saguenéens made it plain for all to see; this was the year in Chicoutimi. Five years of building was going to yield results, one way or the other. And when the trade period opened, Beckman was one of many to make his way to the club. Yes, there was quantity. But there was also plenty of quality.
“They’ve built a team on leadership and identity.”
“The guys that they got, they weren’t just superstars. They were also leaders on their teams,” Beckman points out. “When I got here, I was really welcomed. I already knew a lot of players on the team as well as the staff and coaches. And I think that helped us all gel really quickly and be able to be in the position we’re in right now.”
Adding depth up front of bolstering the blue line – two things the Sags did in spades – is one thing. But what about between the pipes? Veteran netminder Raphaël Précourt has put in two and a half solid seasons in the blue and white but hasn’t appeared in a game since March 21. How has the dynamic evolved between two teens used to being the go-to guy?
“Since I got here, we’ve been getting along super well,” Beckman explains. “Basically, he could be the starter right now as well, but it hasn’t tarnished our friendship or our relationship at all. We push each other. That’s what I said since the first day I got here, that I was going to push him to do better and he was going to push me to do better in games and practices. There’s only been positives with that.”
Beckman has indeed been the man, crafting an overall 23-2 record entering the Final for a Saguenéens squad that’s been waiting a generation to reach this stage of the postseason. When he picked up the win in Game 2 of the current series versus Moncton, he became the first Sags netminder to earn a victory in the championship round since Éric Fichaud, back in 1994. For a club ripe with history, Beckman takes the historical context of his achievements in stride.
“It’s special, for sure,” he admits. “We can be proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, but it’s really not done.”
“We want to go down in history as winners and bring pride to the region of Saguenay.”
There’s little doubt the fans who pack the Centre Georges-Vézina are riding a high thanks to Beckman and his teammates. But there’s still work to be done against a Wildcats squad that’s been here before. If a third Gilles-Courteau Trophy banner lands in that rink’s historic rafters, what could wind up being the difference maker?
“I think there’s two things,” Beckman considers. “There’s our responsibility. I think we have a team that, no matter the score, we always play the same way. We don’t cheat. We focus on the defensive end. Also, we play all our players. We roll four lines, which could help avoid injuries for everybody. That could possibly give us the edge in a long series.”
But as he learned while being one of the freshest faces in the ’Q’, Beckman isn’t going to worry about win number 16 until the rest are firmly nailed down.
“We’re not just satisfied to get to the final,” he said.
“We’re here to win it.”
