TEMPE – It’s no secret that the landscape of college hockey has shifted. Even with new NIL and transfer-portal regulations, the sport’s most significant change occurred last year when the NCAA allowed players in the Canadian major junior and university systems to be ruled eligible.
This rule change didn’t just help larger programs with more money. It gave every program an immediate boost, bolstering their prospect pool.
Things took a strange turn Aug. 26 when Bemidji State University landed a pair of players cleared by the NCAA who had previously played full seasons in the pro hockey ranks. These rulings came as a surprise and largely went unnoticed. That is until Arizona State coach Greg Powers made a big splash and added forward Jack Beck to the Sun Devils’ roster.
Beck fills a hole that’s emerged with the Sun Devils’ forward group. He is a skilled left-shot who can play center. Last year, he played 40 games between the AHL and ECHL, scoring at a point-per-game pace.
The Beck family has ties to ASU, with Jack’s older brother, Noah, donning the maroon and gold during his fifth and final year of eligibility last season. Noah signed a professional contract with the San Jose Sharks last March, following a strong season with ASU.
When the news broke about the players in Bemidji, both Jack and Noah were in Tempe. Noah, ready to head to Sharks training camp, and Jack set to enter his second pro season in the Pittsburgh Penguins system.
The brothers joked with Powers about Jack becoming a Sun Devils player. Powers acted on those words, and just like the situation with Bemidji, Beck’s case was submitted to the NCAA, and he was cleared to play.
“The NCAA ruled him eligible,” Powers said. “We weren’t looking to break the rules or even circumvent the rules. The opportunity presented itself. It was unique.”
When the news initially broke on Sept. 17, the internet jumped all over it. The situation raised questions among fans about where the line is drawn for eligibility in college, with some joking that 30-year-old players could be deemed eligible.
Powers and the Sun Devils famously became trailblazers last September when freshman forward Braxton Whitehead became the first CHL player to commit before the rule was officially changed. Although ASU innovated and added to its roster, Powers says it’s not a pipeline that will be used often.
“It’s not going to be something we do probably ever again,” he said. “It’s not like we were scouring the East Coast League or the American League to find a player. It was 100% circumstantial.”
The combination of familiarity with family and a good fit with the program made it an easy decision for both parties.
“I watched a lot of games last year and supported my brother, so why wouldn’t I try to follow his footsteps and come here to try and win a national championship?” Beck said. “He (Noah) had a great time and raved about this place every day. He’d FaceTime me and show me the facilities. This is an NHL-type facility, so it was a pretty easy decision.”
Throughout the process, Powers continued to remark on the unique circumstances.
“If it were anyone else in the same position, we would’ve said no,” Powers said, “but because of the character we know he has and being so close with his brother and family, it was a no-brainer for us.”
Beck began skating with the team two weeks ago and is already fitting into the locker room. Although his junior hockey career was spent north of the border, Noah’s connections have sped up the bonding process with his teammates.
“I played in Fargo with Noah, so I got to meet him (Jack) and the rest of the family,” ASU captain Kyle Smolen said. “I wasn’t surprised he wanted to be here; he’s going to be exceptional for us.”
Fans will have to wait for the forward to make his debut, as the NCAA has ruled that he must miss the first six games due to his late enrollment.
Beck will have three years of eligibility thanks to NCAA Bylaw 12.8.3.5, which states that any player playing organized hockey past their 21st birthday loses a year of eligibility due to a delayed enrollment penalty. Beck turned 21 on April 12, 2024.
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