Corpus Christi, TX - The Corpus Christi IceRays acquired the reigning CHL's Most Outstanding Goaltender Kevin Beech from the Mississippi RiverKings in exchange for future considerations, IceRays General Manager/Senior VP, Pat Dunn announced Saturday. Beech has spent his entire pro career in the CHL - with the exception of six games in the American Hockey League.

Beech, 23, is in his third full pro season, but has already made a huge impression on the CHL. The Brantford, Ontario native was the league's top netminder last year, winning the CHL's Most Outstanding Goaltender Award. He led the league in wins and minutes played, going 35-12-3 with a 2.44 GAA and a .906 save percentage. His 50 games played were second to only Kris Tebbs of the IceRays, and his GAA finished fourth in the league. This year Beech is 6-3-2 in 13 games played, and has a 3.21 GAA and .875 save percentage.

Beech turned pro with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL in the 2006-2007 season, appearing in six games following a successful junior career in the OHL. Beech was selected in the 6th round (165th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. His first complete season came in 2007-2008 when he began the season with the Laredo Bucks and was traded in January to the Youngstown Steelhounds. He finished the season in Youngstown, where he was teammates with IceRays forwards Chris Richards and Ryan Bennett, and defensemen Jeff Alcombrack and Kurtis Dulle. After Youngstown suspended operations following that season, Beech joined the RiverKings where he had remained until Saturday. In 95 career games, Beech is 55-25-6 with a 2.54 GAA and a .904 save percentage.

Beech's signing helps fill the void left by Kevin Nastiuk, who departed the team earlier this week to play for Berlin of the DEL in Germany.