Behind the Jersey: Beckham Edwards

Beckham Edwards is a Sarnia Sting skilled young player, with immense potential and high expectations.

The 18-year-old center was selected in the third round, 46th overall, by the Sting in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection and is now in his second season with the team. He described the draft day as hectic, “It was a whirlwind. I didn’t know where I was going or what would happen”. During his signing process, General Manager Dylan Seca noted that the Sting scouting staff had been watching Edwards for the last two years and called him “one of the premier forwards in his age group” and “a gifted scorer.”

Before coming to Sarnia, Edwards played for the U15 Little Caesars AAA team in Michigan, where in 2023-24 he scored an astounding 60 goals and 37 assists in 62 games. He said that season taught him valuable lessons that he would carry into his transition to the OHL. He said, “Living away from home with a billet family in Detroit, and being comfortable being away from my family was important. That experience helped me out a lot coming to Sarnia”. Edwards was only 15 when he started his season in Detroit, and was accustomed to life with his family in small town Ontario.

Edwards was raised in Komoka, Ontario, a town just under an hour away from Sarnia. He described growing up in Komoka as small-town Canadian living to its core, not much to do other than play hockey, “I had a lot of buddies who played hockey. There’s a lot of ponds, outdoor rinks, especially during Covid. I was around the game a lot”. He says that, other than the classic NHL stars he would look up to, his father introduced him to the game. “He taught me how to skate and shoot, in the backyard rink or in the basement”. His father was his first-ever hockey coach as a child. “My dad has had a huge impact on my career”.

Beckham Edwards preparing to faceoff

“The people around me have been my biggest supporters and brought me up in the game I love.”

During the offseason, when he’s not training, Edwards is a nature lover and spends his time outdoors with friends or by himself. “If I’m not at the rink in the summer, you can probably find me fishing at one of the ponds or quarries in Komoka”. He noted that it’s important to have interests outside the rink to help keep a clear and focused mind.

This year, Edwards started his BE Kind Initiative, where he visits elementary school classes between kindergarten and third grade. Beckham reads books about kindness to the class and leads an exercise. The students are left a BE Kind card, which encourages them to record acts of kindness, which can be submitted for a prize. Sarnia is an extremely close-knit community, especially amongst its hockey fans, and Edward’s emphasizes the importance of giving back.

This season alone, the skilled forward has competed in two events away from the team, the CHL USA Prospects Challenge and the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game. These competitions are fast-paced and played amongst some of the most skilled players in the league, and are a significant accomplishment for the young player. Beckham said the experience from these games taught him the level of skill that is the standard, and “how good the players are in the age group. That you have to come to the rink and work every single day to get better. No days off”. Edwards was selected alongside Sting teammate and captain Alessandro Di Iorio for both events and were teammates in the CHL USA Prospects challenge.

In December, the second-year sting was named an assistant captain amidst leadership changes. His teammates who also wear the A crest are Hughston Hurt and Mitch Young. He said that despite only recently earning the title, he has always valued being a trusted leader. “Leading by example is the biggest thing for me. You can’t ask people to do things you aren’t doing yourself,” He said, “Making sure the team is keeping up with their daily routine is crucial. “Getting to the rink early, making sure you’re doing the workouts, styling late on the ice to get in practice, every day habits are so important”.

The first word to come to Edwards’ mind when he thinks about his game is: compete. “I’m competitive. I come to the rink every day wanting to get better, wanting to win”. The six-foot-one center is a 200-foot player with an impressive shot and has proven to be a top prospect for the 2026 NHL entry draft. He is ranked 46th by NHL Central Scouting. Edwards isn’t cracking under the pressure; rather, he is motivated by it. “It motivates me a lot. I want to get better as the season goes on. I try my best not to constantly look at the rankings, but it pushes me to be the best I can.”

He acknowledges that at this stage opponments only get bigger and stronger, and says he needs to improve on protecting pucks in the corner. His shot and speed has become an identifier of his game, and sets him apart. “I think my play without the puck has taken the biggest step this season. It’s been the little things I’ve worked on”.

Edwards says the Sarnia Sting are a special group with character and drive.“Everyone here is working as hard as we can. We all want to win.” The shared objective amongst Sting players of making the playoffs isn’t out of reach yet. Edwards said, “Making the playoffs should be the only goal anyone has right now”.

On the road to the playoffs, Beckham says the team needs to keep a clear mind and stay focused, “we need to take it one day at a time. Not get too far ahead. Focus on each game, each shift”.