Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks signed left wing Kyle Beach, the club's first-round pick in last year's NHL Draft, to a three-year entry level contract on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Beach was selected 11th overall by Chicago and split the 2008-09 season between the Everett Silvertips and Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League, posting 24 goals and 39 assists for 63 points in 54 regular-season games while tallying two points and 31 penalty minutes in 10 postseason games. His 165 penalty minutes ranked fourth in the WHL.
Beach went on to appear with the Rockford Ice Hogs of the American Hockey League after inking an amateur tryout contact with the club's affiliate on April 9. He posted 15 penalty minutes in two regular-season matchups and also appeared in one postseason contest.
The Vancouver, British Columbia, native has recorded 82 goals and 105 assists for 187 points with 589 penalty minutes in 183 regular-season WHL contests over four seasons with Everett (2005-09) and Lethbridge (2008-09).
