Former Moose Jaw Warrior Cody Beach took a different route, but he’s made it to the NHL. 

On Tuesday night, Beach made his NHL debut as a referee in Arizona when the Coyotes took on the New Jersey Devils. He worked alongside referee Trevor Hanson and linesmen Trent Knorr and Julien Fournier. 

Beach played for the Warriors from 2010-2012, amassing 21 goals and 69 assists in 98 games played. Beach was no stranger to the penalty box during his playing career in Moose Jaw, picking up 392 penalty minutes. 

The Kelowna product was drafted in the fifth round, 134th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues.  

After his junior hockey career, Beach bounced around in the ECHL and AHL, but never made it to the NHL level as a player.  

Beach’s final season as a player was in 2015-2016 with the Quad City Mallards of the ECHL. He would then take up refereeing hockey, now making it to the NHL.