Not even six months ago, Jamie Benn was starring with the Kelowna Rockets, leading them to the 2009 WHL Championship and all the way to the Championship game of the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
Now, the 20-year-old Victoria, B.C., product finds himself playing on the top line for the NHL’s Dallas Stars, alongside fellow WHL grad Brenden Morrow and Mike Ribiero.
Benn’s meteoric rise to the NHL doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Drafted by the Stars in the 5th round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Benn joined the Rockets from the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies early in the 2007-08 campaign. In two seasons with the Rockets, the big-bodied sniper racked up an impressive 79 goals and 147 points in only 107 games. He also led the Rockets with 13 goals and 33 points during their run to the Ed Chynoweth Cup in the spring of 2009.
Although many players spend their first professional seasons at the AHL or ECHL level, Benn impressed so much at Dallas’ training camp in the fall that he left Stars’ head coach Marc Crawford little choice but to put him on the team’s opening-night roster.
“He’s played extremely well,” said Crawford on Benn’s excellent progression and development. “He wasn’t just one of our better players at training camp, he may well have been our best player at training camp.
“He hasn’t shown us that he shouldn’t be here, unlike many other guys coming out of Junior who need a bit more structure to their game,” he said.
While he may not spend the whole season with the big club, Benn certainly has done his part to stick with the team for the foreseeable future. The 6’2”, 207-lb winger scored his first NHL goal in Vancouver versus the Canucks, and has also chipped in a pair of assists through the early part of the season, indicating he’s more than comfortable playing with the big boys.
CATCHING UP WITH…JAMIE BENN
On his NHL experience, so far…
“It’s been a great experience. I’m pretty excited to be here, and I’m having so much fun with it. My first game was a bit nerve-wracking. I was very excited and anxious before the game, but once I got out there and started working hard, I really enjoyed it. It was definitely a very special time for me.”
On his play with the Stars, so far…
“I’ve felt pretty confident, now that I’ve got a few games in. I’m obviously playing with some very great players in Brenden and Mike, so that makes a huge difference. They have helped me out so much, and made the game much easier for me. I know there is a lot of work I still need to do, and I’m looking to learn new things every day. But, so far, I think I’ve been able to play well and contribute.”
On his time in the WHL with Kelowna…
“Those two years were very important for me. Coming out of Junior ‘A’, I felt taking the next step to playing with the Rockets was something I needed to do. I was lucky to have some great coaching in Kelowna, and was able to play on two great teams. It was great that we could have some success, win a championship and play in the Memorial Cup. Before I came to Kelowna, I was really up in the air as to whether to go to the WHL or go to college. I chose to go to the WHL and play for Kelowna, and I know it was the right choice for me.”
On keeping up with the Rockets…
“Yeah, I still keep in touch with some of the guys in Kelowna. It looks like they are doing pretty good to start the year, and I think they have some great players who can keep things rolling there. I do miss the guys in Kelowna, but I’m also having the time of my life right now in the NHL.”
On air travel versus bus travel…
“(Laughs) I definitely don’t miss those bus legs. Being able to fly definitely has its benefits over traveling on the busses.”
Jesse Watts
whl.ca
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