RIMOUSKI, Que. – One more practice, one more game. Then, for Jamie Benn, it‘s on to life in the fast pro lane.
The Kelowna Rockets hit the practice ice this morning, as they prepare one last time for a shot at national glory on Sunday afternoon. Win or lose in tomorrow‘s Memorial Cup championship game, the contest will certainly be Benn‘s last showing in red and teal.
Since joining Kelowna in October of 2007, Benn has produced simply spectacular numbers, and is certainly one of the best offensive players in franchise history.
In 136 regular-season, playoff and Memorial Cup games, the 6-foot-2 left winger has tallied 100 goals and 99 assists for 199 points, while also earning 163 penalty minutes. Benn is currently tied for the tournament scoring lead with eight points.
On Monday, though, those numbers will be quickly turned aside, as the Victoria product focuses on making the NHL.
“My time here has gone by pretty quick,” said Benn, selected by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round, 129th overall, of the NHL‘s 2007 entry draft.
“It‘s been a heck of a ride, and there‘s no better position to be in than playing for the Memorial Cup.”
When Benn joined Kelowna, the Rockets were in a rebuilding mode, having failed to make the playoffs in the spring of 2007 following a losing season of 22-41-5-4. The next season, with Benn helping spearhead a large turnover, the Rockets went 38-26-2-6. This past season, Kelowna went 47-21-1-3, then rolled through the playoffs, going 16-6 and earning a berth in the 2009 Memorial Cup.
“It‘s been a pretty thrilling ride . . . we really didn‘t expect anything,” said Benn. “But we played hard this whole season, and I think we‘ve really earned to be here.
“The tournament, it‘s been a great experience; it‘s one I‘m going to use to help build my career.”
Before his pro career starts, however, there‘s one more game to be played: Sunday‘s championship contest.
“It‘s definitely a big game, but you need to have fun with it and do your thing,” said Benn. “It‘s going to be a tough challenge in the final, but we‘ll be up for it.” Top of Page
