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Bennett is a lot more to the U16 AAA Oshawa Generals than just a scorer.
The 15-year-old centre
amassed 33 points in 31 regular season game during the 2023-24 season and
finished with 66 points in 66 total outings when you count exhibitions,
tournaments and playoffs, good for third on the team.
But
he also had 105 penalty minutes, adding another dimension to his scoring
prowess.
“I
really like to play my game in a physical way and I’m not going to back down
from it,” he said, “so if the hit’s there I’m going to make it.”
Bennett
compares his style of play to that of Anthony Cirelli, someone he feels
connected to because the Tampa Bay Lightning centre also played for the
Generals.
Even
Tony Stabile, Bennett’s coach with the Generals, refers to him “as an Anthony
Cirelli type.”
“He’s
the kind of guy that does everything right all the time and helps you win
games,” the coach continued. “He’s a good two-way player so when he’s not in
the lineup you really miss him.”
Bennett’s
66 games were a new career best, despite a shoulder injury that cost him five
contests. He was missed as the Generals lost all five outings, with Stabile
describing him as a must-have player.
The
success is driven by Bennett’s commitment to the game. He trains six days a
week during the season and all seven during the off-season and Stabile has seen
that determination throughout his years with the player.
“We
have some players that work as hard as him, but he works the hardest,” said
Stabile. “He’s committed on and off the ice.”
Not
only does he grind, but he has a high hockey IQ. He picks up on coaching cues
and gives insight into how he thinks the team should adjust during a
game. He gets under the skin of opponents and cuts off passing and
shooting lanes.
“He
has that mental aspect and is such a smart player,” said Stabile. “He has the
hockey sense.”
Bennett
plans to round out his game by playing more physically, something that will
develop as he grows. He’s currently six feet, 155 pounds but is looking to add
weight in the off-season for an easier adjustment into U18.
The
gap in talent is small between the levels, but the difference in physical play
is not, something Bennett got a taste of when he joined the U18 team as a
fill-in.
“When
I went up there it wasn’t so much the skill difference that I noticed, it was
the fact I was playing with men almost,” said Bennett.
Stabile
believes Bennett has what it takes to not only play U18 but to go even further.
“He
has a chance to be a pro hockey player and he’s going to have to prove himself
every step of the way like most players do,” said Stabile, “but it’s because of
the way he thinks and sees the game that he’s always a step ahead of everybody
else.”
About the author: Nate Ohayon is a student in the Sport Journalism post-grad program at Centennial College.