Michael Benning

Not to be confused with Micky Benning.

Michael Benning
Benning with the Charlotte Checkers at the 2024 AHL Outdoor Classic
Born (2002-01-05) January 5, 2002 (age 23)
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Florida Panthers
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
NHL draft 95th overall, 2020
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2023–present

Michael Benning (born January 5, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was named as the Tournament Most Outstanding Player in the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament while representing the University of Denver.[1]

Playing career

Benning played junior hockey for his team in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League (AMBHL). During his freshman year in high school, he averaged over a point per game and graduated to the Northern Alberta Elite program. After another outstanding offensive season he began playing Junior A for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in 2018. In his first season with the team, Benning was one of the clubs top scorers and helped them finish second in the league standings. He was named an alternate captain for the following year and continued to put up big numbers. Benning helped the Crusaders win the regular season title, however, the campaign was ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By then, however, he had already shown enough promise for the Florida Panthers to select him in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

After graduating, Benning, along with Sherwood Park teammates Reid Irwin and Carter Savoie, travelled south and began attending the University of Denver. Due in part to a late start and a shortened season, the Denver Pioneers had a poor performance that saw them finish with a losing record for the first time in over 20 years.[2] Despite the difficulties, Denver was still ranked 13th in the preseason poll entering the 2021–22 season. Benning spearheaded the attack from the blueline and helped the Pioneers swiftly rise up the rankings. By the end of the regular season, Denver finished in a tie for the conference title and was guaranteed an NCAA tournament bid. During the postseason, Benning proved to be pivotal in Denver's success, helping the team win three one-goal games to reach the championship match. With his team down in the third period of the final, Benning assisted on the game-tying goal and then scored what proved to be the deciding marker less than three minutes later. After also assisting on the Pioneers' overtime goal in the national semifinal, he was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player.[3]

Following the conclusion of his junior season with the Pioneers in 2022–23, Benning ended his collegiate career in signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on April 13, 2023.[4]

Personal life

Benning is the son of former Panthers defenceman Brian Benning, nephew of former Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick and Vancouver Canucks player and general manager Jim Benning, and the younger brother of San Jose Sharks defenceman Matthew Benning.[4] Rounding out a full pedigree in a hockey family, was uncle Mark Benning who played in the NCAA and professionally in the West German Eishockey-Bundesliga, and grandfather Elmer Benning (1941–2018), a scout for the Montreal Canadiens.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2018–19 Sherwood Park Crusaders AJHL 60 10 51 61 99 12 1 8 9 14
2019–20 Sherwood Park Crusaders AJHL 54 12 63 75 54 — — — — —
2020–21 University of Denver NCHC 21 3 8 11 8 — — — — —
2021–22 University of Denver NCHC 41 15 23 38 14 — — — — —
2022–23 University of Denver NCHC 39 13 21 34 38 — — — — —
2023–24 Charlotte Checkers AHL 72 9 17 26 50 3 0 1 1 2
AHL totals 72 9 17 26 50 3 0 1 1 2

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
College
All-NCHC First Team 2022–23
All-NCHC Second Team 2021–22 [5]
All-Tournament Team 2022 [1]
AHCA West Second Team All-American 2022–23 [6]

References

  1. ^ a b Trefzger, Ed (April 9, 2022). "Most Outstanding Player Benning redeems himself for penalty with Denver's game-winning goal". USCHO. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "Denver Hockey Media Guide 2020-21" (PDF). Denver Pioneers. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Knabenbauer, Ron (April 14, 2022). "Mike Benning Named National Player of the Month for March & April". University of Denver Athletics. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Florida Panthers agree to terms with Defenseman Mike Benning". Florida Panthers. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Five Different Teams Represented on All-NCHC First Team". NCHC. March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  6. ^ "2022-23 Men's CCM Hockey Division I All-Americans". ahcahockey.com. April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year
2022–23 		Succeeded by