Sherwood Park, AB: The Canadian Junior Hockey League announced earlier today that Michael Benning was one of five finalists for their 2019/20 Top Defenceman award.
Michael Benning was named the league?s Outstanding Defenceman on February 27th. He became the first Crusader to win the award since Josh Healey in 2013.
In his second season in Sherwood Park, Benning finished with a staggering 75 points (12 goals, 63 assists) in 54 games making him the highest-scoring defenceman in the league. Those 75 points were the most by a defenceman since 2018 when Dennis Cesena of the Brooks Bandits did it in 60 games. He is now tied alongside Cesena, Cale Makar (Brooks Bandits), and Keith Brown (Fort Saskatchewan Traders) for tenth all time.
Benning was also a member of Team Canada West, the AJHL Selects, and the CJHL Top Prospects. The University of Denver commit was recently named to the Viterra North All-League Team.
Benning will go up against Akito Hiroshe (Salmon Arm Silverbacks – BCHL), Brett Thorne (Carleton Place Canadians – CCHL), Mattias Salem (Espanola Express – NOJHL), and Sam Duchesne (Trenton Golden Hawks – OJHL).
The Crusaders would like to congratulate Michael and his family on this achievement.
For any further information; please contact liamhorrobin@sherwoodparkcrusaders.com.