ICE Star Benson Named WHL Player of the Week

The Western Hockey League has announced Winnipeg ICE forward Zach Benson as its Player of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, February 26. Over a span of seven days, the projected Top-10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft put up five goals and 13 total points in his four games played during that timeframe. All four games occurred on the road, while Benson recorded points in each contest. Highlighted by a hat trick and a career-high six points in a lopsided 8-1 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Sunday, Benson capped off his impressive week in style, picking up his second-straight First Star of the Game honour in the process. It was the Chilliwack, BC product's third hat trick of the season. But before that game, Benson also had points in the three games prior. He began the week with a shorthanded marker and an assist in a 4-2 win over Swift Current. He then potted three assists to go alongside one goal on Wednesday in Winnipeg's 5-2 win over Calgary. Friday's performance only saw one assist from Benson, but it was on the game-winning goal - a 2-1 victory on Matthew Savoie's winner. Formerly selected 14th overall in 2020 by the ICE at the WHL Prospects Draft, Benson now has 68 goals and 175 points in just 136 career games. He is ranked second among all players (behind Connor Bedard) in points and assists, while also placing second in shorthanded goals across the league. Benson is ranked No. 7 among North American skaters by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau in advance of the final stretch run of the 2022-23 CHL season. He and his ICE teammates next take to the ice on Tuesday evening in an afternoon rematch in Edmonton with the Oil Kings. The game can be viewed live on CHL TV.