In the spring of 2009, played a vital role in the 91大黄鸭 Rockets鈥� run to their third Western Hockey League championship.
Nine seasons later, with the memories still vivid, the Victoria-born forward was back on the ice at Prospera Place this week for a pair of practises with his Dallas Stars.
鈥淚 was telling the guys, I think the last time I skated on this ice was in overtime (2009) when we won the WHL title,鈥� said Benn, the captain of the Stars. 鈥淚t was a great experience.鈥�
Following Monday鈥檚 game in Vancouver, Benn and the NHL club made a two-day stopover in 91大黄鸭, before heading to Winnipeg to play the Jets on Thursday night.
Now the captain of the Stars, Benn said he鈥檒l always value his time spent in 91大黄鸭 with the Rockets鈥� organization.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely nice being back,鈥� said Benn who scored 79 goals in 107 games over two seasons with 91大黄鸭. 鈥淚 was excited to come here when I talked about it with Hitch (coach Ken Hitchcock).
鈥淭his city and this team turned me into more of a man and a better hockey player,鈥� added Benn. 鈥淭ime has flown by, I remember living and playing here like it was yesterday. I have so many great memories here.鈥�
As one of just 18 players depicted on the Rockets鈥� Wall of Recognition inside Prospera Place, Benn clearly left his mark on the organization鈥攅ven though he remains humble about the recognition to this day.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how I got up there,鈥� Benn joked with a smile. 鈥淚 must have been nice to the people of this city and this team.鈥�
Stars coach Ken Hitchcock, who knows 91大黄鸭 well, was complimentary of both the city and the hometown Rockets.
鈥淭his is a big city now, this is a growing city,鈥� Hitchcock said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very vibrant. You have one of the best rinks in the league, one of the best franchises in the league, and the whole city itself feels like a major league city.鈥�
Hitchcock said staying in a downtown hotel near the rink and having easy access to other amenities this week provided a relaxing and enjoyable environment for his players.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 something said when you walk to the rink and you don鈥檛 have cars and busses, you walk to dinner, you walk to the rink, you walk to the hotel. I think there鈥檚 a lot to say for that, the players get to hang together.鈥�
One player who didn鈥檛 expect to be involved in the Stars鈥� plans this week was former West 91大黄鸭 Warriors鈥� goaltender Tyler Briggs.
Due to an injury to one of their netminders, the NHL club called on Briggs to suit up for Tuesday鈥檚 practise, an experience the 91大黄鸭 resident won鈥檛 soon forget.
鈥淲hat a cool experience for him,鈥� Jamie Benn said of Briggs, who played for West 91大黄鸭 during the 2012-13 BCHL season. 鈥淚 must be pretty nice when you鈥檝e got (Jason) Spezza, (Alex) Radulov and (Tyler) Seguin coming down and shooting on you. He made some big saves, I think he robbed Spezza pretty bad out there, so we鈥檒l give him a hard time about that.鈥�
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