2022 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Signs with the Cats
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida Panthers General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Mike Benning on a three-year, entry-level contract.“Mike is a gifted two-way defenseman who has had an outstanding collegiate career,” said Zito. “We are thrilled for him to take the next step in his career with the Panthers and look forward to his continued development within our organization.”
Benning, 21, completed his junior season at the University of Denver, leading the Pioneers to their second consecutive Penrose Cup awarded to the champions of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) regular season. The 5-foot-9, 177-pound native of Edmonton, Alberta ranked fourth among NCAA defensemen in goals (13) and tied for fifth in the nation in scoring among defensemen with 34 points (13-21-34).
Named the NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year, Benning led all conference defenseman in scoring, while his plus-17 rating in conference play ranked second. A two-time NCHC Player of the Month and two-time Defenseman of the Week recipient this season, Benning was named to the First-Team All-NCHC.
Selected by Florida in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Benning appeared in 101 total games over three seasons for the Pioneers (2020-21 to 2022-23), registering 83 points (31-52-83). Benning scored the game-winning goal in the 2022 NCAA National Championship game to secure the Pioneers their ninth title. Accumulating four points (1-3-4) over two Frozen Four games, he was awarded the 2022 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player and was named to the 2022 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.
Benning’s father Brian Benning was an original Panther playing in Florida’s first two seasons (1993-94 to 1994-95) and played 568 career NHL games for Florida, the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers. His older brother Matt Benning is in his seventh NHL season currently playing for the San Jose Sharks.
2023 Stanley Cup Playoff single game tickets go on sale to the general public on April 13 at 10 AM. Join Panthers Territory today! A 2023-24 Territory Membership is the only way to receive access to all 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff home games, exclusive benefits, savings and events. Call 954-835-PUCK or visit FloridaPanthers.com/TerritoryMemberships for more information.
-PANTHERS-
