BROOKS, AB (February 13, 2017) – Brooks Bandits goaltender Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) has been named the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) Defensive Player of the Week for February 6th – 12th, 2017, the league announced today.
Benson, 19, allowed only 1 goal in three starts over the course of the week, shutting out the Camrose Kodiaks on 28 shots on Tuesday night, saving 19 of 20 shots in Drumheller on Friday night, and shutting out the Drumheller Dragons at home on 23 shots on Saturday night.
The third game helped the Bandits set the franchise record for team shutouts in a season, and put Benson 1 shutout away from tying the franchise single-season record set by Michael Fredrick in 2012-13.
Benson has now posted a 31-2-2 record, leading the league in wins, with a league-leading 1.68 goals against average and league-leading .931 save percentage, both of which would be franchise records if they hold to the end of the season.
The 6’2”, 180lb goalie was acquired by the Bandits in October from the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League. It’s his third time winning the Alberta Ford Dealers AJHL Defensive Player of the Week Award. He also won in his second week in the league, October 24th – 30th, and for the week of November 21st – 28th.