BROOKS, AB (December 11, 2017) – Brooks Bandits goaltender Mitch Benson (Windsor, ON) has been named the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced by the league today.
Benson, 20, capped off an eventful week that included his securing his NCAA commitment to Division I Colgate University.
Last Tuesday night, he stopped 18 of 19 shots in an 8-1 win over the Olds Grizzlys on the road, and followed it up with a 27-save shutout of the Calgary Canucks in Strathmore on Friday night, recording his league-leading fourth shutout of the season. He finished the week by stopping 13 of 15 shots in an 8-2 win over the Grizzlys on Saturday night, giving him a 3-0 record on the week with a 1.00 goals against average and .951 save percentage.
He currently leads the AJHL in wins with 22, 5 more than any other AJHL goaltender, and minutes played with 1,929, 357 more than any other goalie in the league.
It’s the second time Benson has won the award this year, as he also received it in late October.
The Bandits are back in action this weekend hosting the Bonnyville Pontiacs on Friday night and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons on Saturday night, with both games beginning at 7:00 PM. Saturday is the team’s first ever Ugly Christmas Sweater Night, with special one-time jerseys worn on the ice and available for silent auction on the concourse. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.