In the spring of 2009, played a vital role in the Kelowna Rockets香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淚 was telling the guys, I think the last time I skated on this ice was in overtime (2009) when we won the WHL title,香蕉视频直播� said Benn, the captain of the Stars. 香蕉视频直播淚t was a great experience.香蕉视频直播�
Following Monday香蕉视频直播檚 game in Vancouver, Benn and the NHL club made a two-day stopover in Kelowna, before heading to Winnipeg to play the Jets on Thursday night.
Now the captain of the Stars, Benn said he香蕉视频直播檒l always value his time spent in Kelowna with the Rockets香蕉视频直播� organization.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 definitely nice being back,香蕉视频直播� said Benn who scored 79 goals in 107 games over two seasons with Kelowna. 香蕉视频直播淚 was excited to come here when I talked about it with Hitch (coach Ken Hitchcock).
香蕉视频直播淭his city and this team turned me into more of a man and a better hockey player,香蕉视频直播� added Benn. 香蕉视频直播淭ime has flown by, I remember living and playing here like it was yesterday. I have so many great memories here.香蕉视频直播�
As one of just 18 players depicted on the Rockets香蕉视频直播� Wall of Recognition inside Prospera Place, Benn clearly left his mark on the organization香蕉视频直播攅ven though he remains humble about the recognition to this day.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know how I got up there,香蕉视频直播� Benn joked with a smile. 香蕉视频直播淚 must have been nice to the people of this city and this team.香蕉视频直播�
Stars coach Ken Hitchcock, who knows Kelowna well, was complimentary of both the city and the hometown Rockets.
香蕉视频直播淭his is a big city now, this is a growing city,香蕉视频直播� Hitchcock said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 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.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 think there香蕉视频直播檚 something said when you walk to the rink and you don香蕉视频直播檛 have cars and busses, you walk to dinner, you walk to the rink, you walk to the hotel. I think there香蕉视频直播檚 a lot to say for that, the players get to hang together.香蕉视频直播�
One player who didn香蕉视频直播檛 expect to be involved in the Stars香蕉视频直播� plans this week was former West Kelowna Warriors香蕉视频直播� goaltender Tyler Briggs.
Due to an injury to one of their netminders, the NHL club called on Briggs to suit up for Tuesday香蕉视频直播檚 practise, an experience the Kelowna resident won香蕉视频直播檛 soon forget.
香蕉视频直播淲hat a cool experience for him,香蕉视频直播� Jamie Benn said of Briggs, who played for West Kelowna during the 2012-13 BCHL season. 香蕉视频直播淚 must be pretty nice when you香蕉视频直播檝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香蕉视频直播檒l give him a hard time about that.香蕉视频直播�
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