For the fifth time in the last five years, the Winnipeg Ice (previously the Kootenay Ice) have selected a forward in the first round of the Western Hockey League‘s Bantam Draft.
Joining the likes of Peyton Krebs (2017), Connor McClennon (2018) and Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie (2019) is Zachary Benson of the Yale Academy Bantam Prep Lions of Abbotsford, B.C.
The Ice chose the 14-year-old from Chilliwack with the fourteenth overall pick in today’s draft, which was conducted online as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Benson is a 5-foot-5, 126 pound left winger who scored 30 goals and added 56 assists for 86 points in just 30 games to earn MVP honours.