Jordan Bennett

[Plate 285]

Having grown up in Tilt Cove, Newfoundland, Jordan Bennett was the most popular kid in town. He also happened to be the only kid in town. He was driving two and a half hours every morning to go to the nearest rink. But his parents saw something in him. Maybe it was just his dad's will that his son would be a talent in the VHL.

 

Going to practice often did pay dividends. Jordan never had the best shot. Nor was he the best stick handler. But what he lacked in those departments in his defensive awareness and speed. Bennett would be the start of a generational talent. A two-way forward can disrupt most plays and get easy breakout passes from turnovers on the defensive end.

Take it with a grain of salt as his opponents were beer leaguers, with a strong emphasis on beer. The competition was never really something Bennett could strive for in a hockey community as small as this. That didn’t stop some of his early development; playing against men gave him a firmer grip on his stick and a higher IQ at stick checking with less reach. 

 

When Jordan reached the age of 18, he finally moved from the bustling town of Tilt Cove and found his way to a more populated town, Toronto, Canada. The culture shock was incredibly difficult for Bennett, as he failed to crack any OHL roster or triple-A roster. With the higher level of competition, Bennett was able to adapt quickly to the shifting strategies of his opponents. 

 

From there, Bennett hopped the border to New England. Boston University would be where Bennett took his academic career, studying in social sciences. He joined the university hockey team. He posted a respectable 47 points in 75 games, eight goals, and 39 assists, with an excellent +21 rating. 

 

News picked up in higher leagues, and the junior showcase tournament sponsored by the VHL offered Bennett a contract. As a graduate, Bennett figures this is his one chance to prove to the world that a bit guy from Tilt Cove, Newfoundland, can make a big difference in the international hockey community.

 

Bennett currently is posting  7 points in 15 games played in the JST. He is neither a positive nor negative player and has four blocked shots with 18 hits. His physical line of play and defensive composure against better skaters have proved valuable in his showcase.