The Offensive Dynamo: Blake Benson

[WoodyP 2]

Hailing from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada, Blake Benson was born and raised in a pure hockey family. From age three Benson's father, Kevin Benson, had him on skates. Benson's hockey career started at age five when his father signed him up for 'Little Tykes Hockey', a league regularly for children between the ages of six and seven. Even in his earliest and youngest days of hockey, Blake appeared to dominate. "The game just came natural to him from day one", his father Kevin said of his young son. Benson picked up on hockey naturally, likely because he grew up on the ice as he had two older brothers and an older sister who loved the game of hockey. Benson's oldest brother Mason plays professional hockey in Sweden, while Blake's older sister Josie is a representative for the women's Canadian Olympic hockey team. Benson's other brother, Aaron Benson, is a coach in the major junior hockey league in Quebec, Canada. Even with that type of competition in his family, there is no debate where the real talent and potential lies within the family. Blake has been mentally and physically preparing for his draft day into the big leagues ever since he was a child. Blake played high school-level hockey at the Weyburn Comprehensive High School between grades ten and twelve where he posted 158 goals and 243 assists for a total of 401 points in 195 games played for his home town Eagles squad. Over his three high school seasons Benson was voted three time league MVP by the school districts' coaches, as well he was award for finishing first in scoring in all three of his high school seasons. Though Benson debates perhaps attending college hockey in the United States where he's been offered many scholarships, he has been quoted in saying he'd prefer to play in the VHL as soon as possible. Clearly Benson won't let anything come between him and his dream of being a VHL player.

The scouting report has major upside and a plethora of pros that wil have scouts wowed all across the professional and international hockey world. A major asset that Benson has going for him is his sheer size. Benson stands tall at 6'3" and is already a solid 220 lbs young man. People tend to forget this kid is only seventeen years old. His size is always something he's used to his advantage. Whether it be a big hit he's laid or solid board work in the corners, Benson will always seem to find a way to incorporate his size into his game and it gives him an instant advantage all throughout a sixty minute game. He's like Jaromir Jaggert in that he's nearly impossible to knock off the puck. Benson's next and perhaps most astounding ability is his hockey sense. He always seems to know where the play is going and where he needs to be to get the best possible outcome for his team on that particular play. Blake is often compared to Anze Kopriva because of his ability to read plays and hit the open man with a pass. Benson's final pro that seems to get a lot of attention is his deking and puck control. What some debate he lacks in speed he more than makes up for with hands. He tends to avoid beating guys with rocket skates but rather will undress them with magical moves that can only be compared to Pavel Datsup. In conclusion the majority of scouts have said his game is all about using his size for two way hockey, keeping his head up and reading plays properly and by using his silky smooth hands to keep possession of the puck and make plays.

No player is perfect, and Benson is aware of this. He's called himself out and said he needs to work on his skating and foot speed. He feels, just as most scouts do, that if he were to gain some more skating ability he'd become one of the best prospects professional hockey has ever seen. To address this issue Benson is already working with Russian professional power skating coach Sergei Morchatin. Morchatin was most well know for making Sidney Crofney one of the strongest skaters hockey has ever had to offer. Scouts have flagged Benson as a bit of a conservative hockey player at times. He's been known to be too gentle when he could have otherwise laid the boom on an unsuspecting player or two. However, majority of scouts would be quick to say that it is not an issue with him playing timid, but rather they'd believe that Benson feels he doesn't have to lay the big hit to impact a hockey game. Benson's final 'knock' would be that he won't engage in too much extracurricular after the whistle. Though some debate that this is an asset in a player because he doesn't risk taking a penalty, others say if he ever would want to be named a captain in the VHL he'd have to toughen up and defend his teammates occasionally.

Blake is an extremely motivated, young hockey player. His family is an extremely supportin unit that pushes him to further himself everyday. His weaknesses keep him working hard and his skills keep him from going unnoticed. Benson is an offensive dynamo with nearly unlimited potential.

[WoodyP 2]

Wish I could have done this a little better but I have to do this all on my phone until I can afford a new laptop!

[Ball 453]

Pics and colors will go along way for ya homie

[WoodyP 2]

Yeah, I feel ya, but I can't get this dang phone to post any pictures and I can't seem to get the colours to work either..

[Guest Svoboda_3]

Overview- 2.75/3

889 words. Again mad props for doing this, I can't image how long this would have taken and how many backspaces you would have had to make. A real decent back story with superb pros and cons. Another Sasky native is always a nice sight to see.

Grammar- 1.5/2

A couple player name errors that were probably as a result of auto-correct, but there were still some mistakes that were present. Complete props for doing as well as you did on a cell phone.

 

day one", = day one,"

major junior hockey league in Quebec = QMJHL

seasons Benson = seasons, Benson

coaches, = coaches;

was award = was awarded

upside = upsides

wil = will

be = is

Jaggert = Jagr (auto-correct?)

Kopriva = Kopitar (auto-correct?)

Datsup = Datsyuk

well know = well-known

Crosfney = Crosby

would want = wanted

supportin = supporting

Presentation- 0/1

I understand not being able to enhance this via phone, but I still have to grade this accordingly.

Pros- 2/2

292 words. Not done in the traditional sense, but they were there in paragraph form and you had three solid ones.

Cons- 2/2

224 words. Good stuff here.

Overall- 8.25/10

[Da Trifecta 1,896]

Overview: 3/3 It was pretty solid and you did write a lot

Grammar: 1.5/2 Buddy above got you

Presentation: 0/1 No pics of color really hurt this grade

Pros: 2/2 Yup

Cons: 2/2 Yes

 

Final: 9/10

[Guest Svoboda_3]

8.25 + 8.5 = 16.75/2=8.375 or 8/10