Jordan Bennett: The Best Defenseman in the VHLE. An Argument.

[Plate 386]

This is not an article I plan on claiming. Jordan Bennett will finish his career in the VHLE. I wanted to weigh in on why I think Jordan Bennett gets the Jake Thunder Trophy.

First we have to talk about the candidates. And in my opinion, those would be Jordan Bennett (COL), Leif Reingaard (VAS) and Mina (BRA). Now interestingly enough both Reingaard and Mina were picked back to back in the S91 draft, and everyone knew they would pan out to be incredible defensemen in their position. Both of these players are going to be competing with each other throughout their careers in the VHL. 

Here in the VHLE there is a third player we can't overlook. WHLE veteran Jordan Bennett. Now, I'm going to start with the case you can make against Bennett and why you would pick the other two options over him. First of all, for a very large portion of his career, he was inactive. So really had he not been inactive he would not have been in this position. And yet, even though Bennett has been in the VHLE for 7 seasons, in only one of those was he in the conversation for the Jake Thunder Trophy, which is this season.

So what did Jordan Bennett do this season better than the other options? In a race that is so close you'd be splitting hairs on individual stats?

He won the Renaissance Cup for the third time in a row.

Not only did Bennett win the Renaissance Cup for the third time in a row, but he also beat Reingaard in the finals to win that cup. And Mina? Well they performed well but it was on a team that did not make the playoffs. And great players on bad teams overperform their skill to certain extents. 

Bennett is not an inactive andy anymore. He is very much a beloved player by the person that is managing him. And has been ever since he signed with Cologne in S89. Not only that but he is the blueline cornerstone of the dynasty that is the S89-S91 Cologne Express. And you can't have a Dynasty without pieces that make the puzzle fit. 

Bennett more than deserves the Jake Thunder Trophy, off of his persistence, clutchness, and monumental contributions to the best team in VHLE history.