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WHL Wenatchee Wild

Wenatchee Wild Congratulate Zach Benson on Selection in NHL Draft

June 28, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Wenatchee Wild, proud members of the Western Hockey League (WHL), are excited to congratulate forward Zach Benson on his selection Wednesday evening in the National Hockey League Entry Draft. Benson was chosen by the Buffalo Sabres with the 13th overall pick.

Benson, a native of Chilliwack, British Columbia, entered the draft ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He is set to enter his fourth season in the Western Hockey League this fall, and first in Wenatchee following the purchase and relocation of the Winnipeg ICE earlier this month.

"It's super exciting. You dream of this moment, but it's also nerve-wracking," said Benson. "For most of the day, I was pretty nervous, but it was mixed with excitement. It's pretty surreal - wearing an NHL jersey is pretty amazing. I'm super thrilled right now."

After leading Winnipeg with 23 points during the team's 2022 run to the Eastern Conference Final, he cranked his game up to a new level with 98 points during the 2022-23 WHL regular season, good for third place on the league leaderboard. His 17 points helped push his team to another deep playoff run, reaching last month's WHL Final, and his +68 plus/minus mark this past season was also a new career-best. In three seasons of WHL competition, Benson has racked up 71 goals and 110 assists in 142 appearances.

Benson is the 35th player in the former ICE organization have been taken in the NHL Draft, including four first-rounders over the past three years. He is set to add his name to a brief list of players in Wild history to put on a Wenatchee uniform after being drafted - Chase Perry returned to the Wild for the 2015-16 British Columbia Hockey League season after being selected by Detroit in 2014, and Cade Littler was chosen by the Calgary Flames in the 2022 draft before returning for the team's final season in the BCHL in 2022-23. Last year's Winnipeg ICE roster featured nine players who had already been selected in the NHL Draft, including Matthew Savoie, who was selected ninth by the Sabres in last year's draft.

"[Matthew] and I played the whole year together on the same line (last year)," said Benson. "We killed (penalties) together and played on the power play together, so now to be sharing the same NHL jersey is pretty amazing. I'm looking forward to it."

The Wild will begin their first season in the WHL this fall, beginning with the home opener September 22 against the Portland Winterhawks. 2023-24 season tickets are on sale now - to purchase season tickets, call 509-888-7825 or stop into the team office at Town Toyota Center. More information is available at www.wenatcheewildhockey.com - updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team's website and on the team's social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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