Beau Bennett
A man in a white Pittsburgh Penguins jersey looks at the camera. The number 19 is on his helmet and sleeve.
Bennett with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013
Born (1991-11-27) November 27, 1991 (age 32)
Gardena, California, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Right wing / Left wing
Shot Right
Played for Pittsburgh Penguins
New Jersey Devils
St. Louis Blues
HC Dinamo Minsk
NHL draft 20th overall, 2010
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2012–2020

Beau Bennett (born November 27, 1991) is an American former professional ice hockey winger. Between 2012 and 2020, he played six seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, and St. Louis Blues, and one season with HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Early life

edit

Bennett was born on November 27, 1991, in Gardena, California, to Kurt and Louanna Bennett.[1] When the house next to his childhood home was foreclosed on, his father purchased the property and built a sport court for Bennett and his siblings to play.[2] A fan of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), Bennett spent his childhood with the Jr. Kings, their minor ice hockey affiliate.[3] As a member of the Jr. Kings, Bennett participated in the 2003 and 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.[4] After his time with the Jr. Kings and California Selects, Bennett joined the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for the 2009–10 season, where he led the league with 120 points in 56 regular season games, including 41 goals.[5]

Career

edit

NCAA

edit

Following his season in Penticton, Bennett signed a National Letter of Intent, committing to playing college ice hockey for the Denver Pioneers.[6] He joined the Pioneers for their 2010–11 season, earning his first collegiate point with an assist against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on October 29.[7] His first goal came on November 13, in Denver's 6–1 victory over the Minnesota State Mavericks.[8] Bennett suffered a right knee sprain on December 3, in Denver's 5-4 overtime win against the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.[9] The injury sidelined him until January 14, when he returned for a 4-4 tie against Minnesota State.[10]

  • 2010-11
  • 2011-12

Professional

edit

Pittsburgh Penguins (2012–2016)

edit

Leading up to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Bennett 32nd among all North American skaters.[11] The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Bennett in the first round, 20th overall, making him the highest-drafted player from California in NHL history.[12]

  • 2012-13
  • 2013-14
  • 2014-15
  • 2015-16

New Jersey Devils (2016–2017)

edit
  • 2016-17

St. Louis Blues (2017–2018)

edit

On July 1, 2017, the St. Louis Blues signed Bennett to a one-year, $650,000 contract.[13]

  • 2017-18

Dinamo Minsk (2018–2019)

edit
  • 2018-19

Tucson Roadrunners (2019–2020)

edit
  • 2019-20

Retirement

edit

Bennett announced his retirement from professional ice hockey on June 25, 2021, at the age of 29. In his Twitter statement, he cited the extensive injuries that he had received throughout his career, writing that "sometimes it is important to listen to your body so it is time for me to retire".[14] Bennett finished his career with 24 goals and 64 points in 200 NHL games. Following his retirement, he worked as a youth hockey coach through ProMentor.[15]

International play

edit
  • WJAC

Personal life

edit

Career statistics

edit

Regular season and playoffs

edit
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Penticton Vees BCHL 56 41 79 120 20 15 5 9 14 6
2010–11 Denver Pioneers NCHC 37 9 16 25 18
2011–12 Denver Pioneers NCHC 10 4 9 13 25
2012–13 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 26 3 11 14 6 6 1 0 1 0
2012–13 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 39 7 21 28 18
2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 21 3 4 7 0 12 1 4 5 8
2013–14 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 3 0 1 1 0
2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 49 4 8 12 16 2 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 2 0 5 5 0
2015–16 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 33 6 6 12 10 1 0 0 0 0
2016–17 New Jersey Devils NHL 65 8 11 19 20
2017–18 St. Louis Blues NHL 6 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Chicago Wolves AHL 60 12 45 57 30 1 0 0 0 2
2018–19 HC Dinamo Minsk KHL 5 0 1 1 2
2019–20 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 55 12 28 40 18
NHL totals 200 24 40 64 52 21 2 4 6 8

International

edit
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 United States WJAC   5 3 1 4 0
Junior totals 5 3 1 4 0

Awards and honors

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Crechiolo, Michelle (October 10, 2013). "Do You Know Beau?". National Hockey League. Pittsburgh Penguins. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Willhite, Lindsey (March 15, 2018). "Bennett's Golden State of mind". American Hockey League. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Hoornstra, J.P.; Painter, Jill (June 25, 2010). "Dream comes true for Gardena's Bennett". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  4. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. p. 134. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  5. ^ Chambers, Mike (October 12, 2010). "Pioneers' newest star: Beau Bennett". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "DU Inks Bennett, Shore and Brittain". Denver Pioneers. May 14, 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Chambers, Mike (October 29, 2010). "Pioneers fail to build on leads, falls to rival North Dakota". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Chambers, Mike (November 13, 2010). "Pioneers roll with Maiani, frosh Bennett". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  9. ^ Chambers, Mike (December 8, 2010). "Denver hockey without injured Beau Bennett vs. Alaska-Anchorage". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Denver and Minnesota State Tie 4-4". Denver Pioneers. January 15, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Penguins draft California forward Beau Bennett in first round". Latrobe Bulletin. Associated Press. June 26, 2010. p. B2. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Teams high on Americans". Times Leader. Associated Press. June 27, 2010. p. 2C. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Pinkert, Chris (July 1, 2017). "Blues sign 3 players at start of free agency". National Hockey League. St. Louis Blues. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  14. ^ Rorabaugh, Seth (June 25, 2021). "Former Penguins forward Beau Bennett retires". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  15. ^ "Former Penguins Forward Beau Bennett Announces Retirement". KDKA-TV. June 26, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2023.