Tuesday was obviously a proud day for Jamie Benn and his family, but there were plenty more glowing faces when the Dallas Stars captain’s name was announced among the NHL players who will represent Canada at the upcoming Sochi Olympics.
Those who had a hand discovering and nurturing the Peninsula minor hockey product, who went on to play with the Panthers of the VIJHL and the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, were just as tickled.
None were surprised by the addition of Benn, who was not among the initial group identified this summer by Team Canada officials.
“We used to sit up top (at Bear Mountain Arena) and watch Jamie play. After the first two months of the season, we said to each other, ‘This guy is too good for this league, he belongs somewhere else,’ ” Grizzlies scout and part-owner Don Robinson (who also worked with Benn with the Peninsula Panthers along with Pete Zubersky) said while reminiscing Tuesday morning with fellow Grizzlies’ scout Dennis Taylor.
“And it was actually Len Barrie who did it for him, calling the owner of Kelowna (of the WHL) where Tyson (Barrie) was. He came down to a practice and Dennis and I said, ‘Oh, oh. Looks like Jamie is leaving.’ ”
Little did they know what laid ahead, although they were well aware of his abilities.
“It was the best thing for him,” Robinson said of making the jump to major junior. “He’s been on a World Junior team, won a gold medal. Now he can go here and do exactly the same thing (at the Olympics). He just plays so hard and he’s such a good team kid. He’ll be good there.”
Taylor firmly believes in the 24-year-old, who was a part of the triumphant 2009 Canadian World Junior team and also represented the nation at the 2012 World Championship.
“He’s a natural,” said Taylor. “He’s the type of kid who would drop his hockey bag and pick up his baseball bag. I told the Dallas scout when he was here that he was a diamond in the rough.
“He’s just a stud. He plays in all areas of the game and he can do it all. He did that when he played for the Grizzlies that one year (2006-07), scoring goals in different ways that only goal-scorers get,” added Taylor, who credited former minor hockey coach Brian Coward for working with Benn, his older brother Jordie, Matty Irwin of the San Jose Sharks and Greg Scott, who played four seasons with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and is now with Brynas IF Gavie in Sweden.
“He was trying to beat Greg Scott’s (scoring) mark,” recalled Robinson of the 2005-06 season when Benn scored 31 goals in 38 games the year after Scott tallied 34 goals in 48 games with the Peninsula Panthers. “Then he came to us (the Grizzlies) and did the same thing.
“He started on the third line and Rylan (coach Rylan Ferster) said after a few games that this kid is too good to be playing here. He put him up with (Tyler) Bozak (now with the Toronto Maple Leafs) and they had such good chemistry with Garry Nunn (currently playing in Italy) on that line. They were amazing.
“The first time I saw him, I think he was eight and I was helping Pete (Zubersky in minor hockey). I told him, ‘You have to look at this kid.’ His skating was different, he sort of ran around the ice, but every time he had the puck he would score.”
Zubersky, who just a month ago took over as GM and part-owner of the Grizzlies, but was also a part of the team when it was known as the Salsa, was just as delighted about Tuesday’s news.
“It’s just awesome. I love the kid,” said Zubersky. “I’m not a bit surprised he made it, although when I think about his situation it is surreal.
“I remember him as a 15-year-old playing some games with the Peninsula Panthers and then the next year playing (full time) for the Panthers. He started growing physically and all of a sudden everybody began to start to know him.
“I knew he was a good player when he was 16, but there have been a lot of players go through that Junior B team,” continued Zubersky. “That playoff season, the last game of the year (Game 7), we were playing Kerry Park. Our goalie was not solid that game. They probably had nine shots and we were down 5-0 in the first eight minutes.
“Jamie Benn was so choked. He was running around that whole game, playing the most physical game I had ever seen him play - hitting guys, sticking guys. He was so choked. At the end of the game, I went around the room talking to players and he was standing outside crying.
“He cared so much for the Peninsula Panthers, he cared so much for the team. I remember driving home that night and I said to my wife, ‘This guy is going to be a hockey player.’ It was the first time I knew he would,” recalled Zubersky.
“Did I think he was going to be what he is today? No.”
