Matthew Beniers is a Hingham, Massachusetts native. He was born in 2002, and that might make more than a few feel old. He’s a 6-1, 175 center who has started the college hockey season on fire with the Michigan Wolverines.
At the World Junior Championship evaluation camp, Beniers made sure to show what he can do. You can tell he wants to make the team, but as a Freshman, it might be tough for Michigan to let him go, his Michigan teammate Owen Power, who could go at the top of the 2021 NHL Draft, was denied playing for Team Canada for those reasons, and the 51 days he would be away from classes.
“I think it’s a super cool experience to be a part of,” said Beniers. “It’s a lot of fun playing with great players. Especially during COVID-19, playing games is special. I really thank USA Hockey for putting this together for us. It’s great to be out on the ice and show what we can do.”
In the All-American Prospects game, they played him at second-line left-wing. One thing you instantly notice about him is he can play at speed, and he’s defensively responsible. He was solid on the penalty kill, and as time goes on, he could turn that defense into offense.
Last year with the NTDP, he was second in scoring with 41 points in 44 games. I saw him play in person last year three times, and he was noticeable. He was playing top-line minutes in that one, but it was early in the season, and they were testing him there. He originally committed to Harvard University but de-committed in August when it seemed like that school was iffy about playing hockey in 2021. His current Michigan teammate, Thomas Bordeleau, also a center, drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Draft, he was the best center and the top scorer on that squad.
“It’s been fun the first few months, those guys (his teammates) are great players and great people, It’s been fun to get to know them. When you play with high-caliber players you go out there and they’re pushing you every day to get better. Surrounding yourself with those players makes you that much better at the next level.”
-
Ep 164: Patriots Pick Up Win, Week 14 Discussion
by Full Press Coverage on December 10, 2023 at 3:53 pm
Michigan is loaded this year, and Berniers is more than carrying his weight. In his first four games, the talented pivot has two goals and five points. He’s playing fourth-line center, as a true freshman, so there’s no shame there. Players are much older and stronger, and he’s more than holding his own.
Beniers is an elite playmaker, and that’s been on display for all of Michigan to see, but his work on the penalty kill is being seen because they trust him to kill penalties. This is a big deal for a freshman, and he’s handling it like a pro. He’s looking like a veteran there.
As far as making the roster for Team USA? He would be the only 2021 Draft Pick to play for them, and I think he has a better than 50% chance, I think the other hurdles I mentioned could hold him back more than being edged out by the competition.
It will be interesting to see how this breaks. The U.S. has a strong team heading into the 2021 World Junior Championship, no matter how you slice it. The competition will be stiff, they’re not the only good team, and I’ll get into that down the road.
The post Matthew Beniers NCAA Start Could See Him Make Team USA WJC Roster appeared first on Full Press Hockey.
-
Ep 181: HOF Semifinalist Tiki Barber Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 3:13 am
Hall of Fame semifinalist and former Giants running back, Tiki Barber, […]
-
Ep 180: Hall of Fame Class Of 2024 Semifinalists Discussionby Full Press Coverage on November 28, 2023 at 7:02 pm
Ira and Clark dissect the 2024 Hall of Fame class semifinalists. Learn […]
-
Ep 179: Hall of Famer Drew Pearson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 178: Patriots, Eagles, 49ers, and More With Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on November 18, 2023 at 3:00 am
Former NFL executive Joe Banner returns to the show to talk with Clark and […]
-
What to look for in huge Eagles vs Cowboys matchup tonightby LandryFootball.com on December 10, 2023 at 3:50 pm
Eagles vs Cowboys will have a playoff feel as well as playoff implications […]
-
NFL Week 14 Game Previewsby LandryFootball.com on December 9, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Several Week 14 games could be impacted by weather, which has been […]
-
Ep 317: Week 14 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 4:04 am
-
Ep 316: Week 13 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 4:08 am
-
Ep 315: Week 12 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:46 am
-
Ep 314: Week 11 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 15, 2023 at 3:18 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
In this solo Senra show, your host Kyle Senra talks about the upcoming […]
-
Ep 199: Week 13 Instant Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 11:32 pm
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 834by Charlie Saunier on December 11, 2023 at 9:11 am
Ep 834 The Renegades Of Puck Recap 2-1 W At Habs Preview Flyers & Talk […]
-
ROP Recap Preds 2 Habs 1 Game 28 2023-24 NHL Seasonby Charlie Saunier on December 11, 2023 at 3:49 am
ROP Recap Preds 2 Habs 1 Game 28 2023-24 NHL Season Learn more about your […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 833by Charlie Saunier on December 10, 2023 at 8:01 pm
Ep 833 The Renegades Of Puck Recap 4-0 L At Leafs Preview Canadiens & […]
-
ROP Recap Leafs 4 Preds 0 Game 27 2023-24 NHL Seasonby Charlie Saunier on December 10, 2023 at 7:29 pm
ROP Recap Leafs 4 Preds 0 Game 27 2023-24 NHL Season Learn more about your […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 12-10 - Canadian Struggles Continue as Hurricanes Lose 4-3 to the Canucksby Full Press Coverage on December 10, 2023 at 4:15 pm
Full Press Hurricanes - 12-10 - Canadian Struggles Continue as Hurricanes […]
-
Full Press Islanders - 12-8 - Big win over Columbusby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm
A different ending as the Blue Jackets gave us all a scare but the Isles […]
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
Ian and John react to the Patriots win over the Steelers, Belichick's […]
-
12/5 - MNF Reaction, Endless QB Debatesby Full Press Coverage on December 5, 2023 at 11:28 am
Ian and John discuss the Bengals OT victory over the Jags and more […]
-
12/4 - Chiefs/Packers, Patriots, and Week 13 Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on December 4, 2023 at 5:26 pm
Ian and John discuss the Packers win over the Chiefs, the Patriots […]
-
12/1 - NFL MVP, Week 13 Picksby Full Press Coverage on December 3, 2023 at 2:18 am
Ian and John discuss the ever-changing MVP race and give their predictions […]
-
11/28 - MNF Reaction, State Of The NFLby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2023 at 3:49 am
Ian and John react to Monday Night Football and discuss more of the state […]
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Ian and John recap Thanksgiving weekend, discuss Jalen Hurts' moment, and […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep. 325: Missouri S&T Baseball Coach Todd DeGraffenreidby Full Press Coverage on December 11, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Ep. 326: Mercyhurst Univ. WBB Brooklyn Kohlheimby Full Press Coverage on December 11, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Ep 164: Patriots Pick Up Win, Week 14 Discussionby Full Press Coverage on December 10, 2023 at 3:53 pm
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Pacers vs Lakersby Broken Controller Media on December 9, 2023 at 11:00 am
-
12/8 - Patriots Outlast Steelers, Week 14 Picks and Previewby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 5:57 am
-
Ep 200: Week 14 @ Giantsby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 9:54 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 12-8 - The New Irish Prime Minister?by Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2023 at 5:55 pm
-
Rockets at Nuggets - Mavericks at Trail Blazers - Clippers at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Cavaliers at Heat - Bulls at Spurs - Kings at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on December 8, 2023 at 3:15 pm
-
CM Punk and Randy Orton Return To WWE as Momentum Swingsby Full Press Coverage on December 7, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Teddy Repantis as they discuss […]
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Review and Roman Reigns Inflated Title Streakby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he breaks down AEW Full Gear 2023. What […]
-
Ep 194: Kevin Nash Part One - Big Daddy Coolby Full Press Coverage on December 9, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Kevin Nash had quite a journey to the NWO. In part one of our two-part […]