PROSPECTS: Mike Benning bringing it all for Denver

Mike Benning, the reigning Frozen Four Player of the Tournament and December's NCHC Player of the Month, is feeling confident as Denver heads towards the final half of the season.
"It's a big thing for us as a team," said Benning, a fourth-round pick (95th overall) of the Florida Panthers in the 2020 NHL Draft. "It's our success and being in the right spot to score goals. It gives me confidence in myself and my teammates, and going down the stretch of the second half is going to be good."

Ending 2022 on a high note, the 21-year-old defenseman posted 10 points (three goals, seven assists) and 15 shots in six games in December, including a two-goal game against Lindenwood. Denver (23-7-0) currently sits in fourth place in the USCHO.COM rankings and remains a powerhouse in college hockey.
Looking for their second straight National Championship, Benning believes the Pioneers have the pieces.
"We flipped the page pretty quick here with the new guys coming in," said Benning. "We're tied with nine national championships, so we're pushing for that tenth. It's a little bit aways, but we're getting ourselves in a good spot to be successful as a team to get to what we're striving for."

Breaking out during the 2021-22 season, Benning was nearly a point per game player as a sophomore, recording 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) in 41 games during Denver's run to a National Championship.
Having captured the ultimate prize, many college hockey players would have considered leaving school at that point, but Benning said he saw plenty of benefits to running it back for a third year at Denver.
"I saw a lot of good guys coming back," said Benning. "The coaching and training staff always make it a welcoming place. I think it was beneficial for me to come back and show Florida and other people that we can do it again."
Among those returning was another Panthers draft pick, forward Jack Devine.
"Me and Devo are good buddies," Benning said of Devine, a seventh-round pick (221st overall) in 2022. "We haven't talked too much about playing professional down the road at all. Right now, we're here taking it day by day, week by week, but when that time comes it'll be good to reconnect."
After posting 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 36 games as a freshman in 2021-22, Devine has already produced 15 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 28 games as a sophomore so far this season.
Benning's return to Denver has been a positive, as he sits towards the top of the team in points (26), plus/minus (+16), and blocked shots (22) after 26 games. Recruited as an offensive defenseman, he's developed into one of the best two-way defensemen in the country, while still producing at a high rate.
"I was recruited as an offensive defenseman, that's just kind of who I am as a player," said Benning. "Over these last two and a half years at Denver I've really put more of my intentions with defense, focusing on that all-around game because at the next level you need to be able to defend to get there. I'm trying to get more value out of myself and not just be that one guy that can put up numbers."

On his path to becoming a solid two-way defensemen, Benning has had a little help from a couple current and former NHL defensemen.
Mike's brother, Matt, currently plays for the San Jose Sharks and has played in over 400 NHL games since debuting in 2016-17, while his dad, Brian, played in 568 NHL games for the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Florida Panthers from 1984-85 to 1994-95.
Brian Benning also played for Florida's inaugural squad in 1993-94.
"My brother and dad have been my better influences," said Benning. "They've been through it, they know what goes into it. Having them as influencers and me as a listener, has been really beneficial for my game and can look to them going forward."
With ten games left in the regular season, Denver will face some familiar NCHC rivals in Colorado College, Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota, and Western Michigan before the NCHC playoffs kick-off March 10.
The road to another Frozen Four will not be easy, but Benning's approach to each day is going to remain positive.
"I'm an outgoing, positive guy," said Benning. "I like having fun. You might now see it when I'm on the ice, but I'm always smiling and having fun out there."
If Denver can complete the back-to-back, expect that smile to be a lot bigger in April.