On Tuesday, hockey head coach David Carle announced that forward Carter Savoie and defenseman Michael Benning have signed National Letters of Intent to join the team.
Savoie and Benning both come from St. Albert, Alberta where they played for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). The two have played together for four years and served as alternate captains during their two years with the Crusaders.
At 17 years old, Savoie was recognized as one of the best goal scorers in all of Canadian junior hockey. In his first year with the Crusaders, Savoie was named the AJHL Rookie of the Year and was also one of five finalists for the Candian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) forward of the year. In his second junior season, Savoie led the AJHL in scoring with 53 goals in just 54 games.
Savoie is a two-time AJHL All-Star and represented Canada at the 2019 World Junior A Championships. At the end of his two-year career with the Crusaders, Savoie recorded a total of 84 goals, 88 assists and 129 penalty minutes in 112 games. This success earned the forward a 50th place ranking among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings for the 2020 NHL Draft.
Savoie has received recognition for not only his physical work on the ice but also his intellect.
“His puck tracking skills and overall awareness are where his strengths really lie,” says Hockey Writer journalist Matthew Zator. “He has an elite hockey IQ, especially while in the offensive zone.”
Benning, in his two-year career with the Crusaders, led all AJHL defensemen in scoring. In 114 career games, Benning had 22 goals, 114 assists and 153 penalty minutes. Benning was named CJHL Defensemen of the Year and AJHL Most Outstanding Defenseman while also earning a place on the AJHL All-Star team.
Benning has been surrounded by hockey for most of his life. His father, Brian, played in the NHL from 1984-1995, and his older brother Matt currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers. Benning’s uncle, Jim, was a player in the NHL from 1981-1990 and is now the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.
The two are eager to continue their journey together in Denver.
“It’s nice to have your best friend along for all these experiences,” Benning told Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News. “It’s been wild, growing up together, and now we’re in junior, heading to college.”
Coach David Carle has high hopes for the pair. “They both live and breathe hockey, and they will make us a better team because of the people and players they are,” stated Carle.
The Denver hockey team is currently scheduled to kick off the 2020-21 season against the University of British Columbia on Oct. 3 in Magness Arena.
