Former Michigan hockey player Matty Beniers has skated his way to victory, snagging the NHL’s Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the top rookie of the year. Winning the award cements Beniers in Michigan and NHL history as the first former Wolverine to win the award, interestingly beating out former Michigan teammate Owen Power for the honor.

The Seattle Kraken struck gold when they selected Beniers as the second overall pick in last year’s NHL draft. The Kraken management must have had a hunch about this kid, and boy, were they right! Beniers dominated the competition this past season, leaving all other first-year players in his icy wake. With an impressive 57 points and a +/- of plus-14, he made it clear that he was here to stay.

24 goals. 33 assists. Those numbers speak for themselves. Beniers had a knack for finding the back of the net and setting up his teammates with juicy scoring opportunities. The Kraken must have been over the moon with joy watching their rookie sensation slice through defenses like a hot knife through butter. Maybe they should change their team slogan to “Release the Beniers!”

Before his NHL stardom, Beniers honed his skills during his two-year stint at Michigan. The Wolverines’ hockey team must have been thanking their lucky pucks to have him on their roster. They made it to the NCAA tournament both years, and in his sophomore year he helped lead them to doorstep of a National Championship as they reached the Frozen Four. Talk about a chilly accomplishment!

Beniers decided to go full beast mode during his sophomore year at Michigan. He not only led the Big Ten in scoring but also earned first-team All American honors. Clearly, he didn’t just come to play; he came to dominate the ice and make opposing teams tremble in their skates.

So, let’s raise our hockey sticks and give a thunderous round of applause to Matty Beniers, the NHL’s top rookie. With his skills, determination, and a touch of Wolverine spirit, he’s proven that anything is possible on the ice. We can’t wait to see what his career has in store for him next.