Former Rocket returns to Kelowna as NHL Star
Jamie Benn says it’s ‘definitely nice being back’ as Dallas Stars skate in team practice at Prospera Place
The Dallas Stars picked Kelowna as their rest stop between games this week. The NHL team practised at Prospera Place Tuesday and is scheduled to practise there again this morning, though the ice sessions are not open to the public at the request of the Stars.
“I was excited to come here,” said Jamie Benn, former Kelowna Rocket and current captain of the Stars. “This city and this team turned me into more of a man and a better hockey player. I got a lot of great memories in this rink and in this city. It’s definitely nice being back.”
Benn, from Victoria, played two seasons for the Rockets and led Kelowna to a WHL championship in 2009 when he set franchise records for goals (13) and points (33) in a single playoff year.
Tuesday morning’s practice was the first time Benn skated on the Prospera Place ice since his final game, when the Rockets won the WHL title in overtime.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “I remember living here and playing here like it was yesterday.”
With less than two days in town before heading to Winnipeg this afternoon, Benn said he won’t have time to take his teammates on a tour of Kelowna.
“I think it’s more of a rest day,” he said. “I think some guys will walk around and see some sights, but no special occasions today. We’re just going to hang out and get our rest.”
Stars coach Ken Hitchcock is familiar with Kelowna, having coached the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers from 1984 to 1990. He said this was a good place to take the team between games.
“You’ve got probably one of the best rinks in the league now, one of the best franchises in the league,” he said. “The whole city itself feels like a major-league city to be honest with you. I went down Pandosy (Street) to show some guys some spots . . . and there were six or seven new restaurants there. It’s really grown. It’s very vibrant and it’s a big city.”
Assisting the Stars during their practice Tuesday morning was Kelowna Sparta Senior AA hockey player Tyler Briggs.
Briggs, a former West Kelowna Warrior, got a phone call Tuesday morning asking if he wanted to be the goalie for the practice.
At the time, he said he was lying in bed waiting for his friend to go golfing.
“Obviously, things got changed,” said Briggs. “I was a little shocked at first; I mean, you can’t say no.”
Briggs impressed the team with some good saves, said Hitchcock.
“He’s really competitive, and I know our players really appreciated that he came on such short notice and came in and started stopping pucks,” he said. “First warm-up drill, he’s got one on a breakaway, then a point shoot with traffic. That’s a tough way to break into the National Hockey League, but he jumped in real well.”
The Dallas Stars will face the Jets in Winnipeg Thursday.