January 13, 2023 – Story and photographs by Joshua Ross
One yr in the past Hingham’s Matty Beniers was ending up World Juniors Hockey Championship and on the point of signify the USA within the Winter Olympics, all whereas taking part in for the College of Michigan. Right now, he’s the main candidate for the NHL’s Calder Trophy, which is given to the perfect rookie within the league.
Because the Seattle Kraken’s first decide in group historical past (second total) within the 2021 draft, he formally signed with the group final April and performed 10 video games with the group earlier than the season ended. He scored a degree in every of his first 5 video games of his profession, putting him thirty sixth all-time. He began this season the place he left off and has 34 factors (16 G, 18 A), which leads all rookies by 8 factors. He’s additionally solely one in all two rookies presently named to the 2023 All-Star Sport, which is going down on February 4th in Dawn, Fl.
Whereas he has performed on the TD Backyard ice many occasions earlier than, final night time was the primary time as an NHL participant. Although we don’t have an formally tally, it did appear to seem half of Hingham was on the sport, together with a Hingham Youth Hockey squirt group who performed a sport on the ice earlier than the Bruins sport, and all the Hingham Excessive Faculty boys hockey group. There have been many, many teal and white Beniers jerseys across the Backyard.
Beniers and the Kraken did one thing that hasn’t been performed all season, beat the Bruins in regulation at house. He simply turned 20 in November and is likely one of the youngest gamers within the league. However he’s becoming in and adjusting properly to his new house away from house in Seattle and the tempo and rigors of a full NHL season. If each groups proceed with the trajectory they’re presently on, it’s not out of the query we would see him once more in June.
