SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 18: Matty Beniers #10 of the Seattle Kraken warms up before the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Climate Pledge Arena on December 18, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
In just his first full season of play in the National Hockey League, center Matty Beniers isn’t wasting anytime to introduce himself to a coast-to-coast audience.
The rookie center for the Seattle Kraken has been selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game, Feb. 4 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla. The announcement was made Thursday,
Beniers enters Thursday as the league’s leading rookie scorer with 28 points and a consensus strong candidate for the Calder Trophy to anoint the rookie of the year, also scoring a rookie league-high 13 goals and tied with Mason MacTavish for the rookie lead with four power play goals.
The native of Hingham, Mass. started last season strong with nine points in his first ten games after electing to forego his junior season at Michigan, following an appearance in the Frozen Four that stopped two wins shy of a national title in a 43-point, 20-goal season in 37 games.
Beniers wasted no time getting started with getting on the scoreboard, earning an assist in the first period of his NHL debut at Calgary on Apr. 12 and scoring his first career NHL goal four days later in a shootout win over New Jersey.
Beniers added to his total by the time of the announcement, scoring a second period goal with 2:35 left in Toronto.
One player from each of the 32 teams were selected. Initial rosters were selected by the NHL’s department of hockey operations. A fan voting process will take over for the remaining roster spots, online at the league’s website, nhl.com/vote and via the NHL app.
The game will be comprised of teams from each of the four divisions, 11 total players per roster (nine skaters and two goaltenders).