Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2017 draft (#182 overall) defenseman Benton Maass(11) goes from a four-year skate for University Of New Hampshire Wildcats to a fifth year of eligibility, playing close to home on the start of a graduate degree with Minnesota State University Mavericks.
Although maybe not the biggest point-getter on the ice, the 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner did manage 23 assists as a senior at the hometown Elk River High in 25 USHS-MN games and 13 helpers at a freshman as his new college.
He also had 16 points (a high of 7 tallies and 9 assists) in 26 NAHL games, when he arrived at Fairbanks Ice Dogs upon completing high school.
It’s all happened fairly quickly for the 22-year old but the player who’s been in three NHL development camps looks ready at every turn.
As he finishes up, his 5th college season, he signs an ato with affiliate Hershey Bears and will join them for the remainder of the AHL frame.
Almost oddly, he plays only 2 games with his contract club, getting 1 assist and a +2 rating and is reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he gets 4 goals and 7 assists in 55 ECHL games with a +13 rating.
His play is good enough to earn a continued look in Chocolatetown.
In his 2nd frame further down south, he scores a new career best 8 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with a +17 rating, so things are looking up.
Something is amiss though, as he decides to accept an assistant coach role at Lindenwood University Lions for 2024/2025, changing the role he will play in pro hockey.