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Cents Acquire Benwell From Nanaimo

The Merritt Centennials would like to announce that they’ve acquired Evan Benwell (00)and future considerations from the Nanaimo Clippers in exchange for Josh Kagan (00).

Benwell, a product of Toronto, comes to the Cents after getting into just 3 games for the Nanaimo Clippers this season and 3 games for the Notre Dame Hounds of the SJHL. He has shown that he has offensive prowess after spending the previous two seasons in the OJHL with the Burlington Cougars and the Toronto Patriots. Over 101 games in the OJHL, Benwell scored 32 goals and 42 assists. He also is a proven playoff performer with 14 points in 24 playoff games over his time in Ontario.

Benwell comes out of various leagues in the Toronto area where in the GTHL he had 70 points in 75 games and in the GTMMHL, he had 48 points in 66 games. In 2017, after his spectacular performance at the Telus Cup (Major Midget Nationals), he was a 1st round draft pick (16th overall) in the OHL (Major Junior) U18 draft but decided instead to come to Junior A and pursue a NCAA Division I scholarship.

Head Coach and General Manager Derek Sweet-Coulter says that Benwell brings dynamic offense and something else the team has been missing.

“Offensively he’s a very creative player who will help not only at even strength but on the powerplay. He’s also right handed whch is a piece we have been searching for as we only have one other right shot forward. He has excellent hockey IQ and we are very happy to have him here in Merritt.”

Josh Kagan leaves as the team’s leading scorer with 29 points combined in his time with the Cowichan Capitals and the Centennials this season.

The Cents would like to wish Josh well in the next step of his hockey career, and thank him for his contributions to the team and community in his time here. At the same time, the team would like to welcome Evan and his family to the Centennials and the Nicola Valley.