Where are they now? – Brandon Benedict

Moose Tracks Interviews Brandon Benedict

Jun 10, 2014 – 11:49 GMT
Written By: MacIntosh, Scott original post at http://www.halifaxmooseheads.ca/article/brandon-benedict

His love of the game was evident each and every time he hit the ice as a member of the Halifax Mooseheads. A relentless digger in the corners, he paired that hard working mentality along with his offensive talents that have him sitting atop the franchise leaderboard in points (303), goals (119) and assists (184).

Brandon Benedict did everything his coach asked of him, and then some. The Avondale, Nova Scotia native was drafted by the Mooseheads in the 2nd round of the 1998 QMJHL Draft, and played his entire five year junior career in Halifax.

He later enjoyed a successful university career with the Acadia Axemen.

At age 32, Benedict is still playing competitive hockey in the EIHL, in fact he’s preparing for his fourth season with the Nottingham Panthers which begins in August. He said he initially moved across the pond to Belfast to play while taking his MBA.

Speaking from his childhood home in Hants County, Benedict says he’s home for a visit with his wife Kirsty and their newest addition to the family, four-month-old son Austin.

“We live in England basically from August until May, and then we split our time between Kirsty’s hometown just outside of Belfast, Ireland and Nova Scotia,” he said.

Benedict says even though soccer will always be #1 in the United Kingdom, it’s been a great place to play hockey.

“It’s certainly not the most popular sport over there, but we get pretty good support in Nottingham probably about 5000 fans per game,” he said, adding that games against rival Sheffield are usually sell-outs.

The Elite Ice Hockey League consists of 10 teams, including four each from England and Scotland and one from both Wales and Northern Ireland. Benedict says given the close proximity of the clubs’, the bus rides aren’t too bad.

“The travel is really good because there are a lot of teams that are only a couple of hours away from where we are in Central England.”

Benedict says there’s only been a couple of familiar faces with him on the ice in the EIHL, including former Mooseheads teammate Stuart MacRae who played with Cardiff for three seasons, and former Moncton Wildcats Center Bruce Graham who is set to play for Nottingham again this year.

The 6th ranked player on the Mooseheads Fans’ 15 admits he probably only has one or two years of hockey left in him, and would like to get into marketing in some capacity.

“I think about it all the time now and it makes me a little bit nervous to be honest, I’m not really sure what I’d like to do and we’re not even sure what country we’ll be living in.”

Benedict, who has recorded 228 points in five seasons in the league, says he still talks with former teammates Robbie Sutherland and Ryan White, noting that he and White would be getting together for a visit on the weekend.

He says once a Moosehead always a Moosehead, and credits former coach Shawn MacKenzie for instilling a motto that he still lives by.

“Pride, heart and determination, I still have that in my head and probably always will.”