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Oilers ink St Albert's Matthew Benning to 2 year deal

Oilers have added another piece to their blueline.

On Saturday, the Oilers inked college 22-year-old defenceman Matthew Benning to a two-year contract.

The St. Albert native has spent the last three seasons playing Division 1 NCAA hockey with the Northeastern Huskies. He served as the alternate captain with the team last season as they captured their first Hockey East championship since 1988.

During the first game of the 2016 Hockey East championship, Benning potted the overtime goal in the first of three series against the Maine Black Bears after a dramatic comeback.


​Benning is the fourth NCAA player the Oilers have signed during this off season.

The 6'1" 201-pound right-shot defender put up 19 points last season. In a total of 110 NCAA games he put up 56 points and 101 penalty minutes.

Benning was taken in the sixth round of the 2012 draft by the Boston Bruins — 175th overall.

Defence seems to run in the Benning family as Brian Benning, Mathew's father, was an defenceman for ten seasons, even spending the 1992 season with the Edmonton Oilers.

He is also the nephew of current Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning who was also a long time NHL defenceman.