FEATURE: Benson shining at Oilers Rookie Camp

EDMONTON, AB - Two chipped front teeth from a high stick and a 7-3 loss to the Flames couldn't stop Tyler Benson from cheesing on Monday.
The local Oilers prospect has reason to show his jagged whites - no matter how uneven they hang at the moment.
One: he's healthy.
Two: he's participating.
And three: he's making his case at Rookie Camp, as evidenced by his play Sunday in Calgary where the Edmontonian was arguably the best Oiler on the ice.

OILERS ROOKIE CAMP

DAY 5 CONTENT
OILERS TODAY | Rookie Camp Day 5
BLOG: Jones showing growth
CAMP RAW | Woodcroft
CAMP RAW | McLeod
CAMP RAW | Benson
CAMP RAW | Hebig
ROOKIE CAMP CONTENT
BLOG: Rookie Camp Day 3
BLOG: Rookie Camp Day 2
BLOG: Rookie Camp Begins
Benson used his body on the forecheck, his speed when charging up ice and his vision to create plays, dishing the puck with precision to give his teammates high-quality scoring chances on more than a few occasions.
Just ask Caleb Jones, who was on the receiving end of a beautiful backhand saucer pass from Benson as he floated along the blueline. The defender was sprung on a short breakaway that ended with a deft 5-hole tuck.
The former South Side Athletic Club star's coming out party has been three years in the making. He could have floundered under the growing tension but the opposite has occurred.
"I was a little bit nervous coming into the game but having the experience of being able to come and watch the guys and be with them the past few years helped with this one," Benson said on Day 5 of Oilers Rookie Camp in front of a large group of reporters.
"Personally, I felt well," he continued. "I feel like I was creating chances and I felt pretty good about my game. Now, I'm just looking forward to this next game and getting better every day."
The 2016 second-round selection skated on the left side of a line that also featured 2018 second-rounder Ryan McLeod and former University of Nebraska-Omaha centre Tyler Vesel. Vesel and Benson got familiar with one another in Bakersfield last season and were able to continue building their chemistry.

In the second period against Calgary, Benson threaded his backhand sauce to Vesel in the same way he did so for Jones a period later, foreshadowing his innate offensive instincts.
Vesel had high praise for his prospective linemate, noting his ability to open up space on the ice.
"He's made those passes before," Vesel, who finished with three goals and six points in 11 Condors games last year, said. "Executing those passes is incredible and fun to watch. We played last year in Bako together as well. You build that chemistry and feed off each other a little bit."
With Benson's vision hogging much of the attention the past day and a half, Bakersfield Condors Head Coach Jay Woodcroft maintained the former Vancouver Giant had himself a strong two-way outing.
"He factored not only on a bunch of offensive plays where we spent a lot of time in the other team's end when he was on the ice but he did a lot of good things defensively as well," Woodcroft said, later remarking on the marvel that was Benson's puck distribution.
"His gift is his vision and his ability to make plays in tight. He has the ability to do that either on his forehand or backhand. That's usually the sign of a special player that has unique offensive instincts."

But Benson's story transcends just the on-ice aspect after being plagued with numerous injuries including a cyst on his spine, osteitis pubis, a shoulder ailment and then a sports hernia. Thankfully, the forward has not a worry about any of those aforementioned or others - despite his impending visit to the dentist Monday afternoon.
"Adversity reveals character," said Woodcroft. "It's no fun to ever go through but this young man is a player that I've gotten to know over the last couple of years while he was on the sidelines during camps. To personally see the work that he's put in on a day-in, day-out basis, he's got to feel really good about himself and I think he's a better player for it.
"When he walks into the rink in the morning, he's got a big smile on his face because he knows his focus is on going out and giving his all on the ice, where he wants to be."
Just five days into Oilers Rookie Camp and there's reason to be optimistic for the winger. So yes, keep beaming, Benson.
"I feel 100 percent confident and I'm not even thinking about it anymore," Benson said of his his previous health struggles.
"Hockey is all that's on my mind."