Justin DiBenedetto

Justin DiBenedetto (born August 25, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently an unrestricted free agent who last played with Ritten/Renon of the Italian Serie A league. DiBenedetto was drafted 175th overall by the New York Islanders during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. DiBenedetto was born in Maple, Ontario.

Justin DiBenedetto
Justin DiBenedetto 2013
Born (1988-08-25) August 25, 1988
Maple, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
team
Former teams		 Free Agent
New York Islanders
EC Red Bull Salzburg
Örebro HK
Espoo Blues
Dornbirner EC
Ritten/Renon
NHL Draft 175th overall, 2008
New York Islanders
Playing career 2009–present

Playing career

Junior

DiBenedetto began his junior hockey career with the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the Ontario Hockey League in the 2004–05 season, recording nine points in 64 games as a rookie, followed by no points in nine playoff games. In the 2005–06 season, DiBenedetto saw his production increase, as he earned 30 points in 61 games, followed by a goal in four playoff contests. During the off-season, the Majors traded DiBenedetto to the Sarnia Sting.

DiBenedetto joined the Sting for the 2006–07 season, where he once again saw an increase in his production, as he finished with 63 points in 58 games, as well as a team high +21 rating. In the playoffs, DiBenedetto had three points in four games.[1]

In 2007–08, DiBenedetto saw another big increase in his point production, as he finished second on the Sting with 93 points in 58 games. DiBenedetto then had ten points in nine playoff games for Sarnia. During the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders drafted DiBenedetto in the sixth round.[2]

DiBenedetto returned to Sarnia for his overage season in 2008–09, where in 62 games, he scored 45 goals and 93 points to lead the Sting, and finish third in the OHL scoring race, in five playoff games Justin had three assists. Following his successful campaign he was named to the OHL's Second All-Star team and was awarded the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy as the top overage player of the year.[3]

Professional

When the Sting were eliminated from the playoffs, Justin signed a three-year entry level contract with the New York Islanders on April 9, 2009.[4] He was then assigned to the Islanders affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL for the playoffs. In three post-season games with Bridgeport, DiBenedetto scored a goal.

He returned to the Sound Tigers for the 2009–10 season. DiBenedetto appeared to make his NHL debut in 8 games for the Islanders in the 2010-11 season, recording 1 assist. He then spent a final season in the Islanders organization as an alternate captain with the Sound Tigers.[5]

In his third season abroad, DiBenedetto joined his fourth European club in returning to the Austrian Hockey League with Dornbirner EC on July 14, 2014.[6] On February 2, 2015, DiBenedetto left Dornbirner and transferred for the remainder of the season with Italian club, Ritten/Renon of the Serie A.

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeague GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2004–05 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHL 64 3 6 9 37 9 0 0 0 0
2005–06 Toronto St. Michael's Majors OHL 61 17 13 30 58 4 1 0 1 11
2006–07 Sarnia Sting OHL 58 28 35 63 46 4 2 1 3 4
2007–08 Sarnia Sting OHL 58 39 54 93 61 9 3 7 10 12
2008–09 Sarnia Sting OHL 62 45 48 93 85 5 0 3 3 12
2008–09 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL — — — — — 3 1 0 1 4
2009–10 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 67 6 8 14 62 — — — — —
2010–11 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 51 19 11 30 45 — — — — —
2010–11 New York Islanders NHL 8 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2011–12 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 55 20 21 41 73 3 1 1 2 16
2012–13 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 47 19 25 44 36 12 3 5 8 12
2013–14 Örebro HK SHL 35 7 5 12 55 — — — — —
2013–14 Blues Liiga 21 2 3 5 20 7 0 1 1 0
2014–15 Dornbirner EC EBEL 26 3 8 11 21 — — — — —
2014–15 Ritten/Renon ITL 2 0 1 1 0 4 4 3 7 0
NHL totals 8 0 1 1 2 — — — — —

Awards and honours
Award Year(s)
OHL Second All-Star Team 2009
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy - OHL's Best Overage Player 2009

References
  1. "DiBenedetto OHL player profile". Ontario Hockey League. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  2. "2008 NHL Entry Draft". hockeydb.com. June 1, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  3. "Justin DiBenedetto named OHL's overage player of the year". Ontario Hockey League. April 9, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  4. "Islanders sign two prospects". New York Islanders. April 9, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  5. "Hocke - Roster - SoundTigers.com". Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
  6. Dornbirner EC (July 15, 2014). "Dornbirner announce two signings". Facebook. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
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