By: Casey Kenny July 9th, 2025
The National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils could soon include a player who once donned a Kemptville 73’s jersey.
The league held its 2025 entry draft in late June and goaltender Trenten Bennett heard his name called by the Devils at 99th overall.
Bennett played 31 games with the 73’s in 2024-2025 and finished with a 13-15-2 record along with a 2.65 Goals Against Average and a .912 Save Percentage.
He said he was watching the draft anxiously with his mother and brother at his home in Kitchener when his selection was made by the Devils.
With the draft held in Los Angeles California, and Bennett in Ontario, he said he was tipped off that he’d been picked earlier than when it came on television.
“My agent was actually at the draft, he texted me congratulations but since there was a time delay to when my name got called it was actually on commercial break.”
Bennett adds, however, that didn’t make the moment any less special.
“It was crazy, my mom went crazy, my brother went crazy, we were all so excited.”
Bennett didn’t have long to celebrate however as he was on a flight to New Jersey early the next morning and to take part in the team’s development camp.
He said the overall experience was surreal.
“I don’t know, words can’t describe it. It was pretty cool and a lot of years in the making of hard work and then hearing my name get called and being able to put on the sweater.”
When it comes to his time as a Kemptville 73, Bennett has nothing but praise for the organization.
“The coaching staff are so experienced, nothing but positives. Kemptville will always have a special place in my heart, it’s not just with the coaching staff but also my billets. I can’t harp enough about how awesome Kemptville was in my development.”
It’s expected that Bennett will play for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League in 2025-2026 but before that he will be a part of New Jersey’s team at their rookie tournament in Buffalo in September.
