DENVER – The Denver Pioneers hockey team presented by Centura Health signed forward Carter Savoie and defenseman Michael Benning to National Letters of Intent, the Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle announced on Tuesday.
 
Savoie and Benning heil from St. Albert, Alberta and have played the last four seasons together including the last two where they both served as alternate captains for the Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL). 
 
"Carter and Mike had impressive years in Sherwood Park last season," Carle said. "As 17-year-olds, Carter was the best goal scorer in all of Canadian junior hockey and Mike was named CJHL (Canadian Junior Hockey League) Defenseman of the Year. They both live and breathe hockey and they will make us a better team because of the people and players they are."
 
Savoie is a 5'10" 181-pound forward ranking 50^th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the 2020 NHL Draft. Last season, he led the AJHL with 53 goals, finished second in league scoring with 99 points (53-46-99) and tallied 62 penalty minutes in 54 games to be named among five finalists for CJHL Forward of the Year. He also drew within two goals of a team record set in 1983. Savoie had 73 points (31-42-73) the season prior when he was named AJHL Rookie of the Year. In two years with the Crusaders, Savoie tallied 84 goals, 88 assists and 129 penalty minutes in 112 games. He is a two-time AJHL All-Star and represented his country at the 2019 World Junior A Challenge.
 
Benning, a 5'10, 175-pound defenseman, ranks 57^th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting's final rankings. He led AJHL defensemen in scoring for the second straight year last season and tied for 10^th in all-time league history with 12 goals, 63 assists, 75 points and 54 penalty minutes in 54 games. The historic season earned him the distinction of CJHL Defenseman of the Year, AJHL Most Outstanding Defenseman and a spot on the All-Star team. Benning boasts AJHL career totals of 22 goals, 114 assists and 153 penalty minutes in 114 career games. His father, Brian, played 568 NHL games from 1984-1995, his brother, Matt, plays for the Edmonton Oilers, and his uncle, Jim, played 610 NHL games from 1981-1990 and is the current general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. 

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