2021 NWHL Draft Prospect Profile: Julia Benjamin

G Julia Benjamin, University of New England (Colonial Hockey - DIII)

Hometown: Tolland, Connecticut

In a class that SHOULD have featured two of the best goaltenders in college hockey, you have to find some secondary options. Benjamin has been dynamite at Division III UNE for the past three seasons, tallying 30 wins in 52 appearances for the Nor’easters. She has done that to the tune of a 1.75 GAA and .938 SV% over her career. That’s impressive on the surface, but more impressive if you dig a little deeper. When adjusting for league, she is the best goaltender in Division III hockey in this class and has a higher GSAA than 8 of the eligible Division I goaltenders available. She was the only Division III goaltender who has saved more than 10 goals above average in her career heading into the pandemic, and even with the league adjustment applied, sitting at an adjusted 13.96 GSAA over 52 appearances. In the 3 games she got into as a senior (thanks, COVID), she had TWO SHUTOUTS and a .982 save percentage for the Nor’easters. That’s a strong option hidden a bit deeper in this class for the craftier GMs in the league.