Ryan Benesch

{{short description|Canadian lacrosse player (born 1985)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox lacrosse player | position = Forward | shoots = Left | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 9 | weight_lb = 180 | nll_team = Oshawa FireWolves | league = MSL | team = Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks | former_nll_teams = Buffalo Bandits Rochester Knighthawks Colorado Mammoth Minnesota Swarm Edmonton Rush Toronto Rock Panther City LC Albany FireWolves Halifax Thunderbirds San Diego Seals | nationality = Canadian | nll_draft = 1st overall | nll_draft_year = 2006 | nll_draft_team = San Jose Stealth | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|1|30|mf=y}} | birth_place = Kitchener, Ontario, Canada | career_start = 2007 | nickname = The Bullet Eric Benesch’s brother }} '''Ryan Benesch''' (born January 30, 1985) is a Canadian professional box lacrosse player for the Oshawa FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Benesch has also played for the Buffalo Bandits, Halifax Thunderbirds, Albany FireWolves, Colorado Mammoth, Minnesota Swarm, Edmonton Rush, Toronto Rock, Panther City LC, and San Diego Seals. He was the 2011 NLL scoring leader. Benesch was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

==Professional career== Benesch was drafted first overall by the San Jose Stealth in the 2006 NLL entry draft,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news060913a.htm|title=Stealth doubles up with Benesch, Sorensen atop draft|author=Philly, R.A.|work=Outsider's Guide to the NLL|date=September 13, 2006|accessdate=2007-04-01|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121015951/http://lacrosse-network.com/outsidersguide/news060913a.htm|archive-date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> but was traded to Toronto Rock along with Chad Thompson and Kevin Fines for 2005 NLL MVP Colin Doyle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nll.com/article.php?id=2629|title=Colossal trade as season nears|work=NLL.com|date=December 27, 2006|accessdate=2007-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714190137/http://nll.com/article.php?id=2629|archive-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> Benesch played his minor lacrosse in Kitchener-Waterloo as well as his Junior 'A' lacrosse. He is currently the second leading scorer all-time in Kitchener-Waterloo Braves history behind Colin Doyle.

Benesch was named Rookie of the Week three times in the 2007 season, in weeks 4, 11, and 12, and was also named Rookie of the Month in March. On May 8, 2007, Benesch was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award, and named to the All-Rookie team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nll.com/article.php?id=2942|work=NLL.com|title=Benesch Named Rookie of the Year|date=May 8, 2007|accessdate=2007-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929142535/http://nll.com/article.php?id=2942|archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref>

Early in the 2009 NLL season, Benesch and veteran Derek Suddons were traded to the Edmonton Rush for future draft picks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3724|title=Rock trade Benesch & Suddons to Rush|date=January 14, 2009|work=NLL.com|accessdate=2009-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612002002/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=3724|archive-date=June 12, 2011}}</ref> After one season in Edmonton, he was traded again, this time to the Minnesota Swarm along with Scott Self and a draft pick for Scott Stewart, Ryan Ward, Justin Norbraten, and Richard Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=4013|title=Busy day on trading front|date=July 7, 2009|work=NLL.com|accessdate=2011-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612003811/http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=4013|archive-date=June 12, 2011}}</ref>

After four seasons in Minnesota where he averaged 83 points per season (leading the league in 2011<ref name="Bandits">{{cite web|url=http://www.nll.com/news_article/show/271064|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717082224/http://www.nll.com/news_article/show/271064|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2013|work=NLL.com|title=Bandits land Benesch in trade|date=July 15, 2013|accessdate=July 15, 2013}}</ref>), Benesch was traded to the Buffalo Bandits along with Andrew Watt for two first round draft picks and a third round pick.<ref name="Bandits" /> Benesch was traded to the Colorado Mammoth, along with a conditional third round draft pick in exchange for Callum Crawford and Alex Buque on August 1, 2017. After spending one and a half seasons with the Colorado Mammoth, on March 6, 2019 he was traded to the Rochester Knighthawks for Cory Vitarelli. He finished the season in Rochester, but signed with the Halifax Thunderbirds for the 2020 season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=DanWist |date=2025-01-04 |title=League Transactions |url=https://www.nll.com/news/transactions/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=NLL |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ryan Benesch |url=https://www.nll.com/players/12319/ryan-benesch/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=NLL |language=en-US}}</ref>

Benesch was then selected by the Panther City LC in the 2021 NLL expansion draft. He was traded to the Albany FireWolves after three games with Panther City LC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tutka |first=Paul |date=2022-01-03 |title=Panther City trades Benesch to Albany for Pearson plus picks |url=https://www.thelaxmag.com/home/panther-city-trades-ryan-benesch-to-albany |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=The Lax Mag |language=en-CA}}</ref> On October 10, 2022 Benesch returned to the Halifax Thunderbirds for a second stint, spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons there. On September 3, 2024 the San Diego Seals signed Ryan Benesch to a one year contract.<ref name=":0" /> On October 28, 2025, Benesch returned to the Buffalo Bandits on a one-year contract. <ref>{{cite web |title=Bandits Sign Benesch to 1-Year Contract |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/bandits-sign-benesch-to-1-year-contract/n-6295181 |website=oursportscentral.com |access-date=November 25, 2025 |date=October 28, 2025}}</ref> On March 10, 2026, Benesch was released by the Bandits.<ref>{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bandits on X: "We have released Ryan Benesch. Wishing you all the best going forward, @beniboi21!!" |url=https://x.com/NLLBandits/status/2031482156321538322 |website=X.com |publisher=Buffalo Bandits |access-date=March 11, 2026 |date=March 10, 2026}}</ref> On March 11, 2026, Benesch was signed by the Oshawa FireWolves to a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=FireWolves sign forward Ryan Benesch to a one-year contract |url=https://oshawafirewolves.com/news/firewolves-sign-forward-ryan-benesch-to-a-one-year-contract/ |website=oshawafirewolves.com |publisher=Oshawa FireWolves |access-date=March 12, 2026 |date=March 11, 2026}}</ref>

==Canadian Box career== ===Junior=== Benesch played five full years for the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves of the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League. In 2002, Benesch was given the "Joey Nieuwendyk Award" for Rookie of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wampsbibleoflacrosse.com/newstats/jrtrophy.txt|title=O.L.A. Junior A Trophy Winners|publisher=wampsbibleoflacrosse.com}}</ref> He finished his junior career with an outstanding 178 goals and 391 points in just 104 games.

===Senior=== Benesch currently plays for the Victoria Shamrocks of the Western Lacrosse Association after his playing rights were acquired from the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks on 29 May 2010, along with those of Chet Koneczny. He was awarded the "Gene Dopp Memorial Trophy" for Rookie of the year in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wampsbibleoflacrosse.com./newstats/trophies.txt|title=Trophy Winners In O.L.A. Major/Senior|publisher=wampsbibleoflacrosse.com}}</ref> In 2009, Benesch won the Presidents Cup with the Owen Sound Woodsmen of the OLA Senior B Lacrosse League.

==Statistics== ===NLL=== Reference:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nll.com/players/player?id=8206645|title=Player National Lacrosse League|accessdate=March 9, 2020|work=NLL.com}}</ref> {{NLLCareerStats |player_name_link=Ryan Benesch

|season15_year=2020 |season15_team_link=Halifax Thunderbirds |season15_games_played=12 |season15_goals=18 |season15_assists=33 |season15_loose_balls=76 |season15_penalty_minutes=5 |season16_year=2022|season16_team_link=Panther City Lacrosse Club|season16_games_played=3|season16_goals=3|season16_assists=9|season16_loose_balls=13|season16_penalty_minutes=2|season17_year=2022|season17_team_link=Albany FireWolves|season17_games_played=16|season17_goals=26|season17_assists=43|season17_loose_balls=55|season17_penalty_minutes=8|season17_playoff_games_played=1|season17_playoff_assists=1|season17_playoff_loose_balls=7|season18_year=2023|season18_team_link=Halifax Thunderbirds|season18_games_played=18|season18_goals=31|season18_assists=44|season18_loose_balls=98|season18_penalty_minutes=4|season18_playoff_games_played=1|season18_playoff_goals=2|season18_playoff_assists=1|season18_playoff_loose_balls=3|season18_playoff_penalty_minutes=4|season19_year=2024|season19_team_link=Halifax Thunderbirds|season19_games_played=18|season19_goals=42|season19_assists=39|season19_loose_balls=86|season19_penalty_minutes=10|season19_playoff_games_played=1|season19_playoff_assists=1|season19_playoff_loose_balls=6|season20_year=2025|season20_team_link=San Diego Seals|season20_games_played=16|season20_goals=27|season20_assists=39|season20_loose_balls=65|season20_penalty_minutes=6|season20_playoff_games_played=1|season20_playoff_loose_balls=9|season21_year=2026|season21_team_link=Buffalo Bandits|season21_games_played=8|season21_goals=8|season21_assists=10|season21_loose_balls=9|season21_penalty_minutes=2}}

===OLA=== {| BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="0" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |   ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |   ! colspan="5" | Regular Season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |   ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season !! Team !! League !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM !! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2001 || Kitchener-Waterloo Braves || OLA Jr.A || 3 || 3 || 3 || 6 || 0|| -- || -- || -- || -- || -- |- ALIGN="center" | 2002 || Kitchener-Waterloo Braves || OLA Jr.A || 19 || 25 || 35 || 60 || 4|| -- || -- || -- || -- || -- |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2003 || Kitchener-Waterloo Braves || OLA Jr.A || 19 || 37 || 57 || 94 || 17|| 5 || 2 || 11 || 13 || 14 |- ALIGN="center" | 2004 || Kitchener-Waterloo Braves || OLA Jr.A || 19 || 28 || 36 || 64 || 25|| 5 || 4 || 3 || 7 || 2 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2005 || Kitchener-Waterloo Braves || OLA Jr.A || 22 || 43 || 43 || 86 || 19|| 7 || 8 || 9 || 17 || 2 |- ALIGN="center" | 2006 || Kitchener-Waterloo Braves || OLA Jr.A || 22 || 42|| 39 || 81 || 34|| 5|| 3|| 4|| 7 || 4 |- ALIGN="center" | 2006 || Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks || MSL || 0 || 0|| 0 || 0 || 0|| 4|| 7|| 9|| 16 || 0 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2007 || Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks || MSL || 17 || 29 || 30 || 59 || 4|| 3 || 6 || 5 || 11 || 2 |- ALIGN="center" | 2008 || Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks || MSL || 18 || 30 || 36 || 66 || 0|| 3 || 5 || 4 || 9 || 0 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009 || Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks || MSL || 17 || 31 || 41 || 72 || 6|| 1 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 0 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009 || Owen Sound Woodsmen || OLA Sr.B || 6 || 24 || 21 || 45 || 0|| 3 || 8 || 7 || 15 || 0 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | Presidents Cup || Owen Sound Woodsmen || CLA || -- || -- || -- || -- || --|| 5 || 16 || 10 || 26 || 4 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" !colspan="3" |Junior A Totals!!104!!178!!213!!391!!99!!22!!17!!27!!44!!22 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" !colspan="3" |Senior A Totals!!52!!90!!107!!197!!10!!40!!20!!19!!39!!2 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" !colspan="3" |Senior B Totals!!6!!24!!21!!45!!0!!3!!8!!7!!15!!0 |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" !colspan="3" |Presidents Cup Totals!!--!!--!!--!!--!!--!!5!!16!!10!!26!!4 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Awards== {{s-start}} {{succession box | before = Brodie Merrill | title = NLL Rookie of the Year | years = 2007 | after = Craig Point }} {{s-end}}{{NLL Rookie of the Year Award}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Benesch, Ryan}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Albany FireWolves players Category:Buffalo Bandits players Category:Canadian lacrosse players Category:Colorado Mammoth players Category:Edmonton Rush players Category:Halifax Thunderbirds players Category:Lacrosse forwards Category:Lacrosse people from Ontario Category:Minnesota Swarm players Category:National Lacrosse League major award winners Category:Panther City LC players Category:Rochester Knighthawks players Category:Sportspeople from Kitchener, Ontario Category:Toronto Rock players Category:San Diego Seals players