After four seasons in the minor spent with some British Columbia minor teams, this summer winger Ben Klinkhammer signed an Entry Level contract with the Detroit Falcons, who wasn’t drafted in the S25 SMJHL Draft(After missing his plane to the Draft, due to alcohol overuse, and comma after he fell from high stairs). In this translated interview, originally appearing on the Michigan website, Falcons winger Ben Klinkhammer talks about playing with some best players on the team, training camps, and his jersey number (#89).

Klinkhammer looks very intrigued about skating at his first Falcons training. Before getting signed by the Falcons, Klinkhammer had a solid junior career, with 49 points in 159 games. Last year was especially good with 37 assists and 25 points for Surrey Atom HC. Remember that the Surrey Minor Hockey Association is a low-scoring league and few players break the point-per-game mark.

I had the best possible feelings about training here in Detroit. It’s a very awesome city, a growing environment. I love the game atmosphere, a sell-out crowd even during the morning training, and the season rookie special drills. It was very pleasant to feel the crowd support.

The new Falcons forward didn’t gather experience in the SMHA only. He also represented team British Columbia on different level, at the U14 and U15 Provincials, winning three bronze medals. He was the assistant captain of both U13 and U15 teams in two of three tournaments. Last year he also skated with the Seattle Riot team for eight games at the Rookies Hometown Hockey Tour, scoring three goals. He was also included in the Junior Showcase All-Star Team.
Back in Surrey, Klinkhammer had a successful first part of the year, where he regularly scored playing in the SMHA. But of course, he knows that getting to play for the Falcons wasn’t going be easy, especially at his first year in the league.

I think that I did well for the first part of the rookie tournament, but after all, the most important things are still ahead of us. For example, at the training there was forwards trying to impress to get those firs line minutes.

Against the Kelowna Knights, Ben Klinkhammer scored his first and only point in SMJHL, during a SMJHL season game.

I really have to thank my team mates [for my first point]; they gave me a chance to show my great passing skills. I just had to be in the area, have a good release so my teammate could receive the pass with ease and put it in (no homo) the net.

Some of the Q&A with Klinkhammer looked like this:

– Did you enjoy the chance to play with the pros for the first time?

– During the training the lines were changing all the times, therefore I played with different partners. Maybe some of these lines will be part of the team next season. I did play with the pros, and it was really fun, I enjoyed it a lot.

– Peoples saying that some players are better and ahead of you, but you have the greater potential, can you relate to that?

– I think I am not in the right position to rate other players. But I can say that, of course I am a big talent. I am a great playmaker: I can skating, stickhandling, and most of all, I have good passing, so for a rookie like, I have important playmaking attributes at the highest level. I am a natural born winger-playmaker

– What jersey number did you wear in the juniors? #89 like in Detroit Falcons and the U13 U14 and U15 BC provincial teams?

– Yes, rookies can’t pick their own numbers, we can choose from the leftovers. It’s a normal thing; it’s the same in all the teams. I got lucky to have #89 not picked, I somehow would of picked #99, but It is too famous to wear, and I don’t like that :3

– Who is your room-mate right now?

– I don’t have any right now, but my cat and dog always keep good company so I am fine, I live in my own house, so I don’t have to pay any costly monthly bills.

– Most of players playing in the SMJHL tell that the ice in Vancouver [Whalers] is the best and the fastest in the league. Can you confirm it?

– The first thing you notice getting there is the speed of the teams. Even during the rookie tournaments the game goes very, very fast. Regarding the ice, it’s still early for me to get to any conclusion. Besides, I play against Vancouver, it gave me a chance to feel the arena, as not long ago, I heard they faced Detroit in the finals, and they lost to them[Falcons] >

– Do you still follow the juniors?

– I manage to follow only my former team. It’s almost my home club now after all those years. I know that they had a slow start of the season, but I am sure that they will catch up. I love to see what my team is bringing in, because, you know, I looking to buy the club if I we’re to be successful in my career. The is in a great city that love their hockey players

The great city of Detroit are looking forward to see their winger get drafted high, due to his potential to become a high playmaker at his position, and Ben Klinkhammer is looking forward to not disappoint them.