Beau Bennett Beau Bennett ( born November 27 , 1991 ) is an American ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . Bennett is currently a sophmore at the University of Denver . He graduated from Valley Christian High School in San Jose , California . He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft ( 20th overall ) . He is the highest - drafted California born - and - trained player in NHL history . Junior career . Beau committed in June 2009 to play for Penticton ' s British Columbia Hockey League team , the Penticton Vees . He chose Penticton over the WHL ' s Calgary Hitmen and the USHL ' s Tri - City Storm , owning his major jr . and USHL playing rights respectively . While only a rookie , Beau was placed on the top forward line alongside team captain , Denver Manderson ( center ) and Alex Szczechura ( left wing ) . Bennett had an incredibly strong start to his season before being named to represent his country at the World Junior A Challenge . After contributing three goals and four points and winning a gold medal , Beau returned to Penticton to record ten goals and ten assists in nine games . In December , he was named top forward at the CJHL prospects games in Winkler , Manitoba . In January , Beau played in the BCHL All - Star Game . Near the end of the season , due to injury to the top line ' s center , Manderson , Bennett was switched to center , a position he had never played . He flourished in the position , and in the final regular season game , scored four points to tie Mark Zengerle for the league scoring title . ( With 120 points each , Bennett had 41 goals and 79 assists , Zengerle had 33 goals and 87 assists . ) In the Interior Conference Finals , the Vees faced elimination by the Vernon Vipers . The Vipers hosted Game Five , which went into triple overtime . After helping force a 2 - 2 tie by contributing a goal , Bennett set up the play that gave the Vees another chance . After receiving a pass , he beat defenders and approached the right side of the net , pursued by captain Manderson as well as Vernon defense . Pretending to attempt a wraparound goal , he used a skillful backhand pass through his skates to Manderson that Vernon goalie , Graeme Gordon , didn ' t see . Making as though he still carried the puck , he swept around the back of the net , with Gordon following to cover his right ( net ' s left ) side of the net , leaving his left ( net ' s right ) wide open for Manderson to snap the perfectly placed puck between the pipes . The Vees went on to be defeated in Game 6 . Despite the less than perfect end to his season , Bennett was named the BCHL ' s Rookie of the Year , as well as received the Penticton Vees ' Leading Scorer Award and the Rookie of the Year Award . University of Denver . Freshman Year ( 2010 - 2011 ) . In his Freshman year , Bennett played 37 games and tallied 25 points on nine goals and 16 assists and added one power - play goal and one game - winning goal in a 3 - 2 win against Alaska - Anchorage . He recorded four multi - point games . He tallied a career - best two points in games against Bemidji State , Lake Superior State , Minnesota State and Alaska - Anchorage . He tallied six assists during a six - game point streak from March 4th through March 19th . Bennett added 98 hits and 15 blocked shots . He missed five games from December 4th through January 1st with a right knee injury . Bennett committed nine penalties for 18 PIMs .