Curt Bennett

Curt Alexander Bennett (b. March 27th 1948 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, but raised in Cranston, Rhode Island) is a former American left winger who played in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, the New York Rangers and the Atlanta Flames.

The Brown University alumni was drafted to the NHL by the Blues 16th overall in the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft, thus becoming the first-ever American player drafted by an NHL team. He made his debuts in the league in 1970 with the Blues. He would play a mere 35 games over two seasons with St. Louis before being traded to the Rangers along with Peter McDuffe for Steve Durbano. He would be a Ranger for only 16 games before moving again, on November 28th of that same year, this time to the Atlanta Flames; New York received Ron Harris in return.

Bennett as a Flame was very successful, reaching the 30-goals plateau twice, in 1974-75 and 1975-76. His numbers would however take a drop the following season, and the Flames dealt him back to the Blues with Phil Myre and Barry Gibbs for Yves Belanger, Dick Redmond, Bob MacMillan and St. Louis' 2nd round choice (Mike Perovich) in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft on December 12th 1977. He was unable to set up the numbers he has with the Flames, to which he was dealt back in 1979 for Bobby Simpson. 1979-80 proved to be his last NHL campaign. The following year, he headed for Japan with his wife and brother Harvey Jr., spending two seasons as a player-coach for Furakawa Denko. He ended his NHL career with 334 points in 580 games.

Through his career, Bennett represented the United States thrice, once in the 1976 Canada Cup and then in the 1978 and 1979 World Championship.

Curt comes from a hockey family, his father Harvey Bennett and brothers Harvey Bennett (junior) and Bill Bennett having also played in the NHL.