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03/19/2014 12:00 AMOnly three years through his high school stint, Ben Solin has etched his name into the Hand hockey history books.
While the junior notched four hat tricks in helping the Tigers reach their first state semifinal since 2006 this season, Ben took it one step further by becoming the program's all-time leading point scorer with 117 to date.
"It's surreal honestly. All of the coaches I've had here pushed me to get better in a great environment," says Ben, who has 32 goals and 27 assists on the campaign. "I'm pretty flattered and happy from the achievement. It just comes with being more aware of where everyone is on the ice, looking for the open man, and using your teammates to your advantage. They give you the puck and you give it back to them."
Ben says that he prefers to light the lamp in 1-on-1 situations, but he also knows that being successful on the ice requires poise and alertness offensively.
"Scoring on breakaways are always fun because it's no one else but you and the goalie and you are able to kind of show off your skills. There are a lot of nerves with it, but that's part of the game and makes it fun," Ben says. "It's more about taking in the surroundings and being calm with the puck. I try to look for open seams and not be too hyper when I have it."
As Ben was closing in on the record, he was taken down memory lane, yet like a true and focused athlete, he didn't think about it until after the game was over.
"My parents came downstairs to me before one of the games and showed me a program of a game my freshman year with the then-all-time leader and told me that I could get it," says Ben. "Once it happened, it didn't hit me until afterwards."
Accomplishing the feat in only three campaigns made it even sweeter for Ben, who feels that any person who reaches this milestone is in elite company.
"Doing it as a junior made it a little more special, but obviously, whoever held it before is incredible to do it, no matter the amount of years it took," Ben says. "It was just very humbling to me to do this."
Head Coach Ken Mitchell adds that Ben also contributes big on special teams and aids the growth of his fellow underclassmen.
"Ben has been as much of a value off the ice as he has on the ice with helping the younger kids transition and his being able to show the right way to do things has been key," says Mitchell. "Not only is he racking up points, but he has also contributed off the game sheet with solid defense and working on the penalty kill. Only knowing Ben for a year, I can see that he can play at the next level and his hockey future is bright."
Now the focus for Ben and Hand is on doing something that neither he nor his teammates have done-making an appearance at Ingalls Rink to play for a state championship.
"We want to make it to Ingalls and the championship game because no one on our senior class has made it there so now more than ever we want to take this state tournament seriously," says Ben. "We just have to take each game seriously and see where the pieces fall."
Still having one more winter left with the Tigers, Ben says that this has been the best all-around experience and one he won't ever forget.
"Hand hockey has been an exciting and fun atmosphere with great fans and it's always fun playing in front of your peers," says Ben, who thanks all his coaches and teammates, along with parents David and Elizabeth, plus his sister Alex. "I've made really good, long-lasting memories and friendships."