The puck hasn't even dropped on the 2017-18 National Hockey League campaign and Sam Bennett is already blocking out the naysayers.
"(Kris Versteeg) said it was ugly, straight up," reported the 21-year-old, whose new facial hair (which he's been growing since July) has become the topic of conversation at Calgary Flames training camp.
He shrugged.
"Oh well."
New year.
New beard.
New Bennett?
While the correlation seems obvious as the centremen enters the season with a fresh slate, a newly signed two-year contract and focused on making a statementr, Bennett wasn't buying it.