Family is hockey and hockey is family for Franklin's Ben Paterson

FRANKLIN – Ben Paterson rarely leaves the ice.

He starts for Franklin's boys hockey team and plays on the Panthers' power play and penalty kill.

"Even when he's gassed, he's asking to get back out there," Franklin coach Chris Spillane said. "We've tried to pull him back."

Good luck. Paterson has skated as long as he's walked. His father Dan grew up in Canada. He put sticks in his four kids' hands, and they never set them back down. Ben played on the family's outdoor rink with his four older siblings, fighting for any shred of the puck.

"My siblings definitely gave me a hard time and made it tough for me," Ben said. "They made me get a little more drive in me."

A hockey family

Hockey always felt like family. The Paterson regularly watch any NHL game they can, especially their favorite Toronto Maple Leafs. Family also includes the other Panthers that Ben spends as much time as he can around both in and out of the rink.

"I love my teammates. I love I love being at the rink skating. If I could spend all day here, I would," Paterson said. "This is where I want to be."

It's where he belongs. Paterson was named the Hockomock MVP a season ago as a junior when the Panthers reached the Division 1 Sweet 16. He compiled 17 goals and 22 assists then and has been even better this season.

Peterson leads Division 1 and ranks second in the state with 48 points. His 27 goals are tied for second. He notched his 100th point on Feb. 4 against Reading.

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"He's been pretty consistent, but his game has reached a new level this year," Spillane said. "He's the one player that sticks out on the ice that can do everything."

Unstoppable

Peterson has collected a point in 20 of Franklin's 21 games. The Panthers (13-8) ended the year with a tight 3-1 loss against the state's top team St. John's Prep on Wednesday at home. They'll await their seed in the state tournament but were ranked 12th in Tuesday's final update.

"We can compete with anyone in the state if we play our game," Franklin senior Anthony Lampasona said.

Lampasona combined with Paterson For Franklin's only goal against the Eagles, a shorthanded tally in the second period that tied the game at 1. They broke out of the defensive zone together.

"The biggest thing that separates him is his hard work, his patience with the puck and his skill to read the net, read the players and put the puck in the back of the net," Lampasona said.

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Paterson found Lampasona in open space for a shot, and Paterson tucked the rebound away after shifting the puck to his back hand and sliding it calmly into the net.

"His hockey IQ is definitely off the charts. He sees people open where other people don't see them open, gets some pucks and then just obviously his knack for putting the puck in the net," Spillane said. "He made it look easy and he’s made a lot of things look easy this year. We're fortunate to have him on our team and hopefully it continues."

Keep it going

With the state tournament on the horizon, Paterson knows his days in Franklin powder blue are numbered no matter what. He doesn't want his hockey career to end when his time as a Panther does. He's looking to either complete a post-grad year at a prep school or play junior hockey.

"Everyone else is looking at colleges, so it's kind of similar. I'm looking into schools, talking to coaches, trying to get somewhere," Paterson said. "I know I can keep playing on another level. I want to keep playing at higher levels and hope they keep coming."

In order to do that, the center needs to tighten up the defensive aspect of his game. Peterson wants to involve his teammates more rather than always looking to score.

"It doesn't matter if you put it in the net or your teammate if you made a good play," Peterson said.

Any time on the ice is well spent.

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Ben Paterson found a home on the ice with Franklin boys hockey