 He would play the next three seasons in SM-Liiga, where he would lead his team in points during the 1998-99 season (with Ässät Pori) and in 1999-2000 (with Jokerit).Benda would leave SM-Liiga in 2001 to sign with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Superleague.He would spend the next three seasons in Kazan and would split his final year between Khimik Voskresensk and Cherepovets Severstal.