Storm Stories € Andrey Pedan

By Rich Davidson, guelphstorm.com Storm Stories is a Guelph Storm original weekly feature for the 2012-13 season spotlighting current Storm Players and giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at the player’s lives on and off the ice.

There’s no mystery when it comes to what NHL scouts seek in an “NHL-caliber defenceman”.

He’s got to be big, strong, and physical, be able to block shots, and even put the puck in the back of the net sometimes. That would be a bonus.

Well, you can check off all of the above when it comes to veteran Guelph Storm blue-liner Andrey Pedan.

It’s for these reasons and more that the New York Islanders decided to make Pedan a part of their family by selecting the Russian defenceman with their third round pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft.

“Getting drafted by New York was a great experience; it was fun,” Pedan says. “I enjoyed getting to meet GM Garth Snow and the rest of the hockey staff there. They are a great organization.”

After the draft Pedan attended New York’s rookie development camp where he spent a week visiting Long Island.  At camp he joined fellow Islanders prospect and countryman Kirill Kabanov, running through drills, fitness-tests and scrimmages with the Islander’s hockey development staff.  

Pedan made a big impression on the club before ultimately being returned to the Storm in 2011 for another tour of duty last season.

It was during the 2011-12 season that the imposing defender had a breakout campaign, notching 10 goals and 30 assists in 63 games. Not bad for a guy who also accumulated 152 penalty minutes, dropping the gloves more than once while also routinely burying opposing forwards behind his net and along the boards.

“I worked very hard to play physical,” Pedan says about his playing style. “I also started to work harder on my shot so that I could help contribute to the team offensively, too.”

 The offense is something that has visibly carried over into this season, where the 6’4, 211lb force has made his mark as an impact player, tallying 9 goals and 13 assists already in just 25 games.

“The whole team has had a pretty good season so far, it’s been fun to get some big wins,” Pedan says. “Personally, I think that I’ve improved from last season. I worked hard in the off-season and I hope that I can keep getting better.”

Despite the fact that he’s in the midst of a second straight stellar season in Guelph, and even won a bronze medal with Team Russia at the World Junior U-18 Championships last year, Pedan was snubbed by hosting Russia this year and won’t suit up for his home country at the World Junior Hockey Championships held later this month.

A decision Russia might live to regret when they have to deal with powerhouse teams like Canada that have stacked teams benefiting from the NHL lockout.

“I’m disappointed that they didn’t choose me but I’ll be okay,” a humble Pedan says. “It is a very competitive team and there are lots of great players from Russia to choose from. I’m just going to work even harder so that hopefully I can make it next year.”

For now, Pedan will keep playing hockey in the country that he now calls his second home, Canada. Most teenagers would be intimidated packing up and moving to a foreign country to live and hockey, but not Andrey Pedan.

“I love living and playing in Canada,” he says. “The game is so popular here, and the fans are very passionate. Also, the amount of support that I’ve received here in Guelph both as a hockey player and as a person has been overwhelming.”

Pedan also goes on to say how much he appreciates the tutelage of Storm head Coach Scott Walker, someone he calls “tough but fair”.

“Scott Walker has been a great coach for me and for the team,” he says. “The fact that he played all those years in the NHL, you just take all the advice that you can. He’s made a big difference for me.”

Andrey Pedan’s future certainly seems to be a bright one.

When asked if he thinks he’ll suit up for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers next season (The AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders) Pedan says, “I don’t know. Maybe, but I hope to make the NHL instead. That’s my goal.”

For the first time in a long time, it seems that fans of the New York Islanders have something to look forward to, as Pedan will join a young team bolstering other top prospects from around the globe, slowly but surely putting pieces in place for a future run at the Cup. 

Storm Stories is a Guelph Storm original weekly feature for the 2012-13 season spotlighting current Storm Players and giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at the player’s lives on and off the ice.

Rich Davidson is a freelance hockey writer covering the Guelph Storm this season. Follow Rich’s work at:

www.rdsportswriter.com