Broncos’ Pederson signs with Arizona Coyotes

The early weeks of the 2016-17 Western Hockey League season have proved fruitful for a strong contingent of Swift Current Broncos.

Thursday afternoon, the Arizona Coyotes announced the signing of 19-year-old forward Lane Pederson to a three-year entry-level contract. Pederson, a native of Saskatoon, joins teammate Colby Sissons as the second Broncos’ undrafted free agent to put pen to paper with an NHL club this fall, after Sissons struck a deal with the New Jersey Devils back on Oct. 3.

To top it off, Max Lajoie, who was drafted by the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, put his name on the dotted line the same day Sissons signed his deal with the Devils.

Dream come true signing my first NHL contract with the @ArizonaCoyotes . So grateful for all the support I've received along the way!

— Lane Pederson (@LanePederson) October 13, 2016

For Pederson, a 6-foot, 190-pound centre, the contract with Arizona comes on the heels of his attendance at the team’s training camp this fall.

“We are very proud of Lane and his accomplishments,” said Manny Viveiros, director of player personnel for the Broncos, in a team release. “He has worked very hard to earn this and we congratulate him for getting a deal done with the Coyotes.”

Originally a fifth round pick (91^st) of the Seattle Thunderbirds at the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, the Broncos represent his third WHL club.

In 144 career WHL regular season games, Pederson has 30 goals and 84 points to his name, but he truly arrived after a trade from the Red Deer Rebels landed him in Swift Current midway through the 2015-16 season.

As the lone body acquired by Swift Current in the transaction that sent Jake DeBrusk to Red Deer, Pederson proved valuable upon his arrival in Speedy Creek, posting 14 goals and 34 points in 37 games to close the season. For comparison’s sake, he managed six goals and 21 points in 35 games with the Rebels prior to the deal, albeit while competing for ice time on a talent-rich squad chasing a MasterCard Memorial Cup.

In total, the 20 goals, 35 assists and 55 points Pederson accumulated between Red Deer and Swift Current represented career highs across the board for the third-year forward.

In his fourth WHL campaign, Pederson has dressed in seven games for the East Division-leading Broncos, tallying two goals and nine points.

Pederson and the Broncos return to action this weekend, visiting the Kelowna Rockets Saturday evening.