Hedican brings perspective to new role with Gulls | TheAHL.com

Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer

Bret Hedican It has nothing to do with the struggle of today's players in establishing a professional career.

He has been there.

A 10th round pick in the 1988 NHL Draft, Hedican went on to become a reliable defenseman who built a 1,039-game NHL career that included a Stanley Cup championship and two Olympics with Team USA. But he faced his share of turmoil, especially in the beginning.

“When I look back on my career,” Hedican admitted, “I spent some time in my youth (with IHL Peoria in 1992-93), and actually as I have an opinion I wish I had spent more time there.”

After his playing career ended in 2009, Hedican quickly left to build a new career in broadcasting, a transition that brought another learning curve. Working in both studio and analyst roles, Hedican went on to spend 15 years with the San Jose Sharks' TV and radio staff, and also provided color commentary for Westwood One's men's and women's hockey broadcasts at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.

Hedican and his wife, an Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchihad two daughters, Keara (20) and Emma (18). And with his family growing, Hedican's schedule has opened up a lot lately. So when the opportunity for a hockey career with the Anaheim Ducks came up this summer, Hedican took it, joining the organization as a player development analyst for the San Diego Gulls.

It's an opportunity to build another new career while getting back to the day-to-day, on-ice job he's been dreaming of.

“This gives me the opportunity to be more involved in the organization,” explained Hedican. “I'm very happy (Gulls coach) Matt McIlvane and their coaching staff and the young talent within the Ducks organization that allows me to promote these players at a faster pace than you might think. That's using one of my strengths, which is helping guys get better.”

With Anaheim rebuilding, Hedican said, “our role is important to be able to get these players faster, more confident when they get to the NHL.”

In Hedican, the Ducks get a hockey eye that won a championship with Carolina in 2006 and advanced to two more Finals, with the Hurricanes in 2002 and Vancouver in 1994. Now 54-year-old Hedican believes he can help. Anaheim's prospects are preparing to make the successful jump they made from St. Louis. Cloud State in 1991. And it's a return to Anaheim, where Hedican spent his final season before retiring.

As a player, Hedican was quick to accept the move to tear down video of his game. But his career has expanded beyond the ice and the broadcast booth, too. Along with hockey, he has coached athletes in soccer and golf, helping them with their training and the mental side of their games.

“I've worked for athletes across the board,” said Hedican.

Hedican knows as well as anyone that the path to a full-time NHL role is not a straight one for most players. He was drafted at North St. Paul High School in Minnesota, Hedican played three seasons at St. Cloud State before making the 1992 US Olympic Team. He continued to play for St. Louis, Vancouver, Florida, Carolina and Anaheim.

“My road to staying in the NHL wasn't easy,” Hedican said, “and that's good news. Because all those ups and downs, learning to live in the NHL, being able to play for a long time… I think the biggest thing I can lend to a young player is to be able to evaluate himself well, to be himself. -check, to know if they have weaknesses in their game.

“Yes, they have a lot of strengths that we can rely on and be able to use, but also to see those weaknesses within the game that we can work on to get better.”

For many prospects, the AHL could be the first time they experience significant career turmoil. Many of them had great success at previous levels only to now hit the roadblocks in a league one step removed from the NHL.

“They've reached a stage in their career now where everyone is nice,” said Hedican. “It's not as easy as they thought it would be.”

So what separates a gamer from a mere mortal?

“One thing I think is huge is the mental side, the psychology side of the sport,” Hedican continued. “To borrow this idea from some of these players today, I am very happy because I don't know if a lot of players emphasize that enough. I know I was never a young player.

“As I got older I began to emphasize it more, I relied more on the mental side of the game, that I could play with one minute left with the goalie down 2-1 in a hockey game in Game 7. of the Stanley Cup finals. But I was trained to do that, and I worked on my weaknesses during my career that allowed me to be on the ice at that time.”

Hedican learned early that there is no avoiding those obstacles, pitfalls and pitfalls that come with breaking into the pro game. It wasn't like that in 1992 when he broke in, and it's not like that anymore. It can be an uneven, trying and sometimes frustrating process. That's where Hedican wants to help in San Diego.

“When players start hitting those hurdles and those tough sticking points based on natural toughness — whether it's the AHL or the NHL — that's when guys like me, guys who have been there before, can provide that perspective to stay balanced.

“Not too high, not too low… you know, those aren't just cliches. These are things you should work on and practice every day. 'No, this is normal. You're going to have ups and downs, and this is how we're going to walk through it.'”

TheAHL.com feature writer Patrick Williams has covered the American Hockey League for nearly two decades for outlets including NHL.com, Sportsnet, TSN, Hockey News, SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and SLAM ! Sports, and most recently was the host of The Hockey News On The 'A' podcast. He was the recipient of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league's top scorer in 2016.