Bret Hedican

Lore & Background

Hedican grew up in North Saint Paul, Minnesota, and attended North St. Paul High School, where he played four sports: hockey, football, soccer, and golf. He switched from winger to defense as a senior due to injuries and was named to The Associated Press All-State team. He chose St. Cloud State University for its scholarship offer, later saying it was a great opportunity to turn the program around. In his junior season at St. Cloud, he recorded 19 goals and 30 assists and was named to the All-WCHA First Team. He left college holding the team record for most points by a defenseman in a season with 48.

Hedican was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 1988 and made his NHL debut in 1992. He was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1994 and joined their Stanley Cup Final run that season, scoring the team's first goal in Game 1 of the Final. He later played for the Florida Panthers and was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2002, where he won the Stanley Cup. During that run, he tore the labrum in his right hip in Game 1 of the finals and played the remainder with cortisone and pain-relief shots. He signed with the Anaheim Ducks for the 2008–09 season, his last in the league, and played his 1000th career game on November 21, 2008.

Reader's Guide

Hedican's career spanned 1,039 regular-season games and included a Stanley Cup championship with the Carolina Hurricanes. He represented the United States at two Winter Olympics, first in 1992 under coach Herb Brooks, who had also coached him at St. Cloud State. His speed was compared to that of a young Paul Coffey by the Blues' chief scout at the time of his draft. Hedican was the Hurricanes' nomination for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy during their Cup-winning season, recognizing perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. His final NHL season was with the Anaheim Ducks, after which he announced his retirement on September 16, 2009. His high school retired his jersey number in 2006.

Did You Know?

• Hedican was the only Twin Cities player named to Team USA's roster for the 1992 Winter Olympics.
• He scored his first NHL goal on April 15, 1992, in a 5–3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.
• He played his 1000th career NHL game on November 21, 2008, against the St. Louis Blues.
• His sister Kelly married his St. Cloud State teammate Scott Eichstadt while Hedican was at the 1992 Olympics.