Denis Pederson – Athlete
One of Prince Albert’s more decorated hockey players, Denis Pederson took up skating at age 3 and was playing hockey by age 5. One of his first championships was as a member of the Carlton Park Mustangs who won the City Atom A title in 1984-85. From there Denis Pederson’s hockey career took off!
He would go on to star for the Midget Raider/Mintos from 1990 to 1992. In his first season he was named the team’s rookie of the year and top forward. In the 1991-92 Pederson was named the Saskatchewan League’s Best Forward, the Mintos top scorer and MVP, as well as being named to the Mac’s Tournament All-Star team and to Sask First’s Zone 8 team.
As a member of his hometown Western Hockey League Raiders from 1991-95, Pederson exploded onto the national and international hockey scene. After playing 10 games as a 15 year-old at the end of the 1991-92 season, he was named the teams rookie of the year, appearing in all 72 games in 92-93 notching 73 points. In his second full year he hit the 50 goal plateau (53) and was named WHL East Division 2nd team All-Star. In 1994-95 Pederson was a member of Team Canada at the World Juniors as well as being named the Raiders Hardest Working Player, Best Defensive Forward and Playoff MVP.
Pederson was a first round NHL Draft pick in 1993 by the New Jersey Devils. He would play 453 games in the NHL from 1995-2003 for New Jersey, Vancouver, Phoenix and Nashville totaling 57 goals and 71 assists.
He then had an outstanding career overseas, mainly in Germany with the Berlin Polar Bears (Eisbaren) where he played from 2003-2013. Berlin won the DEL league championship six times during Pederson’s time there. He played in the DEL league All Star game in 2007 and 2009 and was named the top centre in that league in 2008-09 and 2009-10. He was the Captain of Team Canada at the Deutchland Cup in 2003 and played for Berlin in the Spengler Cup in 2005-06 and 2006-07. He capped his career in 2010 winning the Champions Hockey League European Cup with Berlin.
