Pederson, who turns 40 on Jan. 14, is entering his third season as Bakersfield's assistant coach following a 17-year professional career as a player. Pederson was given a one-year extension on his contract in May and will remain Bakersfield's assistant coach through the 2008-09 season.

The Saskatchewan native was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. After winning a pair of Memorial Cups in the Western Hockey League as a junior, he made an impressive jump to the professional scene, finishing fourth in American Hockey League scoring during just his second pro season. Pederson suited up in the NHL in parts of six seasons for the Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings. Overall, he scored 35 goals and 85 points in 169 NHL games.

Pederson spent the bulk of his tenure in the American and International Hockey leagues and played seven seasons overseas. He scored 30-or-more goals six different times in his pro career, including a 52-goal performance in 62 AHL games in 1993-94. Pederson returned to the States to play for the San Diego Gulls in 2002-03, ranking second in the WCHL with 39 goals and seventh with 72 points. In 2002-03 Pederson was named WCHL Forward of the Year, Taylor Cup Playoff MVP and selected to the ALL-WCHL Team. The following year he led the ECHL with 44 goals, was tied for sixth with 81 points and was awarded the ECHL Sportsmanship Award. Pederson retired late in the 2004-05 season with 34 points in 48 games with San Diego. During his 17-year pro career, he led his team in points and goals six times.

During his assistant coaching tenure in Bakersfield, Pederson has helped guide the Condors to back-to-back series wins in the opening round of the playoffs. Last season the Condors overcame an 0-2 deficit to eliminate Fresno 4-2 in the National Conference Quarterfinals. In 2005-06 Bakersfield competed in two seven-game playoff series (first in ECHL history) and achieved its first-ever postseason series win.

Pederson resides in Bakersfield during the season. During the offseason he lives in Montana with his wife Sunde and daughter Demi.

PEDERSON’S CAREER PLAYING STATISTICS

			Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1983-84	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	3	0	0	0	0	--	--	--	--	--
1984-85	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	71	42	40	82	63	10	3	2	5	0
1985-86	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	72	46	60	106	46
1986-87	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	69	56	46	102	58
1987-88	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL	62	53	58	111	55	16	13	6	19	16
1988-89	Sherbrooke Canadiens	AHL	75	43	38	81	53	6	7	5	12	4
1989-90	Sherbrooke Canadiens	AHL	72	53	42	95	60	11	10	8	18	19
1989-90	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	9	0	2	2	2	2	0	0	0	0
1990-91	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	47	8	15	23	18	--	--	--	--	--
1990-91	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	12	2	1	3	5	--	--	--	--	--
1991-92	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	58	15	25	40	22	--	--	--	--	--
1992-93	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	14	3	4	7	6	--	--	--	--	--
1992-93	San Jose Sharks	NHL	27	7	3	10	22	--	--	--	--	--
1993-94	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL	62	52	45	97	37	12	4	7	11	10
1993-94	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	2	0	0	0	2	--	--	--	--	--
1994-95	Kalamazoo Wings	IHL	75	31	32	63	47	16	8	4	12	2
1995-96	Villach VSV	Aust	34	28	32	60	52
1996-97	Farjestads BK Karlstad	SEL	30	7	4	11	26	--	--	--	--	--
1997-98	Hannover Scorpions	DEL	47	20	38	58	61
1998-99	Krefeld Penguins	DEL	50	21	27	48	40
1999-00	Krefeld Penguins	DEL	44	20	17	37	80	3	2	0	2	4
2000-01	Mannheim Eagles	DEL	42	7	7	14	16	11	3	5	8	4
2001-02	Hannover Scorpions	DEL	54	18	10	28	32	--	--	--	--	--
2002-03	San Diego Gulls	WCHL	60	39	33	72	34	12	6	10	16	2
2003-04	San Diego Gulls	ECHL	70	44	37	81	38	3	2	0	2	0
2004-05	San Diego Gulls	ECHL	48	13	21	34	34	--	--	--	--	--
	NHL Totals		169	35	50	85	77	2	0	0	0	0