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Pens rookie is also a finalist for Friday’s Hobey Baker Award.
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – This Friday goaltender Brad Thiessen will enter a world far removed from his small hometown of Aldergrove, British Columbia.
It’s a world of recognition and glory, and one that Thiessen, has gotten used to in a hurry.
Fresh off a record-setting junior season with Northeastern University, Thiessen signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization last week, officially leaving the college ranks to pursue a pro career.
Thiessen is spending this week practicing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins getting his first taste of the professional hockey world.
On Friday, the 23-year-old will enter yet another realm.
That’s when Thiessen will travel to Washington, D.C. for the Hobey Baker Award Ceremony. Thiessen is one of three finalists for the award which is given annually to the top collegiate ice hockey player in the nation.
The Hobey Baker award is college hockey’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. Obviously, the small-town kid from Aldergrove is very excited.
“It’s an honor. There have been a lot of great players nominated for it and it’s not something I take lightly,” Thiessen said after practice on Tuesday.
“I’ve never been to Washington, D.C., before and there are a lot of events for the three of us to go through on Friday and then the ceremony at night. It will be a great experience.”
Thiessen will be vying for the award with Boston University defenseman Matt Gilroy and Boston University forward Colin Wilson. He said he doesn’t expect to win, but one look at Thiessen’s incredible numbers from this season indicate he could be a frontrunner.
As a junior this year, Thiessen set Northeastern season records for wins (25), goals against average (2.12), save percentage (.931), saves (1,195), games (41) and minutes (2495:44).
While Thiessen was enjoying his extraordinary junior season at Northeastern, he also kept one eye toward the future.
His goal is to play in the NHL, he said, and that led to a tough decision to leave college a year early and enter the pro ranks.
“The first half of the season I was thinking about what I wanted to do after this year. Obviously, it’s tough,” Thiessen said.
“Northeastern has been my home for the last three years and I was treated so well there. But this was a time I felt I needed for the next challenge of my hockey career. When it came down to that, the decision wasn’t as tough as it seems.”
It’s the same decision that Penguins defenseman Alex Goligoski made when he decided to leave the University of Minnesota after his junior season in 2007.
Goligoski said he experienced the same feelings that Thiessen did when he made his decision to leave.
“College is a lot of fun and I have a lot of friends there. But I knew what I wanted to do after school, and that’s play hockey,” Goligoski said. “It’s about getting to a better level and taking that next step. Hockey-wise it was definitely the best decision, and it kind of made it easier.”
In Thiessen’s case, it also helped that the Pittsburgh organization was persistent in their interest in him.
“They were really after me right from the get-go,” he said.
So with the decision made and the Hobey Baker Award ceremony looming, Thiessen is looking forward to moving on with his pro career.
He said he will spend time with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to gain experience and learn the ropes of the pro game. That includes being around his new teammates in the locker room, watching games and working with coaches.
“I just want to see how everything works at the next level of competition. I’m just here to take everything in and get ready for next year,” Thiessen said.
Up Next
Norfolk
Admirals
at
WBS
Penguins
7:05 p.m.
Norfolk Admirals (30-38-4-5, Seventh place, East Division) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (47-24-2-3; Third place, East Division)
When: 7:05 p.m. today
Where: Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
Norfolk’s NHL Affiliation: Tampa Bay Lightning
Last game: March 21, 2009; Norfolk 2, Penguins 1
Scouting the Admirals: Blair Jones leads the Admirals with 52 points (19 goals, 33 assists). Brandon Segal and Radek Smolenak each lead the team with 22 goals.
Keep an eye on:
For the Penguins – In the last two games against Norfolk, Mark Letestu has three goals.
For the Admirals – Justin Keller. In three games against the Penguins this season, Keller has two goals and two assists.