Mike Hedden

Mike Hedden
Born	(1984-12-27) December 27, 1984 (age 40) Dunnville, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Forward
Shot	Left
Played for	Grand Rapids Griffins Rockford IceHogs Rochester Americans Texas Stars KHL Medveščak Zagreb Ässät Straubing Tigers Cardiff Devils
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2009–2021

Mike Hedden (born December 27, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the American Hockey League (AHL). He is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Playing career

Prior to turning professional, Hedden played college hockey at Neumann University. ^[1] Hedden made his professional debut in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye in the 2009–10 season.

After impressing with the Walleye, Hedden earned a try-out contract with American Hockey League clubs, Grand Rapids Griffins, Rockford IceHogs and the Rochester Americans. In the following 2011–12 season, he signed a one-year contract with the Texas Stars. ^[2]

Hedden established himself alongside the Stars top offensive players, culminating in capturing the Calder Cup in his third and final season with the club in the 2013–14 season.

On June 20, 2014, Hedden signed his first European contract, agreeing to a one-year deal with Croatian club, KHL Medveščak Zagreb of the Kontinental Hockey League. ^[3] In the 2014–15 season, Hedden struggled to transition with Zagreb going scoreless in 12 games before he was released from his contract. On October 30, Hedden moved to the Finnish Liiga, signing for the remainder of the season with Ässät Pori. ^[4]

On May 25, 2015, Hedden left Finland as a free agent, continuing his European career in Germany, signing an initial one-year deal with the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. ^[5]

After three seasons in the DEL with Straubing, Hedden left as a free agent to sign a one-year deal with the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League on July 8, 2018. ^[6]

Following five European seasons abroad, Hedden returned to North America as a free agent and agreed to play in the ECHL in signing a one-year deal with the Allen Americans on July 9, 2019. ^[7] He began the 2019–20 season by appearing in 4 games with the Americans before he was claimed off waivers by the Jacksonville Icemen on October 29, 2019. ^[8]

On August 6, 2020, Hedden continued in the ECHL, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Rapid City Rush. ^[9] After he was named in the Rush training camp roster, Hedden opted to end his 11-year professional career announcing his retirement on December 1, 2020. ^[10] A little over a month later, Hedden reversed his decision to retire, returning the Rapid City Rush on January 10, 2021. ^[11]

In 2021, he was named an assistant coach of the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League. ^[12]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005–06	Neumann University	ECAC-W		25	18	14	32	36		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Neumann University	ECAC-W		26	31	21	52	20		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Neumann University	ECAC-W		26	30	12	42	14		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Neumann University	ECAC-W		31	17	20	37	39		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		66	18	14	32	58		4	0	3	3	6
2010–11	Toledo Walleye	ECHL		57	32	20	52	94		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		3	0	1	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Rochester Americans	AHL		2	1	1	2	15		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Texas Stars	AHL		69	19	15	34	55		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Texas Stars	AHL		61	13	22	35	38		9	1	3	4	4
2013–14	Texas Stars	AHL		74	23	32	55	43		21	9	10	19	20
2014–15	KHL Medveščak Zagreb	KHL		12	0	0	0	9		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Ässät	Liiga		39	10	9	19	51		2	0	0	0	4
2015–16	Straubing Tigers	DEL		52	17	17	34	14		7	0	2	2	2
2016–17	Straubing Tigers	DEL		51	18	26	44	52		2	0	0	0	2
2017–18	Straubing Tigers	DEL		52	11	20	31	56		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Cardiff Devils	EIHL		59	20	42	62	20		4	1	3	4	0
2019–20	Allen Americans	ECHL		4	1	0	1	2		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Jacksonville Icemen	ECHL		44	16	26	42	21		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Rapid City Rush	ECHL		42	9	9	18	10		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				210	56	71	127	153		30	10	13	23	24

Awards and honours

Award	Year
AHL
Calder Cup (Texas Stars)	2014	[13]

References

1. "Mike Hedden makes headway in the professional ranks". Neumann University. 2011-01-22. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
2. "Texas Stars add Mike Hedden". Texas Stars. 2011-07-01. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
3. "Another Calder Cup winner in Medvescaks' offense". KHL Medveščak Zagreb. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
4. "Mike Hedden to Assat" (in Finnish). Ässät Pori. 2014-10-30. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
5. "Straubing Tigers sign Canadian Mike Hedden" (in German). Straubing Tigers. 2015-05-25. Archived from the original on 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
6. "Devils welcome Mike Hedden". Cardiff Devils. 2018-07-08. Retrieved 2018-07-08.
7. "Americans sign top-six forward from Europe". Allen Americans . July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
8. "Hedden acquired by the Icemen". ECHL. October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
9. "New player signing: Mike Hedden". Rapid City Rush. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
10. "Mike Hedden retires from pro hockey". ECHL. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
11. ECHL (January 10, 2021). "Hedden signs with Rapid City". Twitter . Retrieved January 11, 2021.
12. "Generals Welcome New Coaching Staff". OurSports Central. 6 July 2021.
13. "Dallas Stars' affiliate wins AHL Calder Cup". Dallas Stars . 2014-06-18. Retrieved 2014-06-18.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database