SF Bulls Hockey Name Former Sharks Player Tom Pederson as Assistant Coach

April 11, 2012 - PRLog -- San Francisco, CA–The San Francisco Bulls Hockey Organization announced today that former San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tom Pederson has been named the Bulls assistant coach.  Pederson, 42, will join Head Coach and former teammate Pat Curcio behind the bench for the Bulls 2012-13 inaugural season.

“I’m excited to be a part of bringing professional hockey back to the Cow Palace,” said Pederson.  “I can’t wait to for the Bulls to take the ice and to be able to contribute to the success the organization."

Pederson, who played professionally for nine seasons from 1991 to 2000, was drafted 217th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft while playing for the University of Minnesota.  

He was claimed by the San Jose Sharks in the 1991 NHL Expansion Draft and began his professional career for the Sharks’ farm club, the Kansas City Blades of the IHL.  Pederson played in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks and the Toronto Maple Leafs for five seasons and ended his professional career with the Hannover Scorpions of the German League in 2000, where he played alongside Bulls Head Coach Pat Curcio.  Overall, Pederson played 240 career NHL games, scoring 20 goals and 49 assists for 69 points.
“I am honored to have my friend and former teammate Tom Pederson join our staff.  He is a natural fit for our club having played in the NHL and even in the Cow Palace while with the Sharks.  He’s going to be instrumental in the development of our future young defensemen,” said Bulls head coach Pat Curcio.

Since his retirement from professional hockey, Pederson has been coaching youth hockey with the San Jose Jr. Sharks and was the founder of the Green Biscuit, an off-ice stick handling and passing aid.  He currently resides in San Francisco.

About the Bulls:
The San Francisco Bulls Professional Hockey Team will officially take the ice as an expansion team of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) this October 2012. The Bulls are part of the Western Conference of the ECHL and will play a 72 game schedule with 36 home games to take place at the legendary Cow Palace.  For more information about The San Francisco Bulls, including Season Ticket opportunities and corporate partnerships, please visit www.sfbulls.com or call 415-469-9843.

Website: http://www.sfbulls.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sanfranciscobulls
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sf_bulls

About the ECHL:
The ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states.  Today, the league has 20 teams in 14 states.  The ECHL celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08 and is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.  The ECHL has had 273 players reach the NHL over the last eight seasons. It’s the primary developmental league for the NHL and the AHL.  On opening day of the 2010-11 season: 79 former ECHL players were on NHL rosters. The ECHL teams are divided into the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.  The Western Conference includes the Alaska Aces, Bakersfield Condors, Colorado Eagles, Idaho Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers, Stockton Thunder, Ontario Reign, Utah Grizzlies and now the San Francisco Bulls. All teams play a 72-game schedule.  For more information please visit www.echl.com.

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The San Francisco Bulls are a professional hockey team in the Western Conference of the ECHL. Learn more at www.sfbulls.com or www.echl.com