BRET HEDICAN'S SCSU JERSEY RETIRED
Stellar career includes, Olympics, 18 years NHL and Stanley Cup Championship
St. Cloud, Minn. – The St. Cloud State University men’s hockey program announced the retirement of Bret Hedican’s number 24 at a special ceremony prior to the start of the Huskies’ game against Bemidji State University on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
A native of North St. Paul, Minn., Hedican
helped St. Cloud State University launch its
NCAA Division I hockey program during his
collegiate career from 1988-91.
He went on to distinguish himself during a
sterling professional career in the National
Hockey League from 1991 to 2009, which
included a Stanley Cup championship in 2006
with the Carolina Hurricanes. Hedican was also
part of the United States men’s hockey team at
the Winter Olympic Games in 1992 and 2006.
Hedican’s number 24 is the first number to be retired in the history of the men’s hockey program at St. Cloud State University, which dates back to the start of organized hockey on campus in 1931-32.
"As a student-athlete Bret Hedican distinguished himself, the Husky hockey program and the number 24," said St. Cloud State President Earl H. Potter III. “His accomplishments as a player helped establish our men's hockey program at the Division I level, and his career and life achievements continue to bring great honor to him, his family and his alma mater. Retiring Bret's number 24 jersey is a fitting tribute to a friend and alumnus we hold in great esteem."
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Hedican began his collegiate hockey career at St. Cloud State University in 1988-89, which was the second full season of hockey for the Huskies at the NCAA Division I level. Hedican and his teammates helped guide the Huskies to their first-ever NCAA Division I tournament at the end of the 1988-89 season.
In three seasons at St. Cloud State, Hedican
established a standard of excellence for Husky
blueliners. He scored 27 goals, 50 assists and 77
points during his college career, which still ranks
fifth among SCSU defensemen for career points.
He owns the Huskies’ team records for most points
scored by a defenseman in a season with 48 in 1990-91,
most assists by a defenseman in a season with 30 in
1990-91 and most goals in a season for a defenseman
with 18 in 1990-91. Hedican also set the team’s
single-game standard for defenders with three goals
against Wisconsin on Feb. 15, 1991.
In 1990-91, Hedican guided the Huskies through their first season of play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and he was the first SCSU player to earn All-WCHA. An All-WCHA Academic award winner in 1990-91, Hedican was later recognized by the league as one of its Top 50 Players in 50 Years in 2001-02.
A 1988 draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, Hedican enjoyed a long and decorated career in the NHL. He began his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues in 1991-92. He went on to play in 1,147 NHL games during his career, which included stops in St. Louis (1991-94), Vancouver (1994-99), Florida (1999-02), Carolina (2002-08) and Anaheim (2008-09).
As an NHL player, Hedican posted 59 goals, 261 assists and 320 points during his career. Hedican and another former Husky, Matt Cullen (1995-97), helped the Carolina Hurricanes win their first Stanley Cup championship in 2006.
To complement his professional playing career, Hedican appeared in two Winter Olympic Games as a member of the USA men’s ice hockey team in 1992 (Albertville) and 2006 (Torino). He was also selected to compete for Team USA at the World Hockey Championships in 1997, 1999 and 2001.
“There are few alumni in the long history of Husky hockey who have meant more to our program than Bret Hedican,” said St. Cloud State Head Coach Bob Motzko. “He truly symbolizes what is best about our program, and this has been evident throughout his decorated career in college, the NHL and the Olympics.
“This is a well-deserved honor for someone who cares greatly about the Husky hockey program, and for someone who has meant so much to the hockey program at St. Cloud State.”
Hedican and his teammates set a foundation for success at SCSU, which has included 13 winning seasons, seven NCAA tournament bids and 12 trips to the WCHA Final Five since 1990-91 (along with a WCHA Final Five championship in 2001).
An NCAA Division I affiliate since 1987-88, St. Cloud State University is a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Founded in 1869, St. Cloud State University enrolls 18,319 students and its main campus is located in the city of St. Cloud, Minn. BRET HEDICAN SCSU JERSEY RETIREMENT PHOTO GALLERY HERE
