Physical blueliner coming to Fort Worth
Published on July 13, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release
Fort Worth â The Fort Worth Brahmas continued to add to their roster on Tuesday with the signing of rookie defenseman Sheldon Nedjelski to a contract for the 2004-2005 CHL season.
Nedjelski, 6'1", 205, will begin his rookie season with the Brahmas in October after five years of collegiate play (1999-2004) at the University of Calgary (CIS). In 189 career regular season games with the Dinos, he proved to be a versatile blueliner, setting a physical tone with 221 penalty minutes while still contributing 88 (17G/71A) points to his team's offense. Nedjelski's best individual season at Calgary came in 2003-2004 when he picked up a career high 24 points (2G/22A) to go along with 56 penalty minutes.
Nedjelski, a native of Watrous, Saskatchewan, will be reunited in Fort Worth with Brahmas second-year goaltender Tyler Nilsson. Nilsson and Nejelski were college teammates in Calgary for four seasons (1999-2003). Nilsson tended goal in 32 games for the Brahmas last season and is already under contract with Fort Worth for 2004-2005.
Before his stint at the CIS level, Nedjelski spent two seasons playing major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Saskatoon Blades and the Swift Current Broncos under former NHL player Brad McCrimmon. He played a total of 75 games in the WHL, spending 193 minutes in the penalty box and putting 5 points (5A) on the board.
Nedjelski also skated part of the 1997-98 campaign with the Humboldt Broncos in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), again proving his offensive and defensive skills with 20 points (5G/15A) and 160 penalty minutes in 42 games with the Broncos.
Head coach Al Sims will count on Nedjelski to be an effective first year player.
"To be successful in the CHL, you need your rookies and young players to be able to contribute right away. Sheldon has the skill and experience to step immediately into the professional game and be a factor. He's got that unique combination of a physical style of play and offensive ability that is so tough to find," said Sims.
In addition to Nedjelski and Nilsson, the Brahmas have ten other players already under contract for the 2004-2005 CHL season. Those players include Jorin Welsh (D), Jan Jas (RW), Chad Woollard (LW), Joey Bastien (C), Derrell Upron (RW), Aaron Davis (C), Steve Reid (F), Adam Davis (D), Justin Laverdiere (RW), and Dan Murphy (G).
The Brahmas will open their eighth season in franchise history and their fourth in the CHL in late October of 2004. Season tickets for the 2004-2005 season are on sale now. For more information, please contact the Brahmas office at (817) 336-4423.
Central Hockey League Stories from July 13, 2004
- Gorillas website to be taken down - Amarillo Gorillas
- Killer Bees Acquire Three-Time All-Star In Trade With Lubbock - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Bucks Nilson Signs With Calgary - Laredo Bucks
- Holland Traded for Mackie - Lubbock Cotton Kings
- Physical blueliner coming to Fort Worth - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Tarantulas sign Cosmo Dupaul - Topeka Tarantulas
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
