UHL: Exclusive: Hailing From Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Lars Pettersen
Jarrod Rogol
November 30, 2005
Photo: Lars Pettersen
Credit: Missouri River Otters
*Includes exclusive comments from Lars Pettersen
Many great leaders and innovators have come from Canada. Including such names as: former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Chris Benoit, Peter Jennings and William Shatner. Why have so many others like those listed come from Canada and been able to change their profession? The answer is quite simple, the way they approach life and their philosophies about work ethic.
The Otters this season are looking to Center, Lars Pettersen, who is now in his 9th year of professional hockey as one of their key anchors. Many people throughout history have said, “You can tell the strength of a person by the way they think.” Well, if that is the case, then it’s easy to see why Pettersen has the support of Otters management. “I try to be smart, use my head and hockey instincts, I believe in puck control and puck possession. The more you have puck, the more chances you have to score,” said Petterson about his philosophy on playing the game. Pettersen went on to talk about who he reminds himself of, “Ron Francis, had a long career without being a flashy player. He was also a good two way player and very consistent. Francis was the guy who took care of business.”
Growing up in Western Canada, hockey was in Pettersen’s veins, “Hockey is the staple of Western Canada when you’re growing up. It is really the only thing you focus on, and I’ve been lucky enough to do it now for nine years,” said Pettersen. He also has lots of guys in the arena of hockey who he grew up admiring as so many young Canadians do, “Dad was a Flames fan and I was an Oilers fan, which always caused a big battle, because of the rivalry between the two cities, but I’d say Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Eric Messier, guys like that,” said Pettersen.
This season, the Otters have an average experience level totaling only 3.4 years in professional hockey. Pettersen is one of only six returning players from the 2004-2005 squad, and has shown a large amount of heart and leadership this season, in a sport, where experience and team veterans are key. “We brought a great group of guys, in this season. You have to build from the goalie out, Reiter has been our best player this season, and Heckendorn has been one of our top two Defensemen,” said Pettersen about how this is weighing on the Otters.
During his 2004-2005 campaign, Pettersen led the Otters with 66 points in 88 games. In order for Pettersen to be able to have that amount of success and for the River Otters to win, chemistry is an absolute must. This season, Pettersen is joined by Brad Church, and Dave Stewart, all of whom were part of the Reading Royals (ECHL) in 2003-2004, the team which ironically lost in the Semi-Finals to fellow Otter member Tim O’Connell’s Florida Everblades. “We had a great run and it’s a 30 team league. Experiences are key as they bring a team together. Having guys who’ve been there is a must. If you look at Muskegon, they have that, and that’s how they continue to win every year,” said Pettersen about how this will help the Otters.
SHOOT or PASS (S = Agrees , P = Doesn’t Agree)
P = Tim O’Connell is the best golfer on the Otters. (Answer was: Mark Lindsay or Tyler Butler).
S = Score career high 32 goals this season.
S = Would rather have a Stanley Cup Ring over an Olympic Gold Medal.
SIDE NOTES
Peterson, Heckendorn, and Church play Hacky Sack to loosen up before games.
Picked up eight of 16 shootout goals lat season.
Pettersen scored five goals in one period with the August Lynx (ECHL) during the 1999-2000 season.
Grew up on a cattle farm and said he could see himself working one later in life.
Official Site: MISSOURI RIVER OTTERS
Credit: Missouri River Otters
*Includes exclusive comments from Lars Pettersen
Many great leaders and innovators have come from Canada. Including such names as: former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Chris Benoit, Peter Jennings and William Shatner. Why have so many others like those listed come from Canada and been able to change their profession? The answer is quite simple, the way they approach life and their philosophies about work ethic.
The Otters this season are looking to Center, Lars Pettersen, who is now in his 9th year of professional hockey as one of their key anchors. Many people throughout history have said, “You can tell the strength of a person by the way they think.” Well, if that is the case, then it’s easy to see why Pettersen has the support of Otters management. “I try to be smart, use my head and hockey instincts, I believe in puck control and puck possession. The more you have puck, the more chances you have to score,” said Petterson about his philosophy on playing the game. Pettersen went on to talk about who he reminds himself of, “Ron Francis, had a long career without being a flashy player. He was also a good two way player and very consistent. Francis was the guy who took care of business.”
Growing up in Western Canada, hockey was in Pettersen’s veins, “Hockey is the staple of Western Canada when you’re growing up. It is really the only thing you focus on, and I’ve been lucky enough to do it now for nine years,” said Pettersen. He also has lots of guys in the arena of hockey who he grew up admiring as so many young Canadians do, “Dad was a Flames fan and I was an Oilers fan, which always caused a big battle, because of the rivalry between the two cities, but I’d say Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Eric Messier, guys like that,” said Pettersen.
This season, the Otters have an average experience level totaling only 3.4 years in professional hockey. Pettersen is one of only six returning players from the 2004-2005 squad, and has shown a large amount of heart and leadership this season, in a sport, where experience and team veterans are key. “We brought a great group of guys, in this season. You have to build from the goalie out, Reiter has been our best player this season, and Heckendorn has been one of our top two Defensemen,” said Pettersen about how this is weighing on the Otters.
During his 2004-2005 campaign, Pettersen led the Otters with 66 points in 88 games. In order for Pettersen to be able to have that amount of success and for the River Otters to win, chemistry is an absolute must. This season, Pettersen is joined by Brad Church, and Dave Stewart, all of whom were part of the Reading Royals (ECHL) in 2003-2004, the team which ironically lost in the Semi-Finals to fellow Otter member Tim O’Connell’s Florida Everblades. “We had a great run and it’s a 30 team league. Experiences are key as they bring a team together. Having guys who’ve been there is a must. If you look at Muskegon, they have that, and that’s how they continue to win every year,” said Pettersen about how this will help the Otters.
SHOOT or PASS (S = Agrees , P = Doesn’t Agree)
P = Tim O’Connell is the best golfer on the Otters. (Answer was: Mark Lindsay or Tyler Butler).
S = Score career high 32 goals this season.
S = Would rather have a Stanley Cup Ring over an Olympic Gold Medal.
SIDE NOTES
Peterson, Heckendorn, and Church play Hacky Sack to loosen up before games.
Picked up eight of 16 shootout goals lat season.
Pettersen scored five goals in one period with the August Lynx (ECHL) during the 1999-2000 season.
Grew up on a cattle farm and said he could see himself working one later in life.
Official Site: MISSOURI RIVER OTTERS