(Submitted photo/Connor Hvidston)

By Ben Tompkins

San Diego Gulls

Tisdale product living out AHL dream

Apr 5, 2023 | 5:07 PM

A northeast hockey player has gotten one step closer to his National Hockey League (NHL) dream, after a late-season call-up to the American Hockey League (AHL).

Tisdale’s own Connor Hvidston is now a member of the San Diego Gulls, having already suited up twice for the organization.

“I basically got a call from my agent and he said that San Diego wanted me up for the end of the year and that’s obviously really exciting news because it’s obviously a big jump to pro hockey and now I can get my feet wet,” Hvidston told northeastNOW. “I was really excited to have this opportunity and to come down here.”

Hvidston had been previously playing the entire season with the Swift Current Broncos, his second with the Western Hockey League club.

He had shown vast improvement compared to his first year, scoring eight more times, having 25 more assists, 33 more points, and improving his plus/minus rating by 20, in just one additional contest.

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“I can for sure see myself playing here (San Diego) in the future,” he said. “That’s obviously been a dream to play pro hockey for me for a while, so to get this opportunity at this age is really cool.”

(Submitted photo/Connor Hvidston)

The Broncos just missed the playoffs this year, finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference, just three points behind the Medicine Hat Tigers for the final playoff spot.

With Swift Current missing the postseason, it provided Hvidston the perfect opportunity to continue his season at a higher level.

Unfortunately, the Gulls are in a worse position, having already been eliminated from postseason contention, as they are the last-ranked team in the league.

With five games left, however, and two games already under his belt, Hvidston is just appreciative of the opportunity.

“I’m just here to help in any way I can and hopefully, play some good hockey while I’m here and impress some people… if you told me I was here even two years ago when I was playing in Yorkton, I wouldn’t believe you, so it’s really exciting and hopefully, I can keep it going.”

Hvidston was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks (San Diego’s parent club) in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL draft.

He is expecting that he will return to Swift Current next year, as he hopes to help the organization and himself, to have one heck of a 2023/24 year.

“Hopefully can keep the process going and go back and carry it into Swift Current next year and have a good year there and hopefully do some damage in the playoffs,” Hvidston added. “Hopefully, it just keeps going up from here.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8