Ex-NHL players to be in Kalispell

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead Valley Hockey Association will hold signups for its new Kalispell leagues on Saturday at the Sportsman Ski Haus. Former NHL players Mark Pederson and Neil Wilkinson will be on hand for pictures and autographs.

The new Kalispell hockey association - called the Flathead Valley Flames - will hold signups from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for age groups preschool through high school for both city and travel leagues. The City of Kalispell will also have information on its winter programs, such as Learn to Skate.

Kalispell will have a new rink at the old Bruckhauser Pool complex in Woodland Park. Installation starts on Oct. 3. The rink has been used twice. The first time was for an exhibition game on Green Bay's Lambeau Field. The second time was in Spokane for the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships.

Pederson will be available today at noon at the rink site during the FVHA's press day.

Pederson and Wilkinson were both top-30 picks in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.

Wilkinson played in 460 games in the NHL between 1989-99 and had 16 goals with 67 assists. He played for Minnesota, San Jose, Chicago, Winnipeg and Pittsburgh.

Pederson played 169 games in the NHL between 1989-94 and had 35 goals with 50 assists. He played for Montreal, Philadelphia, San Jose and Detroit. He is currently an assistant coach in Bakersfield, Calif., in the ECHL.