By Chad Klassen

Blazers Sideroff to make AHL debut Saturday

Apr 14, 2016 | 5:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — When Deven Sideroff was drafted in the third round, 84th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks last year, his dream of playing in the National Hockey League, like many aspiring hockey players, got a major boost.

While the NHL may be a couple years away, Sideroff is taking one step closer to that dream, making his professional hockey debut on Saturday night, suiting up with the Ducks’ farm team, the San Diego Gulls. 

“It’s kind of a whirlwind of emotions right now,” says Sideroff, who’s been in San Diego all this week. “I’m really excited and nervous at the same time, but it’s been really good practicing and getting comfortable with the guys.”

Sideroff has had three ice-times with the Gulls during this amateur tryout and will take the warm-up on Friday night when San Diego plays the Ontario Reign.

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It’s the same team he’ll play against on Saturday in San Diego’s regular season finale. Sideroff says his development with the Kamloops Blazers has helped build him up to this moment. 

“It’ll be different for sure. Obviously guys are going to be bigger and stronger, and I’m just excited to get out there and really get a feel for professional hockey. Playing all my years in Kamloops, I feel like high-end junior hockey has prepared me for it really well,” notes Sideroff, who was third in Blazers scoring this season with 19 goals and 39 assists.

It’s just another step in Sideroff’s burgeoning hockey career that’s included an appearance on Team Canada’s U-18 team. 

He doesn’t know what to expect going up against bigger, stronger players that are regulars in the American League. But as a smaller player, he knows he has to play the kind of game that’s made him so success in the Western League. 

“Definitely I’ll have to rely more on my speed and quicknes to get around those bigger guys who are going to try to be physical on a guy like me,” he says. “Stay strong on my feet and use my speed and quickness as much as I can.”

Sideroff doesn’t know either how much ice time he’ll get on Saturday, but the hope is to make a good impression and stick with the club as they enter the AHL playoffs.