USPHL Commitment Profiles: Royals’ Edstrom Commits To College Of St. Scholastica • USPHL

By Joshua Boyd / USPHL.com

Three years of hard work, practices, games, bus rides and amazing performances in net have helped launch veteran Rogue Valley Royals goaltender Kaeden Edstrom towards an NCAA hockey career. The 2004-born native of Fairplay, Colo., has made his commitment to the College of St. Scholastica, located in Duluth, Minn. 

“St. Scholastica was a simple decision for me in my commitment, both academically and athletically. CSS was one of the only schools that offered Exercise Physiology, which is my major of choice and they have a renowned post-grad school in this field, which was just as appealing,” said Edstrom, who also played with the Lake Tahoe Lakers during his three years in the USPHL Premier. 

“Athletically, they ranked 23rd in the country for NCAA hockey last year and they play in one of the toughest divisions in Division III, which makes the competition incredibly appealing,” Edstrom added. “As someone who aspires for professional hockey, I needed a place that would not only believe in that goal, but facilitate the ability to reach it.”

While the Royals struggled at times during Edstrom’s stint, the vast amount of shots that Edstrom faced regularly helped make his case for standing strong against whatever comes at him.  

Edstrom played in a total of 73 games in his USPHL career, and his 3,986 regular season minutes played rank seventh all-time in the league’s history.

“The connection [with St. Scholastica] originally came from my junior head coach Bobby Ruddle. They had discussed my abilities on a challenged team and how I could present unwavering focus to the team,” said Edstrom. “Upon committing, Assistant Coach] Colin Bailey told me that he respected my work ethic, ability to perform under pressure and character around the things I do. Character being a massive addition to their team this year and something I am excited to add, in addition to my on-ice ability.” 

The Royals played a huge role in every aspect of Edstrom’s time with the team, on and off the ice. 

“Playing with Rogue Valley was an irreplaceable experience, to say the least. While we didn’t rank high any of the years I was there, I believe they are on the path to sending players to the next level at a steady pace,” he added. “From the fans, culture and staff to facilities and opportunities, I am incredibly grateful for my time there. I always had access to extra ice, 24/7 gym, and a shooting lane at the rink. Bobby and Ali Ruddle truly helped in my development as a hockey player, but more importantly as a man.”

He got to know the USPHL Premier very well, including playing in the Las Vegas Showcase each season. Edstrom enjoyed his time and the league, and even offered some areas for improvement. This includes the player recognition process, wherein top performers are recognized and selected by each division’s coaches. 

“Playing in the USPHL had its ups and downs for me, without a doubt. But, the league developed so much in the three years that I played. The National Champions from my rookie year couldn’t hold a torch to the lower seed teams in my last season, which I believe is a true mark of league and player development,” he said. “The USPHL does a good job marketing players, but with context. I believe the decision-making process for Players of the Week and Month and so on could be improved upon, especially with some great players being on less successful teams. 

“In terms of advancement, there’s no better place,” Edstrom added. “Whether your goal is NCAA or ACHA, you have access to both, and if you set a strong goal, you can achieve it here.”

Edstrom is focused on improving his game to be the best version of himself when he arrives in Duluth to join the Saints.  

“This summer has been one of immense development and focus on my craft. On the ice, my goalie coach Evan Cowley (Vienna Capitals) and I emphasized simplicity and playing within a system most of all. As a shorter goaltender, I have played most my career with spite, aggressiveness and compete. Now, with developed skills to support my game, we have incorporated a system that will lead to efficiency and simplicity, correlating to a much more controlled style of play,” he added.

“Off the ice, my trainer Maria Mountain (Goalie Training Pro) and I have focused on just about every aspect that you can think of,” Edstrom said. “We have dialed injury prevention work to an art, added five pounds of muscle to my frame with no fat gain, improved strength lifts to far improved numbers, and emphasized speed and explosiveness that will correlate seamlessly to my game.” 

The USPHL congratulates Kaeden Edstrom, his family, the Rogue Valley Royals and the College of St. Scholastica for his commitment.