AUSTIN, MN – The Bruins announced the signing of two tenders this week: forward Garrett Dahm (’00) and defenseman Keaton Pehrson (’98).
Dahm, is a native of Swansea, IL and played two games for the Bruins on February 3rd and 4th against Aberdeen as an affiliate player. He’s currently in his third season with the St. Louis Jr. Blues U16 program and is the leading scorer on the team with 64 points (17 goals, 47 assists) in 43 games.
“For a kid his age playing his first two Junior games, he didn’t look out of place,” said Bruins head coach Kyle Grabowski. “I like that he got better between Friday and Saturday. It shows me that he’s a smart player and he can learn from his mistakes and adjust. It shows me how quickly he can grow – it’s a skill set of an elite player.”
Dahm, who is a natural center, was highly sought after, but Grabowski says that a mutually beneficial relationship between Garrett and the coaching staff was the key to signing him on.
“I think in the end it’s us making a commitment to his development as a player and what we’re able to do from him as a staff to help him achieve his goals but at the same time be a part of our culture,” said Grabowski.
Pehrson is from nearby Lakeville, MN, where he’s in his Junior year at Lakeville North High. He’s a 6’3, 192-pound offensive defenseman who has 26 points in 23 games this season. He’s also played the last two seasons in the Upper Midwest Elite League on Team Northeast.
“I like the way he moves the puck,” said Grabowski. “He’s not overly offensive, but he shoots the puck very well and makes good decisions with it under pressure. He has the ability to think the game so I think he’ll adjust and catch on quickly.”
Pehrson committed to NCAA DI Michigan Tech in November of 2016, and is under the property of Waterloo in the USHL, where he could play next season. Grabowski hopes to get as much as he can from Pehrson to help this season’s team, all the while developing his game for the next level.
“He knows where he’s going in a year or two years from now,” said Grabowski. “It’s a just a matter of if he’s’ going to be ready in time and my job is to make sure of that.”
With the recent additions of Pehrson and Joe Kinsella (off waivers from Odessa), plus the eventual return of tender Kyle Looft, the Bruins are stocked on their blue line.
“At this time of year with injuries and those things, I think we want to have some extra depth just in case we need it,” Grabowski said. The Bruins play a pivotal home series against Brookings this weekend, who currently they trail by three points for the fourth and final Central Division playoff spot.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Pehrson will wear #11 for the Bruins, while tendered d-man Kyle Looft will sport #7 upon his return. Waiver pickup Joe Kinsella will take #3. Forward Jack Murphy, who wore #12 for Paint the Rink Pink, will move to #15.
